Celebrating New Year’s Eve doesn’t need to stop when you have kids. Plan a special night at home with fun games and food while you wait for midnight. Use this Printable New Year’s Eve Countdown to space the fun out all night.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve as a family is lots of fun, especially when the kids are old enough to stay awake until midnight, but young enough to think that it’s a special treat. Spread out the fun activities all night with a special surprise to open and do each hour. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
6:30 p.m. – Supper time!
Start the evening with a meal that everyone loves. I usually let the kids pick out their favorite junk food that we don’t eat the rest of the year, like pizza bagels or mozzarella sticks.
7:30 p.m. – Play a game together.
Play a board game or card game together. If the kids are younger, they can be on “teams” with parents.
8:30 p.m. – Dessert.
What’s a party without dessert? It can be as simple at store bakery cookies or as fancy as a build-your-own sundae bar.
9:30 p.m. – Play another game.
Choose something different from the earlier one. Go on a scavenger hunt around the house, play 20 Questions, or tic-tac-toe.
10:30 p.m. – Make resolutions for next year.
Take turns telling stories about the best memories from the past year. Choose something you want to do better or something new for this year.
11:30 p.m. – Get ready to countdown to midnight.
Gather drinks for toasting, noise-makers, and party whistles, and keep your eyes on the clock.
Click to download the printable: Printable New Year’s Eve Countdown
It includes:
- Happy New Year sign – trims to 8″x10″
- Set of 6 “Open at” cards
- Set of 2 blank cards for writing
You’ll also need envelopes, bags, or something to put your surprise messages in. Plus, of course, supplies for whatever your celebration plans include.
I printed my New Year’s Eve countdown on regular 8-1/2”x11” cardstock and cut out each countdown piece, then used some Glue Dots on the corners to attach them to the envelopes. The cards to go inside the envelopes are blank so you can write in whatever you want to do for the surprise is at the hour.
I love the ombre-like fading from dark purple to bright pink! These printables are so fun and will go great with and gold and sparkly accessories you want to add to your New Year’s Eve celebration.
Here are a few more things you’ll need for a fun New Year’s Eve party:
Go Fish + more printable games