5 Essentials for a Super-Fun New Year's Eve Party with Kids (It's Possible, Really!)

I swear I'm not going to tell you to make cheese fondue in your wackiest PJs and watch a YouTube video of last year's fireworks and, after you send the kids off to bed, try to keep your eyelids from falling before the ball does by playing penny poker.

I am going to tell you to throw a last-minute party with friends that is G-rated yet crazy-fun. We have been doing this kind of tot-friendly bash for five years now, so it has officially earned family tradition status.

To create your own New Year's Eve party that will win over both tall and short people, here is what you need:

1. Another Family with Kids

Photo: Frugal Mama

The foundation of this party is an adult-child double playdate, so invite over some good friends with children of a similar age. Up the giggly factor by asking everyone to dress a little crazy. One year I wore vintage red-paisley bell-bottom pants with a feathery disco top. My kids like to put on their most glittery dress-up clothes and, when available, pink wigs.

2. International Time Zone Map & a Wink-Wink

Photo: over_kind_man

Warn your adult friends that you'll be celebrating midnight (or as my kids would say, "decorating midnight") at a kid-friendly hour. Like they do it in the Brazilian Islands at 9 p.m. (OK, that's with a three-hour time difference). You could also try a Moroccan midnight at 7 p.m. Or party with the Azores at 8.

Just party like it's midnight wherever you are, because it's always midnight somewhere.

3. Food

Photo: Frugal Mama

So that no one gets too fizzed up on sparkling cider or prosecco, breaking bread with your friends should be a main element of your evening. Not to worry if entertaining is not your thing! Cook an old family favorite -- it's still new to your guests, and making something familiar will give you more energy for partying. Then just break out one simple special element, like sprinkles on ice cream with sparkler-candles.

4. Noisemakers, Crazy Hats & Streamers

Photo: Frugal Mama

Be ready to go all in when "midnight" strikes with silly hats, streamers, confetti, noisemakers, and obnoxious horns. You can probably round up an armful for not that much by hitting the dollar store.

Use the party props as a centerpiece, or sprinkle them around the house as decorations, with other glittery things like Christmas balls or string lights.

5. MC Hammer, Madonna, Prince, or [Insert Guilty Dance Pleasure Here]

Photo: Stephen Cummings

I'm exposing my questionable taste in music here, but after the crazy noise and kisses of ringing in the new year, we think it's fun to play some really loud music and make fools out of ourselves in front of the kids. We've even been known to dance on the furniture. The kids love that part.

And seriously -- how can the neighbors complain when it's all dark and quiet by 10 p.m.?

We love the innocent fun of this all-inclusive New Year's Eve party so much that we're starting to worry about just one thing: What will we do when our kids grow up?

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Tags: Holidays