Ringing in the New Year Pre-K 5/K

​For New Year’s Eve this year, we decided to try Jessica’s New Year’s Eve countdown from a few years ago. I did hourly bags that started at 4 in the afternoon until we finished at 9 and rang in the New Year a little early so the kiddos could go to bed. Definitely worth the effort, though I recommend doing what I did and making the bags before Christmas, especially if you plan to travel and think you might come home exhausted (as we did). It was really wonderful to have it all set ahead of time so that my husband and I could really just focus on celebrating with the girls. I think that ordering food was a really smart idea, because we didn’t have a lot of extra time for me to cook in between activities, but you could easily do an “around the world” meal, especially if you had friends over to help divvy up the work! We will definitely make these bags a new tradition (laminating is key if you want to be able to reuse as much as possible the following year) and cant wait to see how the girls’ interviews and answers change for the questionnaires as they get older! Hopefully this fun start to the year really sets the tone for 2019!




Overview:


Dinner: Chinese and we have fortune cookies for dessert to see what 2019 might hold for us


Countdown to “New Year’s” (9:00 in our house) bags. Clocks on each bag and Aria has to tell me the time before we open it (https://www.madewithhappy.com/new-years-countdown-clock/)


Rip off 2018/19 sign that we change at midnight


Netflix kids countdown of choice (do the countdown at 9:00)- there are about 10 different options if you just search “New Year’s Eve countdown”


Fun fizz countdown each hour (http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2012/12/27/new-years-eve-countdown-activity-for-kids/)


Make our own balloon drop with a sheet and tape on ceiling fan


Make kids dress in something white, something polka dots, and pick out colorful underwear (for cultural hour, see below)



Hour bags:



4:00- Turn the Christmas tree into a wishing tree with our wishes for the coming year
AND New year’s treasure hunt (http://www.sohosonnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Picture-190.png) AND fun new year mad libs (https://lalymom.com/new-years-eve-ideas-kids-3-printable-activities/)



5:00- Paper plate hour- make a New Year’s eve paper plate countdown ball (http://jdaniel4smom.com/2014/12/new-years-eve-countdown-activity-kids.html)
AND Paper plate new year’s hat (http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Paper-Plate-Party-Hat.html)



6:00- Cultural bag (and dinner hour): https://takelessons.com/blog/new-years-eve-traditions-z03 and read out the different traditions, then do some

• walk around the house with an empty suitcase
• Dress as they do in certain countries or mix a few traditions (see above)
• Crack an egg in a glass of water
• Make up our own “dance of the bear”
• Stick our hands in ice cold water (rather than the full polar bear plunge)
• Bang loudly on pots and pans

7:00: Sparklers and salt art fireworks (https://www.muminthemadhouse.com/salt-art-fireworks/)
And make
New year’s eve sound maker (http://domesticcharm.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-eve-sound-makers.html)



8:00: Do a video interview of the girls and what they want to happen in 2019 and their favorite 2018 memories (here are some easy interview questions- http://www.sohosonnet.com/crafts-and-diy/diy-holiday/new-years-eve-countdown-activities-for-kids/)
AND New year’s time capsule (https://kellicrowe.typepad.com/kellicrowe/2010/12/kid-craft-time-capsule.html) and time capsule freebies (https://www.adabofgluewilldo.com/new-years-time-capsule/)



9:00: Last bag: fake champagne and plastic glasses to cheers the new year. Eat sparkling jello jigglers, pull the balloons down, and use Netflix countdown to finish out the night.