[00:14] We have made it to the end of the longest year of all our lives. Say goodbye to 2020! Today we’re going to talk all about how to create a family connection on New Year’s Eve. The idea here is not for you to stress yourself out and add more to your plate, but it is to think about how you can make this particular New Year’s celebration one to remember. 

[01:49] The New Year is a great opportunity to hit reset and plant a really nice celebration for the end of the year. There is an invitation for all of us to have some intention behind how we are going to celebrate the end of the year. I want you all to welcome in a new year full of hope and renewal of intentions.  

[02:43] My first suggestion is if you have little kids. Ideally, having them stay up until midnight isn’t the most fun. Instead of having a New Year’s Eve celebration, have it be a “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration. You can still have a countdown with noisemakers and party hats. it just happens at 12:00 pm versus midnight. This is just an idea to mix it up and have something the little ones can look forward to. 

[03:30] Idea number two is Netflix. If you have Netflix, they have plenty of countdown for kids. Many different programs and characters, both animated and live-action shows host various types of countdowns. Maybe there's a favorite show or series that you or your children love that would make it a really fun and kid-friendly way to count down. I suggest getting on Netflix and looking at the different offerings they have.  

[04:19] Tip three is planning a family sleepover that is old fashioned with forts, sleeping bags, flashlights, and blankets. You can watch movies, eat popcorn, and sleep on the living room floor or wherever you have space in your home.  

[4:47] Idea number four is to pop the bubbly. It is a tradition for adults to drink a little champagne or sparkling wine on New Year’s Eve at midnight. Let’s not leave the kids out of it. You can provide a non-alcoholic option; there are ideas like sparkling cider and mocktails. I did a little research and found a list of kid-focused mocktails on a website called For Modern Kids. They have recipes for all kinds of mocktails that I am sure kids would just drool over. This is a great opportunity where they can rise to the occasion and you can all do a toast together.

[8:10] Idea number five is to make New Year’s decorations and crafts. My kids love crafting so I did a bunch of research into New Year’s themed crafts that you could do together to pass the day and prepare to celebrate the New Year. I’ve included all the links and resources in my show notes. There are really cute ideas like making homemade party hats with chalkboard paper so that kids could sign or decorate each other’s hats. 

[11:45] Idea number six is to take fun family photos with photo props. These are something you could make yourself or buy if you just search for New Year photo props. There are all kinds of cute ones. All you need to do is create a makeshift photo booth, hang a solid white sheet in the background, and have your photo props out! This is a great thing to look back on when your kids are older and a fun way to mark a special occasion. 

[12:37] Idea number seven is to have an epic game night. You could certainly play any games, just your typical favorite family board game would be great. Or you could try a classic party that is themed around the New Year. My kids love doing charades and this is one that all kids of different ages enjoy playing. 

[16:30] Idea number eight is to make time to reflect with your family. Sit down and think about making New Year resolutions for every age level that might be appropriate for your kids. You should model for your kids and provide them with a roadmap on how to make a New Year resolution. This could be great for them. 

[18:20] A close friend of mine and her family practice a lot of writing and sharing what they've written. One of the things they do is sit down with journals, go through and answer a list of reflective questions about the year and any goals they have for the New Year. After they spend a good amount of time writing, they share their thoughts. This is a great idea to hold each other accountable and check-in with one another. 

[19:30] These are the questions she shared with me, that she and her family used last year for their reflection. 

• What made this year unforgettable? 
• What did you enjoy doing this year? 
• Who or what have you been the most grateful for? 
• What was your biggest win this year?
• What did you read, watch, or listen to that made the biggest impact?
• What did you worry about most and how did it turn out? 
• What is your biggest regret and why?
• What is one thing that has changed about yourself? 
• What surprised you the most this year? 
• If you could go back to January 1st, what suggestions would you give your past self? 

[20:58] My tenth idea is to have a bonfire where you let go of old baggage from the previous years, write them down on a piece of paper and then throw them into the fire. As you release them into the fire, you say them out loud so everybody else around you can hear them and be a witness as you let those things go. 

[21:54] The ideas I’ve suggested today could happen any day, but I think being intentional this year on building as a family, both through fun and games, is a wonderful way to add significance that is warranted given the year we’ve all had. This episode is meant to help your family close that chapter and open up a new book of possibilities as we enter 2021.