Family Games for New Year's

There is no one better to ring the new year in with than your family. While some elect to hit the town as the ball begins to descend, you can have just as much fun cuddled up on the couch with your favorite crew. Gather your hubby and the kids, and plan a family New Year’s celebration. Your little ones will love staying up past their bedtime, and your husband will appreciate the opportunity for the family togetherness. To keep your group engaged until the clock strikes 12, plan a few games.

Ball Decorating Contest

The ball is an iconic representation of the new year. Households all over the United States view the dropping of this glowing orb as part of their New Year’s festivities. Instead of just watching the ball drop, make the ball drop into an interactive activity. Several days before New Year’s, give your family members some art supplies and ask them each to create a New Year’s ball replica. Unveil these creations at the start of your New Year’s Eve festivities. Ask each family member to give each ball a score from 1 to 10. Before midnight, add up the scores and see which creation won the challenge.

The Mouse Ran Up the Clock

Let your rambunctious bunch burn off some energy in the hours leading up to midnight with a physical game. The Mouse Ran Up the Clock is similar to the backyard classic Red Light, Green Light. To play, line your kids up on one side of the room. Stand on the opposite side with your back to the bunch. Tell the kids that you are going to say a time and that they must quickly take that number of steps toward you before you turn around. If they haven’t finished their steps by the time you turn, they are out. The first player to reach you at the opposite side of the room wins.

To ensure that none of the players cheat in their quest to be top mouse, charge dad with serving as referee and to ensure that no one steals an extra step to win out over her siblings.

Bubble Wrap Stomp

Ring in the New Year with a bubble wrap stomp competition. Buy some equal-sized sheets of bubble wrap and give one to each child. Encourage your kids to stomp on their wrap and pop all the bubbles as quickly as they can. Reward the little noisemaker who completely stomps out the bubbles on his wrap first.