Ring in the New Year with Your Kids

New Year's Eve is traditionally thought of as a holiday for adults mostly because a majority of the celebration is held after children's bedtime. However, if you'd like to include your children in a celebration of ushering in the New Year, here are some ideas.

  • Have a mock New Year's Eve and countdown to bedtime (maybe 8 or 9 pm). This way children feel as if they are part of the celebration including a countdown to the designated time. If your child is old enough to understand different  time zones, this is a great time to let them know that it is midnight somewhere. Use the following link to find out what places are celebrating the New Year at the time of your celebration: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
  • Host a special party and invite neighbors with children. Serve finger food that kids like and sparkling juice in fancy plastic wine "glasses" or champagne flutes. Have everyone dress in fancy party attire and offer party hats and noisemakers for the countdown.
  • Have kids make a time capsule of all of their favorite things from the year. They can include pictures or words to fill their 2012 time capsule. The actual time capsule can be made from any box or jar decorated any way your child likes.
  • Get crafty and let your kids design and create their own party hats and noise makers.
  • Find a family friendly celebration to take kids to. Celebrations such as the Island of Lights New Year's Eve Countdown at Kure Beach is considered family friendly.

If you decide to get a babysitter and go out with friends and family on New Year's Eve, you can still celebrate with your kids during the day at special events such as a New Year's celebration at the Children's Museum of Wilmington which will occur on December 31st at noon and January 1st at noon.

For a list of New Year's Eve events in our area visit our website.