Tyson and I were talking about how different New Years Eve will be this year. We have a baby that will be asleep by 7:30pm – so what in the world are we going to do?! It is time to get creative and start brainstorming. Just because we are parents, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun anymore! I mean after all, we are pretty cool parents 😉
I thought I would share a few of my FAVORITE things to do on New Years Eve! Do one or do them all… these are just a few ways to make your family’s New Years Eve the best day EVER!
1. COUNTDOWN BAGS – This is one of my favorite ways to bring in the New Year. Every hour on the hour, open a bag for a special surprise!
- 6 brown paper sacs
- 6 different items ie: hats, blowers, poppers, glasses, necklaces, noise makers (make sure you get enough for each person who will be celebrating with you. If you are expecting 20 people, be sure you have 20 hats, 20 blowers, 20 poppers, etc.)
- A Marker to label each bag for every hour ie: 7pm, 8pm, 9pm etc. until Midnight
- Questions for each bag (see below)
HOW TO SET UP: Write the times on each bag that you will be opening them. We started at 7pm, but you can start whenever you would like! Line them up and place all of the hats in one bag, all of the glasses in the next, all of the poppers in the next and so forth. In addition, write the following questions (or make up your own) and place one in each bag.
- What is your favorite memory of 2013?
- What are you looking forward to most about 2014?
- What was your biggest obstacle in 2013?
- Who are you going to kiss at midnight?
- Where do you see yourself next year at this time?
- What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2014?
HOW TO PLAY: Every hour on the hour get everyone’s attention by yelling out the time…i.e.: “SEVEN O’CLOCK!” Everyone should gather into the room and sit in a circle. You (as the host) will pull out the question and ask it aloud. Go around the circle and have everyone answer. Once they say their answer they will receive the item in the bag.
This is a fun way to countdown to midnight, while getting decked out along the way. By midnight your party will be wearing a hat, glasses and a necklace with poppers and noise makers in hands. They will be ready to bring in the New Year!
2. CANDY BAR GAME – Everyone from the oldest to youngest will love this family favorite competition!
- At least one different kind of candy bar for each person at the table or if your sweet tooth is giving you an itch – the more the merrier!
- Brown paper sacs for each person at the table
HOW TO SET UP: Each person should receive their own paper sac to hold on to. Place all candy bars in the middle.
HOW TO PLAY: The object of the game is to get as much candy as possible before the timer runs out. Before starting, elect one person to set a timer for an undisclosed amount of time no greater than 20 minutes. Once the timer is set, the youngest person at the table rolls a pair of dice. If the dice lands on a 7, 11 or doubles (meaning the same number on the die) then they get to take a candy bar from the middle and hide it in their bag. Continue this around the table until the timer ends. Once the timer runs out, everyone gets one last turn. Any candy bars not taken from the table are carried over to the next round.
TIPS AND TRICKS: An important tip with the Candy Bar Game is that before the timer runs out, all candy is up for grabs whether it is on the table or in someone’s bag. So be sure to remember where your favorite candy bar is and if you have your candy bar already, be sure to not remind everyone that you have it so they don’t steal it from you!
3. PHOTO BOOTH – Things get a little crazy, but its NYE so they should be! Gather your wigs and dress up clothes and make your own photo booth! Everyone brought random props, hats, wigs and gloves and we put them in a basket and hung a sheet up for the backdrop. Have everyone dig for their favorite items to put on and have fun taking funny pictures to remember the night forever!
4. DRESS UP KARAOKE – Once your party is dressed up for the photo booth, why not turn on some karaoke or even JUST DANCE on your favorite gaming system! You will laugh until you cry seeing your husband wearing a skull mask shake his booty to Britney Spears. Hilarious memories and fun for the whole fam.
5. NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS – I love that New Years is a time to start fresh and a time to change. I have always loved making New Years Resolutions. I use to just write them on paper and put them in my drawer, but every year now we write them down and take a picture holding it. It is a fun way to document what we want to do and I love to see everyone else’s goals too! If you do it each year, one day you will have a whole album of all of your resolutions for the years of your life!
2014 brought me so many amazing memories, connecting with incredible people like you! It is my hope that this post will help your family start the year off smiling, laughing and making memories as you celebrate together! Here’s to 2015!
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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Jodi Snowden
January 18, 2014 at 2:50 pm (10 years ago)Such great ideas! New Year’s is very different once you’ve had kids. My husband and I were in bed by 8pm haha!