Celebrating the New Year

With the New Year just a few days away, you can plan a fun New Years bash with your kids that’s fun and educational. Kids can feel left out of New Year’s celebrations because they can’t stay awake until midnight. But with a little planning your kids can have a New Year’s bash that they will remember for years to come.

It’s always midnight somewhere, so plan your party around the world clock and ring in the New Year like you are in another part of the world. This is a great teaching moment to learn about other places in the world and maybe reinforce geography. Another option is ring in the New Year at noon.

Pick activities that the whole family can participate in, make sure you take lots of pictures. Have them make a scrapbook, or make cards welcoming in the New Year. Even have them help bake a cake for the birthday of the New Year.

Play a game like balloon volleyball" with several silver and gold balloons. You'll want a large space, with no breakable items. Don't let the balloons touch the floor. -- Then after midnight you can all sit on the balloons until they pop!

Another activity is to help each other think of resolutions. Make posters or collages that represent the resolutions as motivation for sticking to them. This can help your child learn how to follow through with something they say they want to do.

A great family craft would be to make a family time capsule filled with photos from the last year, letters from each family member and pictures drawn by the kids. Save it for the next New Year's Eve party.

Camp out in your family room and enjoy each other's company. Make a tent in the living room big enough for everyone to sleep in.

Make noisemakers by filling a toilet paper roll with rice or dry beans. Covers both ends with paper and decorate the tube. Shake it as the ball drops to welcome the New Year.

Whatever you decide to do have a safe and wonderful New Year from your friends at the Goddard School.