Month: December 2025

New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to mean staying up late watching fireworks on TV. For families with young children, it can be a special night full of fun, laughter, and little traditions that make the countdown to midnight magical.

Whether you’re planning a big family night in, a small get-together, or just want to make it feel a bit more special for your kids, this list of New Year activities for kids is packed with easy, fun and festive ideas that work perfectly in a UK family home.

Why Celebrate the New Year with Kids?

New Year’s Eve is a great opportunity to:

• Reflect on the past year as a family
• Build new traditions that children can look forward to
• Encourage gratitude, hope, and creativity
• Enjoy some light-hearted fun before the year begins

The best celebrations don’t have to be loud or late; they just need to be meaningful.

New Year’s Eve Ideas for Families

These New Year’s Eve ideas for families are designed for households with young children. They can be enjoyed during the afternoon or early evening so little ones don’t need to stay up late to join the fun.

1. Host a Mini Countdown Early

Not every child can make it to midnight, and that’s okay.

• Create your own early countdown at 7 or 8 pm.
• Use balloons, a bell, or confetti poppers (safe and child-friendly).
• Stream a “fake” countdown online or make your own with a timer.

2. Decorate the Living Room for a Family Party

Transform your lounge into a mini celebration zone:

• Hang streamers and fairy lights
• Use paper stars, balloons or banners
• Let kids make their own party hats and noise shakers

3. Create a Family Time Capsule

• Decorate an old jar or box
• Add drawings, notes, photos or small keepsakes from the year
• Open it next New Year’s Eve to look back on your memories

4. Make a Wish Jar for the Year Ahead

Each family member can write or draw a wish for the new year. Store the slips in a jar and revisit them at the end of the year to see how many came true.

Games to Play on New Year’s Eve

Fun games help children feel part of the celebration without the need for loud parties or screens. Here are some easy and exciting games to play on New Year’s Eve at home.

5. Balloon Countdown

• Fill 6-8 balloons with activity slips (e.g. “Dance party,” “Hot chocolate,” “Draw your favourite memory”)
• Pop one every 30 minutes or hour as the night goes on.

6. New Year Bingo

• Create simple bingo cards with festive words like “party hat,” “fireworks,” “balloon,” “confetti.”
• Use sweets or stickers as counters.
• First to get a line or full house wins a small prize.

7. Musical Statues

• Play family-friendly music
• Everyone dances, then freezes when the music stops
• Add party hats or props to make it more festive

8. Treasure Hunt Countdown

Hide clues around the house that lead to a “New Year’s treasure” (small party favours or treats).

Creative New Year Activities for Kids

If your children love making and doing things, these ideas bring a crafty twist to the night.

9. DIY Noisemakers

• Fill empty toilet rolls with rice or pasta, cover with paper and tape
• Decorate with stickers and pens
• Shake them during the countdown

10. Sparkler or Confetti Parade (Supervised)

If the weather permits, go outside for a mini parade in the garden.

• Use sparklers safely with adult supervision
• Or create a confetti walk indoors with paper streamers

11. Memory Garland Craft

• Cut strips of coloured paper and write favourite memories from the year on each strip.
• Link them together to make a paper chain and hang it up.

Calm and Cosy Countdown Ideas

Not every celebration has to be noisy. If your little ones prefer a quieter night:

12. Family Movie Marathon

Choose feel-good family favourites like Paddington 2, Encanto, or Frozen. Add fairy lights, blankets and snacks to make it extra special.

13. Hot Chocolate Bar

Create a mini station with mugs, whipped cream, marshmallows and sprinkles. Let the kids build their perfect hot chocolate.

14. New Year Storytime

Snuggle up and read stories about hope, wishes, or adventures. You could even make up your own family story about what the new year might bring.

Tips for a Stress-Free Family New Year’s Eve

• Keep it early: Don’t feel pressured to stay up until midnight.
• Focus on connection: Kids remember the moments, not the hour.
• Prepare in advance: Simple decorations and activities go a long way.
• Include everyone: Let kids help plan the night; it builds excitement.

Why These New Year Activities Matter

These New Year activities for kids are about more than just filling time. They create moments your children will remember fondly:

• Building family traditions
• Encouraging creativity and gratitude
• Celebrating together, no matter their age
• Ending the year on a positive, playful note

Whether you’re throwing a mini party, enjoying a cosy night in, or just sprinkling a bit of magic before bedtime, these ideas make it easy to celebrate together as a family.

The festive season is a magical time for families, especially when you have little ones at home. While the run-up to Christmas is often packed with shopping, planning and end-of-term events, it’s also the perfect opportunity to slow down and make memories together.

From cosy crafts to energetic games, here are 12 fun-filled days of festive inspiration, perfect for toddlers and primary-aged children across the UK.

How to Use These Christmas Activity Ideas

Think of this list as your family’s festive Advent calendar. You can follow the 12 days before Christmas or simply dip in and out when you fancy some holiday cheer.

These Christmas activity ideas are:

• Easy to set up at home
• Budget-friendly
• Designed with kids in mind
• Ideal for family bonding time

Let’s dive into the 12 fun Christmas activities you can enjoy together.

Day 1: Decorate a Mini Christmas Tree or Bedroom

Start the countdown with some festive decorating! Give your child their own small tree or a section of their bedroom to transform with:

• Handmade paper chains
• Fairy lights
• Small baubles or soft decorations

It gives them a sense of independence, pride and keeps little hands away from the main tree.

Day 2: Make Salt Dough Decorations

Get crafty with this classic Christmas activity. Mix:

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water

Let your children shape stars, trees, or snowmen with biscuit cutters. Bake at a low heat and decorate with paint or glitter the next day.

Day 3: Write a Letter to Santa (Father Christmas)

This is a lovely tradition that helps little ones practise writing or drawing. Royal Mail even runs a service where kids can post letters to Santa if sent early.

Add extra sparkle with stickers or drawings, and talk about what they’re excited for, beyond just presents.

Day 4: Cosy Christmas Movie Night

Snuggle up with blankets, popcorn and a family favourite Christmas film. Some great UK-friendly picks include:

• The Snowman
• The Gruffalo’s Child
• Arthur Christmas
• Paddington

Make it extra fun with hot chocolate and Christmas pyjamas.

Day 5: Create Your Own Christmas Jumper Design

Get imaginative without needing to buy a new jumper!

• Print or draw jumper outlines on paper
• Decorate with crayons, stickers, cotton wool, tinsel or buttons

You could even let them customise an old t-shirt.

Day 6: Build a Blanket Fort and Read Festive Stories

Perfect for rainy afternoons. Gather cushions, blankets and fairy lights to build a cosy den. Bring in books like:

• The Jolly Christmas Postman
• Mog’s Christmas
• Stick Man
• The Night Before Christmas

Reading together is calming and magical, especially with a twinkling fort.

Day 7: DIY Christmas Cards

Grab some card, glue, foil, old wrapping paper, stickers or even potato stamps. Kids can create unique cards for grandparents, friends or neighbours.

It’s a brilliant way to keep little hands busy and teach the joy of giving.

Day 8: Bake Festive Biscuits

Baking is a great way to involve children in the kitchen.

• Try easy shortbread or gingerbread recipes
• Let them help with rolling, cutting and decorating
• Use festive cutters (stars, bells, reindeer)

Top with icing sugar or Smarties for extra festive fun.

Day 9: Go on a Christmas Lights Walk

Pop on warm coats and explore your local area after dark. Look for:

• Inflatable snowmen
• Light-up reindeer
• Twinkling window displays

You can turn it into a scavenger hunt with a checklist, great for burning off bedtime energy.

Day 10: Christmas Song & Dance Party

Play some cheerful classics and have a dance-off. Toddlers love silly moves, and older kids can choreograph their own routine.

Use tinsel as props, or make paper microphones. A great way to get the whole family moving and laughing.

Day 11: Make Reindeer Food Bags

Mix porridge oats with glitter or coloured sugar and pop them in little paper bags. Add a label with a fun poem:

“Sprinkle on the lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright,
Santa’s reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home!”

Tip: Use edible glitter if you’re sprinkling outdoors.

Day 12: Family Festive Photoshoot

End the 12 days with a photo session. Use props like Santa hats, fairy lights, or silly glasses.

Set up a simple background or snap some fun candid shots in your fort, baking, or dancing. These photos make great keepsakes or gifts.

Tips for Making Christmas Activities Extra Special

• Keep it simple – The focus is on fun, not perfection.
• Let kids lead – Give them the space to make decisions.
• Keep music playing – Background Christmas music boosts the festive vibe.
• Get everyone involved – Siblings, grandparents, even the dog in a Santa hat!

Why These Christmas Activities Matter

In the whirlwind of wrapping paper and wish lists, it’s easy to forget what really matters: spending time together. These Christmas activities for kids are more than just ways to pass the time. 

They can:

• Strengthen family bonds
• Spark creativity and imagination
• Teach kindness, patience, and sharing
• Create lasting childhood memories

Whether you do all twelve or just a few, the joy comes from doing them together.