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Kids’ New Year’s Eve Parties by Age

We’re counting down the days to the New Year with tips to count down with the kids. Whether your kids are five or fifteen, keep them entertained at home with one of these age-appropriate parties.

Grade Schoolers: Ages 5-8

Invite your friends over and their young children too! Grade-school kids can stay entertained with snacks, dance parties and more while the adults enjoy a celebration of their own.

Food 

We all know that kids love to snack, so what better way to celebrate the incoming New Year (and make sure even the pickiest eaters are happy) than with a Kids’ Charcuterie Board. Add meats, cheeses, veggies, fruits, chips, and anything else you have around the house to a large platter. Get inspired on board ideas here.

Activities 

Dance parties are a guaranteed way to keep kids entertained while getting their energy out. Turn on a playlist or station with kids’ dance music and let them go wild. As kids start to wind down, turn on a movie until it is time for the NYE celebration.

Celebrate

Kids this age can rarely make it to midnight, so celebrate the countdown early! Choose a time—for example, 9pm—for your “midnight.” If there is a countdown taking place somewhere else in the world at this time, watch it on TV. Make it extra special by toasting with cookies and milk served in Chinet Crystal® cups.

Preteens: Ages 9-12

Let your preteens have a party of their own with food, music, and a NYE “ball drop.”

Food 

If it’s not too cold, set up a fire outside and let kids roast hotdogs and s’mores. If the weather doesn’t allow, indoor s’mores are a great alternative. Make it extra festive with a hot chocolate bar. Set up a drink station with hot chocolate, mix-ins (like candy canes and syrups), and toppings (whipped cream, of course!). Serve the drinks in Chinet Comfort® cups.

Activities 

Kids this age might not be thrilled with the idea of playing games until they start playing this interactive, laugh-out-loud one. The New Year’s Eve Ball Game is simple. Before the party begins, create a ball out of plastic wrap and various prizes including toys and candy. Have everyone sit in a circle and give one person the ball and a set of oven mitts. The person next to them has a set of dice. The player with the ball tries to unwrap it while wearing the oven mitts until the player next to them rolls doubles. When they roll doubles, the ball gets passed to the next player. Any prizes the player gets during their turn, they get to keep.

Celebrate

Create your own “ball drop” using balloons. Kids this age will love celebrating the New Year with a balloon drop and dance party. Simply blow up 20-30 balloons and set them aside. With help from another person, tape the corners of the sheet to the ceiling then fill the loose sheet with the balloons. Tie a sting to one corner of the sheet to pull down at midnight. Add noisemakers for a real celebration!

Teenagers: Ages 13-16

Teenagers are at the age when they are looking for something fun to do for New Year’s Eve. Throw them a party that will keep them entertained and safe at home!

Food 

Make the evening a little fancier than usual with cheese and chocolate fondue. Set out fondue pots with both cheese and chocolate for kids to treat themselves. Serve the cheese and chocolate with fruit, bread, and veggies on Chinet Classic® plates.

Activities 

Set up a photo booth for kids to take silly pictures of themselves throughout the night. Another great way to keep them entertained is with a variety of “Minute It to Win It” games. From Suck It Up to Penny Tower, teens will have a great time bonding and embarrassing themselves at the same time.

Celebrate

Make a toast with sparkling cider in Chinet Crystal® cups at midnight. Surprise the kids with noisemakers and silly string to take outside and celebrate with!