Celebrate the New Year with these 6 fun and family-oriented ideas

The holiday season is drawing to a close as we approach New Year’s Eve. Here are some exciting ways to welcome 2022 home with your loved ones.

Here are five ways your family can celebrate the New Year together, whether you want to stay up late or go to bed early:

1. If your kids go to bed early, you can still have a fun afternoon party and watch the clock tick until the last afternoon of the year. Make a lot of noise, drink sparkling grape juice and watch a pre-recorded countdown on Netflix.

   After all, you don’t have to be quiet, because no one will be woken up. If you want to keep the good vibes going, plan a special meal to reflect on the past year and make plans for the year ahead that will make you feel good.

2. Laughter must stop. By the way, I’m not advocating printing additional holiday-themed material. This time, get some plastic wrap from the kitchen. A plastic wrapping ball filled with small rewards such as candies, Hot Wheels, gift cards, small figures or dolls, etc.

   If you have older children or a particularly smart partner who likes to play, Little Cooks Reading Books has some suggestions to make the game more difficult. While their “opponent” rolls two dice for doubles, the players take turns rolling. Keep going around the circle until the ball unravels completely. The items discovered by each contestant get to keep.

3. Make it a countdown party! As the clock ticks down to the final tuck-in of 2022, you can fill bags, pop balloons, or use any other method you like (there are plenty of options on Pinterest). Schedule a different fun activity for the family to do together every hour.

   Do something everyone in the family enjoys doing together, whether it’s playing a game, doing a project, grabbing a bite to eat, going on a scavenger hunt, or reading a book. You decide when the party ends, and that’s the best part!

4. Praying to God with your family on New Year’s Eve is a meaningful and uplifting way to celebrate the start of the new year. Take time to come in together prayer allows you to express your gratitudeseek guidance and ask for blessings for the coming year.
   Whether you choose to pray together in person or virtually, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your family bond and start the new year on a positive and spiritual note.

5. Create a virtual connection. Zoom can be used to host a virtual game night or dinner party. Make Grandma the bingo caller or FaceTime Uncle Lou for a round of Yahtzee. Think of original ways to end 2022 in style.

6. Celebrate with a sleepover for the kids! Prepare the living room for a sleepover by laying out sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows. Then, after dinner, watch a movie, talk about the past year, play games, and make festive treats.

All of us here at MetroFamily hope you have a great New Year’s Eve, whatever you choose to ring in it. We hope to share even more family-friendly activities with you in 2023.

Check out this bonus collection of kid-friendly mocktail recipes for your New Year’s Eve party!