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It’s hard to believe that another year is almost over, but here we are. Whether this year was wonderful and filled with joyful moments or hard and overwhelming, it’s important to take time to end the year well, reflect on what we learned and how we changed, and look forward to the hope and promise of a brand new year with no mistakes in it (at least not yet!).
New years can be a tricky holiday for families, especially with small children, but getting your kids involved in closing one chapter and beginning another is important. Not only does it make them feel included in the festivities, but it also provides an opportunity to teach them how to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. We’ve rounded up a few suggestions on involving your kiddos in the new year’s festivities as you prepare for a new year as a family.
1. Host a Fancy Dinner Party
There’s something magical for kids about being invited to something that feels super grown up, and what’s more grown-up than a fancy New Years’ Eve dinner party? This is a great way to ring in the new year if you plan to stay home with your family this year. We recommend you go all out! Create a special invitation for everyone in the family, pick a dress code, get out the good dishes, and splash out on the bubbly (y’know, the apple cider kind)! Over your dinner, have every member of the family share their highs and lows from the year and something they hope the new year brings.
2. Resolution Tree
While some families take down the decorations as soon as the holidays are over if you’re one of those who like to keep them up as long as you can, this one’s for you! Turn your Christmas tree into a resolution tree. Have each family member write down a few resolutions or dreams for the new year and hang them on the tree. You could even make a game of it by having everyone turn their answers in to mom or dad and reading them out loud for everyone to guess who the resolution belongs to. This is a great way to get the family talking about their goals for the new year and even to discuss helping each other keep accountable for those goals.
3. Create a Family Bucket List
Maybe resolutions don’t really work for your family, but you can always create a family bucket list together. Sit down together and list small goals, big dreams, or fun adventures you want to do as a family. Each family member can make suggestions that will help make your new year meaningful and memorable. Once you’re done, hang your Bucket List somewhere you can all see it regularly so you remember to make all those dreams a reality.
4. A Year in Photos Scavenger Hunt
As parents, watching how our kids change through the year is bittersweet. You can make all those memories sweeter by printing your favorite photos from each month and hiding them around the house. Then, as part of your New Year’s festivities, send the kids to search for all 12 photos. Once they’re all found, you can take it a step further by having everyone guess to see if they remember what month each photo is from. And you can even get the craft supplies out and have the kids make a fun collage with the photos. Now you’ve got a memento of your year that will bring you a smile for years to come.
5. Make some Goofy Predictions
There is nothing funnier than mad libs, and what a great way to make some wacky new year predictions! Pinterest has a ton of hilarious mad lib printables for free. So before the ball drops, get the whole fam together and create your mad lib predictions. You and your kids will crack up at this silly game!
6. Make a Time Capsule
Time Capsules are pretty special. Have every member bring an item that they think best represents who they are this year and place it in a box. It can be a letter, a toy, a photo, or maybe a favorite pair of socks. Decide how long it will be before you open it and write a letter to your future self. Then, whether you open your time capsule next year or ten new years from now, you’ll get a sweet glimpse of what your family looked like this year and all their hope and dreams for the future.
7. Create your own Ball Drop
We know not every kid will make it to midnight, and not every parent wants their kids to make it to midnight! So you can cheat a little by making your own ball drop using a bedsheet, tape, balloons, and string! Get the kids involved by blowing up a bunch of balloons. Once your balloons are ready, grab a sheet and tape it to the ceiling. Fill the sheet with the balloons and tack the string to the inside of each corner of the sheet. When it’s time for the ball to drop (i.e., bedtime), let each kid grab one of the strings and once you yell “Happy New Year!” let those balloons go! Cue up the Auld Lang Syne and have a balloon dance party before tucking your little ones into bed and a brand new year.
8. Bundle up and dream big
A sweet way to create a magical new years celebration for your kids without the stress of a party or anything that requires a big cleanup is to simply go on a walk. Get the whole family bundled up, make or grab a to-go hot cocoa, and walk around your neighborhood. You can go hunting for the last of the house lights and decorations or simply spend the time talking about what you each love about your family. Or have everyone share a goal or dream they have for the new year or what made this last year special.
There are so many ways to celebrate with your kids, but they don’t always have to be complicated to be meaningful. Remember, mom and dad, what your kids want most is your love, attention, and intention. That’s what really makes your family magic.
So no matter how you celebrate, we hope these suggestions help you end this year with a bang! And from all of us at Kamali’i, we wish you and your family the happiest new year.
