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Ring in the New Year
FAMILY STYLE

New Year’s Eve traditionally conjures images of adult soirees, replete with formal dress, champagne toasts, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and passionate kisses at midnight. Not exactly an ideal scene for young children.

So do children simply have to wait until adulthood to appreciate the holiday? It’s really up to Mom and Dad. If you want to include your little ones in the festivities, there is plenty of fun to go around.

Dress Up

Even if you are home alone with the kids, getting dressed up for the occasion can be great fun. A fancy dress or suit from a recent wedding or Easter would work for the kids and Mom and Dad could don their Sunday best or even full formalwear.

Crowns

Add to the fancy duds with crowns your children fashion out of colorful chenille stems (pipe cleaners). Help them get started with a circle that will fit their heads, and then they can bend additional stems into wild shapes to attach to the base. They could make one for Mom and Dad to wear, too.

Decorations

A quick trip to the party supply store will yield all you need to create a festive atmosphere. This may seem like overkill for a little celebration at home, but the kids will love it and you might even enjoy the evening more in extra-special surroundings.

Hors d’oeuvres

Stuffed mushrooms are bound to go over like a lead balloon with the under-15 crowd, so stick with treats you know your children will enjoy. Melted cheese on small bread squares, diced ham, carrot sticks, grapes, any finger foods they like will seem fancy if served from trays on small party plates.

Champagne

Give your child sparkling grape juice (the bottle even looks like a champagne bottle) in a plastic champagne flute. He will feel ever so grown-up. However, if you have strong feelings against alcohol, mix Sprite with grape juice and serve in his favorite cup for a special treat without the allusion to alcohol.

Toasts

As you ring in the New Year, reflect on the old. Let each family member describe their favorite memories and give a toast to the fun and joys of the prior year.

Midnight

Children usually sleep through the big moment when the clock strikes midnight and the calendar year begins anew. If your child is a night owl, consider allowing her to stay up late for one night, with the understanding that an early bedtime will be required for catching up the next couple nights. Another possibility would be to party until bedtime with the promise that you will wake her later for the big countdown.

Kisses

An overly passionate kiss may not be appropriate with the kids around, but how about a family kiss? As you countdown, huddle everyone together for a big family kiss on the stroke of midnight. Laughter will likely ensue!

Resolutions

Goal setting is a great tool to teach our kids that will serve them well in many areas of their lives. Resolutions can be a fun way to set goals. Talk to your children about your resolutions for the coming year. Then ask them what they would like to accomplish next year. What would they like to do more of or learn to do better? What bad habit would they like to break? Be careful to let these ideas come from them, and they will be more likely to stay motivated.