These New Year's Eve ball drop for kids & countdown ideas are fun activities the entire family will love. The best part is that you don't even need to stay up until midnight.
I tend to go above and beyond regarding holidays and parties. I can't help it! It is just so fun to decorate, plan a menu, and come up with things to do. My mom always did the most during the holidays, so I must have gotten it from her.
The small details are typically the ones that stick out down the road. I love creating memories that party guests can look back on for years, and those little details help instill that.
That why this darling brown bag kids NYE countdown from East Coast Mommy is so perfect! Especially when served with our new year's eve charcuterie board.
Once you have celebrated New Year's Eve, your kids may want to continue the celebration the next day. Check out our New Year's Day activities that you can do at home for a relaxing day.
We also have these cool New Years Eve party theme ideas for adults if you want to throw your own party. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have incredible treats like these red velvet cake mix cookies.
Our New Years Eve charcuterie board, sparkling non-alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic champagne are also great. Plus, this taco charcuterie board is another WOW factor meal to serve on NYE.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate a happy new year without staying up until midnight. Just because the kiddos won't be awake for the ball drop on New Year's Eve does not mean they should not have an exciting New Year's Eve.
Here are plenty of ideas on how to throw the best New Year's Eve party for kiddos. They will love all the special activities, and you will love not having to stay up until midnight with them.
A "Fake" Ball Drop
The ball drop is probably the most iconic New Year's Eve celebration moment. There is a countdown to the new year, the ball is dropping slowly, and everyone is excited, so of course, kids want to be apart of it.
So, instead of waiting to watch the ball drop at midnight, have a "fake" ball drop earlier in the evening. Choose whatever time works best for the age group of kids and make that your "midnight."
Find a video from a previous year's Times Square ball drop and use it for the early ball drop. Put countdown clocks around the house (or even change the time on the clocks around your house) so the kids know when the ball will drop.
Do all of the things you usually do at midnight, but just a couple of hours earlier. The kids won't know a difference, and they won't get cranky that they have to go to bed before the ball drop.
Balloon Drop
When the ball drops (whether at midnight or earlier), set up a balloon drop from the ceiling. If you have never seen this before, basically balloons are held with a net and when ready, you pull a string and all of the balloons fall.
It is a unique way to have a ball drop, and the kids will think it is so cool. You can get a balloon drop party kit for pretty cheap on Amazon, but it is totally possible to make if yourself.
Games
Pull out a ton of board games to have fun while waiting for midnight. Have your friends bring their favorite kid-friendly games so the kiddos can have many options.
You can also find arcade games to rent or play on your preferred gaming console. This is a great opportunity to show your kids how to play the original video games. Who knows, maybe they will find their new favorite video game!
Dance Party
Make a dance floor in your living room, and have the kiddos dance the night away! All you need to do is move some furniture around to create a space big enough for the kids to bust a move.
Get some party lights, like black lights, strobe lights, or a disco ball, to set the scene for the best dance party these kids will ever see. Lasers are also a cool option for lighting.
Next, you need a playlist. Have a variety of songs for older kids and younger children, but make sure they are clean. You can even ask the parents of the kids attending what songs their kids enjoy.
Now it is time to dance! Pass out glow sticks for even more fun lighting. Grab earplugs for yourself (or get on the dance floor) and enjoy the party.
Fancy Drinks
Fancy drinks are popular at New Year's Eve parties, so why not have some tasty drinks for the kiddos? Soft drinks (non-caffeinated of course) are always a safe bet, but these other drinks are perfect options for your New Year's Eve party.
Sparkling cider is a common drink served for NYE, so that is definitely a great idea. Get some pretty plastic glasses so it makes the drink feel even fancier. Plus, if a drink is spilled, it is just plastic, so it will not break.
Another idea is a delicious hot chocolate bar. Set up a fun DIY hot chocolate station so that the kids can make their own scrumptious drinks. Candy canes and marshmallows are an absolute must.
Try options like chocolate shavings, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, and other toppings to make the hot chocolate extra tasty. The kids will love creating their drink.
Mocktails are a beverage the whole family will love. Our non alcoholic champagne is the perfect drink for New Year's Eve, with its bubbly taste and crisp flavor. We also love our cranberry mocktail.
Grandpa Bob's homemade root beer is another beverage kids of all ages will absolutely love. The dry ice gives this drink a fun smokey look. And of course, the drink is so so good.
Goodie Bags
Little kids love snacks and treats, but they also love party favors. Go to the Dollar Store and buy cute little goodies so each kid can make their own goodie bag. Set up a little assembly line so the kids can put whatever goodies they want in a bag.
Add whatever fun things you think the kiddos would like. This is such a fun way to spend your New Year's celebration because the kids will have a blast picking out new goodies, and you don't have to put together party favors!
Photo Booth
I love a good photo booth because it is good family-friendly fun, and you get pictures of all of the guests without having to worry about taking pictures all night long.
You can have tons of props like party hats, funny glasses, scarves, masks, and anything else you can think of! You can also have a unique backdrop to act as the background of the photo booth.
We hope you have the best New Year's Eve!
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