MNN - Mother Nature Network

Are you ringing in 2013 with your kids this year? New Year's Eve is even more fun when you celebrate with family, and there are lots of great ways for both kids and adults to enjoy the festivities.  Whether you're hosting a big party or a small family affair, here are some fun family-friendly ways to toast in the new year:

 

Post your resolutions. There are a lot of ways you can encourage your guests to state their New Year's resolutions.  The simplest idea is to hang a plain piece of poster board in a conspicuous location with a handful of markers nearby.  Enlist the kids' help to write "Resolutions for 2013" on the poster and decorate as they see fit, leaving room for everyone at the party to write their intended goals for the new year. Another idea is to use a small holiday tree and let guests write their resolutions on ribbons that they then tie to the "Wishing Tree."

 

Make some noise.  It wouldn't be a New Year's party without some festive holiday noisemakers.  Get kids involved with making their own by setting out supplies on a designated craft table.  Fill empty water bottles, raisin boxes, or plastic eggs with rice, beans, popcorn kernels, or craft beads.  Close the lid and tape shut securely.  

 

Capture the memories.  Challenge guests, both young and old, to fill a shoe box with stories, photos, sayings, or hand drawn pictures representing the top highlights of 2012.  Keep the box stashed away until next year or use the mementos inside to create an instant scrapbook of the past year.

 

Make a disco ball pinata.  Confession time.  I stink at making pinatas, so I usually opt for the store-bought variety.  But this one looks so fun and simple to make that I just might give it a try.  Fill it with goodies like streamers, candy, and confetti and use it to simulate your own Times Square ball drop at whatever time works best for your guests.

 

Toast in the New Year.  Just because kids can't partake of the champagne doesn't mean they have to skip the toast.  Try sparkling cider, smoothies, juice, or Italian soda.  I also love this idea from Audrey for Cookies and Milk Toasts.

 

How does your family like to ring in the new year?