Ways To Enjoy New Years Eve With The Kids!

Up until I had children, I enjoyed spending New Years Eve with my closest friends, partying the night away.  Since having children, my preference is spending the night at home with my family, cooking a dinner of steak frites and enjoying a glass of wine.  It’s a quiet night, but it’s certainly not boring!  Big-A has been celebrating with us since age 3, and it’s a lot of fun.  I think Lil-J is too young to last until midnight this year, but we’ll still include him in the (early) festivities.

Here are some tips on how to make New Years Eve with the kids one to remember!

Have a dance party.  Turn on your iPod, local tv station or any of the big celebrations

(Dick Clarke, etc) and get dancing.

Serve healthy snacks like air-popped popcorn (add 1 tbsp melted butter and 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan), or raw veggies with red pepper hummus.  My sister is planning to make a cheese fondue with her girls this year.  I love this idea (now wishing Santa brought me a

fondue kit)!

For a ‘treat’, break out a bottle of bubbly!  Sparking water is a great treat for kids with zero calories and caffeine, with no added sugar.  Skip the pop!

Plan a movie that is guaranteed to pique your child’s interest.  Waiting for midnight can make any adult impatient, the wait can be excruciating for kids.  A movie will help to break up the night.  If you haven’t pulled out any classics for your kids yet (The Wizard Of Oz, The Goonies, The Princess Bride, ET), this would be the night to do so.

Make it a pyjama night.  If your little one passes out before the stroke of midnight,

you can just put him to bed.

Have a fun activity planned.  Make homemade ice cream sundaes after dinner.  Write a list of ‘favourite moments’ of 2011.  Write birthdays and special dates on your 2012 calendar.

The most important thing to do with your kids on New Years Eve is to HAVE FUN!

Wishing you all a healthy, prosperous, and happy New Year!

Big-A dancing up a storm New Years Eve 2009 - age 4