7 Creative Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home with Children

When my kids were younger, New Year’s Eve at home meant finding creative ways to keep them entertained, and balloons were always a hit. That’s how countdown balloons became one of our favorite traditions. It was an affordable and easy solution, and it worked like a charm to keep the excitement going all night long.

The idea is simple: we filled balloons with little notes or surprises and popped one each hour leading up kids New Year’s (generally 9:30p in our house!). Each note had a task, like “Do a silly dance,” “Find something shiny,” or “Draw a firework.” But the real magic came when we turned it into a game.

To keep the kids engaged for longer stretches, we added a tracking system. Completing each task earned them a sticker on their personalized sticker charts. This way, when moods started to dip or interest waned (as it often does with little ones), the competitive edge of the game reignited their excitement. By the end of the night, the stickers could be traded in for small prizes like a treat, a tiny toy, or even the power to choose the next activity.

This tracked game not only kept the kids occupied during those tricky moments when energy flagged, but it also gave the evening a structure that built momentum toward the midnight countdown. It turned what could have been a long evening into a series of fun, achievable challenges, and created some truly special memories for all of us.

Looking back, one New Year’s Eve activity I wish we had done is creating a family time capsule. It’s such a meaningful way to capture a snapshot of who everyone is at this exact moment in time, and I know families who have done this and are still waiting to open theirs many years later.

The concept is simple yet powerful: each family member contributes something that represents who they are right now. It could be a drawing, a favorite photo, a note about their favorite things or dreams for the future, or even small keepsakes that hold special meaning. The goal isn’t to document the past year but to freeze this moment in time to rediscover in the future. The family then seals everything into a container and decides on a far-off date, maybe five, ten, or even twenty years down the line, to open it.

We never made a time capsule when the kids were young, and it’s something I now wish we had done. Families I know who’ve created one tell me how much they’re looking forward to that special day in the future when they’ll gather together, open the capsule, and rediscover who they were at that time in their lives. It’s like a gift to your future selves, filled with memories you didn’t even realize you’d forgotten.

While we haven’t planned it for this year, it’s an idea I’m eager to try soon. It’s such a unique way to connect across time and create a tradition that holds lasting meaning. If you’re thinking about starting a time capsule with your family, I say go for it, it’s a decision I truly wish we had made years ago!

Every New Year’s Eve, without fail, we have a home movie night marathon. It’s a tradition that’s grown with our family, a perfect way to fill the evening and keep everyone entertained while waiting for the countdown to midnight. The secret to making it special isn’t just the movie selection but how we set the stage and make it interactive.

When the kids were younger, we kept it simple with chocolates and games tied to the movies. For instance, when watching Home Alone, every time the bandits got whacked, we’d all eat chocolate. It wasn’t the healthiest choice, but it was New Year’s Eve, and the laughter and excitement were worth every extra calorie.

Now that the kids are older, the challenge has evolved, but the fun remains. Instead of chocolates, we’ve introduced trivia and dares tied to the movies. For example, during Harry Potter, whoever guesses the next spell correctly gets to assign a silly dare, like wearing a wizard’s hat for the next scene or attempting a British accent. These little twists keep everyone engaged, no matter how many times we’ve seen the movie.

We also still transform our living room into a cozy theater, complete with blankets, pillows, and an impressive snack table. The snacks have matured along with our tastes, homemade nachos, charcuterie boards, and mocktails now accompany the popcorn.

This tradition works for us year after year because it’s flexible, fun, and something the whole family can enjoy together.

When the kids were younger, we gave a family talent show a try, thinking it would be a fun way to spend New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, it never really caught on. The kids didn’t get as excited about performing as we’d hoped, and the energy just wasn’t there. What did work, and still does, is a good, old-fashioned game night.

On New Year’s Eve, we turn up the intensity by pulling out the most competitive game in our house: Monopoly. This game has become our go-to because it’s practically guaranteed to get everyone amped up. The mix of strategy, luck, and (let’s face it) the occasional sibling rivalry keeps us all hooked. It’s the kind of game that can easily kill three hours while holding everyone’s attention out of sheer competitiveness.

We’ve learned to set the stage with snacks and drinks nearby so no one feels the need to leave the table. The kids love scheming, making deals, and gloating over their growing stacks of Monopoly money, while we adults try to keep up, and keep the peace when the inevitable property battles begin!

What makes this work so well for New Year’s Eve is that it fills the evening with laughter, energy, and a little friendly competition. If Monopoly isn’t your thing, any game that gets your family engaged works just as well, think Uno, Clue, or even trivia. The key is finding something that keeps everyone involved and entertained for hours.

Baking on New Year’s Eve has become a bit of an event in our house, but not the kind of baking you might expect. A few years ago, I saw an influencer on Instagram keeping her kids entertained by making wild, outlandish creations in the kitchen, and I thought, why not? From that moment on, our family baking parties have been less about precision and more about chaos and creativity.

We’ve done this a few times now, and it’s always part of a dare. One year, my son couldn’t stop talking about deep-fried chocolate bars, so we made them and dared the “loser” of a game to try one. Of course, that backfired spectacularly because they turned out to be delicious! Another year, we filled cupcakes with spicy chopped chilies and dared each other to take a bite without flinching. Let’s just say the reactions were priceless.

What I love about this activity is how it turns baking into something quirky and unpredictable. Everyone gets involved because it’s not about following instructions or making something perfect, it’s about experimenting and having fun. Whether we’re piling on way too many toppings or trying the weirdest flavor combinations imaginable, the kitchen becomes a hub of laughter and excitement for at least 30 minutes (sometimes longer if we get carried away!).

It’s a fantastic way to break up the evening, especially when tied to other New Year’s Eve activities where the outcome is to eat (or at least try) the weird bakes we’ve made. Plus, there’s always the suspense of seeing (or tasting) the final results. Whether it’s a massive success or a total disaster, these bakes have given us some of our funniest New Year’s Eve memories.

Try This Together: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies

I’ve seen friends with families create some truly amazing memories using DIY photo booths. They go all out with props, silly hats, feather boas, oversized glasses, and even themed backdrops, and the results are always full of laughter and charm. It’s such a fun way to capture moments, but honestly, it’s not something that’s ever taken off in our house.

For whatever reason, my family just isn’t into the whole dress-up-and-pose thing. Every time I’ve floated the idea of setting up a photo booth, it’s been met with lukewarm enthusiasm at best. I’ve learned that springing this kind of activity on them isn’t the way to go, if your family is anything like mine, you might find yourself packing away those props unused!

That said, if you have a family that loves wearing goofy hats, striking funny poses, or creating Instagram-worthy moments, this could be the perfect New Year’s Eve activity for you. It’s easy to set up with just a few props and a smartphone, and you can even make it part of a larger themed evening. Just be sure to gauge your family’s interest beforehand, this is one activity that works best when everyone is excited to participate.

Every year leading up to midnight, we do an “Around the World” countdown. It’s a great way to break up the evening and keep the excitement building as we get closer to the big moment.

When the kids were younger, we made this activity more engaging by incorporating myths and traditions from different countries as their New Year arrived. For example, when Australia’s New Year hit, we shared the story of how some people believe that banging on pots and pans can scare away bad spirits and bring good luck for the year ahead. We even tried it ourselves for a bit of fun (young kids love making noise). 

These days, our approach is more laid-back. We set alarms for major time zones, and when they go off, we pause whatever we’re doing, whether it’s watching a movie, baking, or playing a game, we take a moment to celebrate and often pop a balloon for a goofy task. 

This activity, albeit timed, gives the evening a little spontaneity and ensures that everyone knows midnight is getting close. It’s also a wonderful reminder that the New Year is a global celebration, with people welcoming it in their unique ways.

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