12 Best New Year Activities and Games for Kids

New Year’s Eve marks the beginning of a new year, which holds new opportunities and possibilities, and is an exciting and momentous occasion for parents to celebrate with their kids. In these difficult times of a global pandemic, it may not be possible to felicitate the New Year in a traditional manner, like watching the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square or going to New Year’s parties. So, if you are spending your New Year’s Eve with your family, here are some New Year’s Eve games for kids that will help you keep your little ones entertained.

12 Fun Kid-Friendly New Year Activities and Games

If you are at home for New Year’s Eve, and are looking for New Year activities for preschool or New Year activities for toddlers, here are ten kid-friendly new year activities and games:

1. DIY Noisemakers

This is a really fun craft activity for your kids on New Year’s Eve!

Materials Needed 

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Aluminum foil
• Decorative tape
• Noisy bits (pebbles, bells)

Instructions

• Add layers of aluminum foil and tape to one end of the toilet paper roll so that it is closed.
• From the open side, ask your kid to fill 1/3rd of the roll with the noisy bits, and then close that end with foil and tape as well.
• Decorate the roll with colorful tape, and then shake, shake, shake!

2. New Year’s Resolution Crafts

If you want to introduce your little ones to resolution-making, this is one of the most adorable New Year activities for kids.

Materials Needed

• Popsicle sticks
• Felt
• Glue
• Decorations for a frame
• Scissors
• Paper with resolutions written on it

 Instructions 

• Ask your kids to assemble four popsicle sticks and glue them together into a frame. Let the glue dry for a few minutes. You can even paint the popsicle sticks for a colorful frame.
• Let your kid decorate the frame using sequins, buttons, paper cut-outs, stickers, etc. Let it dry out.
• Take a piece of felt, cut it into the size of the frame, and stick it behind the frame.
• Ask your little one to write their new year’s resolution on a piece of paper, and then they can stick it in the middle of the felt!

3. Balloon Wish

 This is one of the easiest New Year’s Eve activities for kids.

 Materials Needed

• Balloons
• Paper and pens
• Helium
• Ribbon

Instructions

• Ask the kids to write their New Year’s wish or resolution on a piece of paper.
• Fold the paper and put it in the balloon before you fill the balloon up with helium and tie it up with a ribbon.
• Before the clock strikes 12, take your kids outside with their balloon, and when it is midnight, let them release their New Year’s wish into the sky!

4. Pick the Present

Give out New Year’s presents in a fun way! This is a great activity for a large group of kids.

Materials Needed 

• Small gift-wrapped presents

Instructions 

• Ask the kids to make a circle while they face outwards and ask them to link their arms.
• Place the presents at the centre.
• Let the kids grab the presents without getting unlinked. They can use their arms as well.
• The child that cannot remain linked has to be out for the next round.
• The kids can keep the presents they grab!

5. Guess the Resolutions

Play this easy and fun game with your little ones on New Year’s Eve.

 Materials Needed 

• Paper and pen
• Bowl

 Instructions 

• Ask all the kids to write their New Year’s resolutions on a piece of paper, and place the papers in a bowl.
• Take out one piece at a time, and read the resolution. Ask your kids to write down the name of the person they think made the resolution.
• The child with the highest score wins, and you can give them a prize.

6. New Year’s-Themed Scramble

This is a really fun but productive game for your kids.

Materials Needed 

• Paper and pen
• Scissors

Instructions

• Write a few New Year’s-related words on pieces of paper, and cut up those words such that they form numerous jumbled letters.
• Mix these cut-up pieces in a bowl.
• Ask your kids to take the pieces out of the bowl and unscramble them to form words.

7. New Year’s Wish Tree

Make a decorative tree with your New Year’s wishes.

Materials Needed

• Paint
• Cardstock
• Star-shaped stencil
• Scissors
• One-hole punch
• Glitter
• Small tree
• Shallow dish

Instructions 

• Ask your kid to pour the paint into a shallow dish and dip the stencil in it and gently place it on the card.
• Sprinkle glitter onto the wet paint and let it dry through the night.
• Cut up the card into a star shape (or any other shape, depending upon the shape you have used) once it is dry, and punch a hole at the top.
• Tie a ribbon through the hole.
• Ask your kid to write their wishes on the star, and then hang it on the wishing tree.

8. Memory Scavenger Hunt

Relive the best moments of the passing year with this fun game!

Materials Needed 

• Printed pictures of your favorite memories from the passing year
• Construction paper
• Double-sided tape
• Marker
• Scissors

Instructions 

• Cut up the photos and construction paper, the latter into a slightly bigger size than the former.
• Tape the photos onto the paper, and write the date on the backside.
• Hide the pictures around the house. Ask your kids to look for them. You can even give them clues.
• Sort the pictures out chronologically, and relive those precious moments!

9. New Year’s Party Streamers

Make DIY party decorations together with your little ones!

Materials Needed

• Cardstock
• Decorative paper
• Protractor and scissor (or adjustable circle cutters)
• Spray adhesive
• Hole punch
• Monofilament
• Jump rings

Instructions

• Spray adhesive on the cardstock, and wrap it with the decorative paper on both sides.
• Cut the paper into circles of descending size.
• Punch a hole at the top and bottom of every circle. In the bottom-most circle, just make a hole on top.
• Connect the circles using the jump rings in descending order of their size.
• You can use the monofilament and thumbtack to hang the streamers down from the ceilings.

10. New Year’s Eve Balloon Countdown

Kick off the New Year with this fun activity.

Materials Needed

• 10-12 balloons
• Confetti
• Paper
• Permanent Marker
• Pin
• List of New Year’s Eve activities

Instructions

• Write down each activity you want to do on different pieces of paper.
• Put each piece in a balloon, along with some confetti, and blow the balloon up.
• On each balloon, with the marker, write a time, beginning from morning to midnight.
• At the designated timings, ask your kid to burst the respective balloons and do the fun activities!

11. Knock The Snowman

Have a blast at the Christmas party with these cute little snowmen.

Materials Needed

• White party cups
• Colorful cardstock
• Rolled-up socks

Instructions

• Decorate the upside-down cups a snowman face. Use colorful cardstock to make eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stack the snowman cups into a tower.
• Roll some socks up and give kids the socks to knock down the snowman tower.

12. New Year Charades

Let’s put some wintry twist to the game of Charades with kids.

Materials Needed

• Paper
• Pens

Instructions

• Think of new year-related phrases and words and write them on the paper strips.
• Make two teams and ask kids to pick strips from each team, and enjoy the game.

Try out these simple and fun New Year games for kids on this New Year’s Eve with your little ones. Celebrate the memories of the passing year as you look forward to the new opportunities and experiences the future holds for you!

Also Read:

New Year’s Crafts for Children
Funny & Hilarious New Year Jokes
Amazing New Year Instagram Captions