Happy Almost 2016! The fast-approaching New Year can be a big deal for youngsters who only have a handful of 365-day cycles under their belts. That calls for a celebration—but how do you celebrate when some little ones might not make it to midnight?
Enter Nickelodeon Parents: We’ve got all the goodies and games you’ll need to throw a New Year’s Eve party that your kids will remember, no matter when their heads hit the pillow. Begin early in the evening and try a new activity each hour, counting down toward midnight.
T – 5 Hours:
At 1900 hours, make a Blaze “Race to the New Year” countdown fruit salad. Count with your preschooler as you add ten grapes, nine blueberries (and so on and so forth) to a medium-sized bowl. Then practice counting down from ten and shouting Happy New Year! It’s a math lesson rolled up into a yummy and healthy party snack!
T – 4 Hours:
8pm is “2016” cookie decorating time! It’s amazing what you can do with pre-made cookie dough and some colored icing tubes. Check out our Nick-Jr.-inspired sugar cookies here!
T – 3 Hours:
Crack out the leftover holiday gift wrap! 2100 hours is Rocky’s Recycled Party Hats hour!
T – 2 Hours:
Shimmer and Shine were the inspiration for these sparkly pink and blue “champagne” flutes. Glue, glitter, sequins, and rhinestones liven up a plastic glass filled with one of these awesome kid-friendly New Year’s cocktails!
T – 1 Hour:
They’re still awake, huh? You now have a choice: either get their endorphins up or completely tire them out. Actually, either could be solved by playing a game of freeze dance. And what better to dance to than the best of this year’s Bubble Guppies hits!
T – 0 Hours:
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year! Give your loved ones and your loved little ones a big smooch–2016 is going to be wonderful!
If your little ones can’t stay up until midnight, that’s OK! Start the countdown even earlier in the day and promise them a big New Year’s kiss at midnight while they’re sleeping — the perfect way to start out 2016 on the right note.
