This has become quite the annual tradition and each year we try to make it better. The kids are excited because they get to stay up late and we break some of our normal rules. We get foods we normally wouldn't like soda, and appetizer like items. My wife has made cookies with the kids in the past as well.
Quick Tips
1. Camp in the living room - use a small tent, or create one with sheets.
2. Decorate for a party streamers are cheap, or have a craft time and make things.
This page has a chart for tips on building party favors.
3. Make sure to set alarms for about 5 minutes to Midnight so everyone can be up.
4. We get some fireworks and do them on the back deck - it is really big around my neighborhood to do fireworks.
5. Pick movies to watch that night.
6. Buy a new family game to play that night, or rent video game everyone can play.
7. If you have friends with kids that are going out offer to take the kids - it adds to the party, and maybe next year they will do it for you!
8. If you don't want to build your noise makers - you can buy inexpensive party kits.
This year I found a new idea I might try, it is along the lines of Easter, but do a snack hunt, hide them and let the kids find them.
The important thing that I haven't mentioned is that they get to spend time with you and that is what they will remember the most - everything else is just enhancements.
Here's another page I found - Love the idea on Amazing Moms website to build the “party favors”, we are trying to keep things inexpensive, and we can create some great memories with the kids.
Will - I like what you're doing with the web site.
ReplyDeleteWe ended up spending New Year's Eve with just my family (wife Elizabeth, Katie - 6 and Alex -4). One of the games we ended up playing was "Going on a bear hunt." The kids would go upstairs, turn off the lights and hide. I got to be the bear and hunted them down. They enjoyed it and it was a break from the other games we played that night.
Keith Riesberg