I would like to offer my good wishes for a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year to all my readers and supporters. I sincerely hope that you are able to realize your best visions for 2014.
Sometimes the young children in our lives miss out on a New Year’s Eve celebration since they can’t stay up until midnight. How about arranging a New Year’s Noon celebration for your minis? Read or tell stories, sing songs, do a simple craft and engage in a countdown leading to noon. Wear something fancy or fun—maybe a boa and tiara à la Fancy Nancy. Silly hats are de rigueur. Sip sparkling grape juice or cider. Bring out balloons at the stroke of noon. Toddlers and preschoolers will happily participate.
You can cut up colorful construction paper or old magazines to make confetti to throw at noon. Use sparkly stickers or crayons or eco-friendly markers to decorate 2014 paper calendars and keep them up all year to remember your celebration.
Don’t forget noisemakers. Since this is a last-minute suggestion, you can find lots of safe things in your kitchen that the kids can use, such as a wooden spoon and a pot to bang on. Some empty food canisters also make good drums and even better noisemakers with dried beans inside to shake. If you are a bit more ambitious, you and your little guest can make a noisemaker by decorating two paper plates and taping or stapling them together. Before they are fully closed, slip in some dried beans and use a popsicle stick for a handle. Voilà!
I am reminded of one long-ago New Year’s eve when we all stayed in a hotel in downtown Chicago. Our son was having a hard time staying up after swimming and our other activities, so my husband turned on the New York countdown, and we celebrated at 11 p.m. (CST)!
Here are 3 suggestions for books with a New Year’s theme for young children:
• Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller
• The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing
• Bear’s New Year’s Party: A Counting Book by Paul Owen Lewis
Cheers!
Great suggestion. My granddaughter is not here this year but certainly will tuck this away for next year! Love the book suggestions. Wishing you a Happy New Year
Thanks for visiting and your kind comments. Btw, I enjoyed your picture diary.
What fun ideas for an alternative New Year celebration! I hope you and your family, friends and readers have a wonderful New Year.
Best wishes for you and yours, as well. Kc, I appreciate your support this past year.
I love your suggestion for an early countdown. Perhaps I’ll one day have local grandkids to share New Year’s Eve with me. I must admit, though, I’m thankful there weren’t kids in the house banging on pots this past New Year’s Eve, early or not. 😀
Best wishes to you, Belinda, for a magical and memorable 2014, filled with blessings for you and yours! ♥
Thanks for your lovely wish, Lisa. I know that there are some exciting things on the horizon for you and your family.