Happy Adventuring: New Year's Eve with Kids

Well, 2015 appears to be right around the corner. I am a little (okay maybe a lot) taken by surprise by this, because 2014 seems to have passed at roughly the same speed as my preschooler can burn through packs of fruit snacks. Which is fast. 

So in case you have littles, and don't plan on staying up until midnight (who can do that?! I would like to meet them so I can give them a high five.) and you are looking for something to occupy your time on New Year's Eve, look no further! 

Last year we hosted a small New Year's party for our Parenting Now! group (if you have littles ages three and under, and especially if you are a first time parent, call Parenting Now! right now to join a group. No really - I'm serious - quit reading and call them now. They're fantastic.) and are doing so again this year. Here are some ideas for creating a fun celebration that is kid friendly but still entertaining for the grownups.

1. Make it easy on the host. By making your party a potluck, you guarantee that one family doesn't end up prepping all the food. This is good because my friends make way better food than I do.
 
2. Kids crafts rule. Have supplies for the littles to make noise makers and party hats rather than buying them already made. They are ridiculously expensive, and get used for approximately 53 seconds. Except for the noise makers, which will get used either for 13 consecutive hours, or until you hide it because if you have to hear it any more your ears will start to bleed. Whichever is sooner. Here are some fun ideas for party supplies:

image via All Kids Network

Paper plate shaker & Paper plate crown

image via Meaningful Mama

3. Party early. We have found that a party from 5-7 pm works really nicely. That way everyone can enjoy a meal together, and make it home at a very reasonable hour. Driving on New Year's makes me nervous, and a late bedtime for littles is no fun for anyone, so ending early is a win-win. 

4. Toast to the New Year. Have a champagne toast at 7 pm. The fact that it's not actually midnight is irrelevant. Nobody cares. If you give the littles some Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider in a plastic champagne flute, you will be an instant hero forever. 

5. Keep it simple. I love parties with a theme. Parties where everything matches. Parties that obviously have taken lots of planning and preparation. Love, love, love them. However. I do not throw parties like these. It is just not in my skill set. I prefer causal events where everyone pitches in and makes themselves at home. Minimal work for maximum enjoyment and all that. Moral of the story? Keep it simple. Enjoying community and conversation while eating chips and salsa off a paper plate wins over driving yourself bonkers trying to recreate something you saw on Pinterest. Don't get me wrong - I love Pinterest. I use it all the live long day. Mostly while hoping that someone else will make whatever I'm looking at and invite me over. 

6. But try something new, too. Putting aside the ridiculously long winded thoughts above, I actually am considering making this for our party this year:

image via about parenting

How fun is that? Super cute. Also simple to make. And the littles will be thrilled. And I will look way cooler than I actually am. Awesome. 

So hop to it, all ye party animals, and throw a super fun bash for all your closest favorites. And don't forget to invite me! 

Happy Adventuring into 2015!

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Megan Defferding is the mom to two super fun boys who love to find great stuff to do all around Lane County! Check out her blog series, Happy Adventuring, weekly on GoMomGo.