New Year's Eve parties are, almost by definition, a grown-ups-only ordeal. Many of us associate the New Year with drinking, loud music, and wild behavior. Parents are, however, often in a difficult situation when it comes to New Year's. We don't want to leave our kids out of our festivities, but most of us find it inappropriate to include kids in parties that might be inappropriately grown-up.
Fortunately, it's possible to include kids in a New Year's celebration that is fun for adults, while also being safe and appropriate for kids. This year, I'm planning an awesome party for my friends as well as a couple of my 3-year-old daughter's friends. Here's how I want to make this New Year fun for everyone.
1. Plan on guests spending the night. I expect my friends and their kids to both sleep over on New Year's Eve. This offers two advantages: it ensures that my friends won't be out on the roads around dangerous drunk drivers, and it also eliminates the stress of keeping kids up far past their bedtimes or waking them up to take them home. Everyone wins when the kids' New Year's bash is a pajama party.
2. Have a designated kids' space.
Kids don't like to be ostracized, but, if they can feel like they get their very own special party, it can make the night that much more exciting. Set up a kids' space (I'll be using my daughter's room) with toys, snacks, coloring pages, and movies, to keep the kids happy and entertained. Dress the room with balloons, streamers, and other colorful, kid-friendly decorations. Depending on the age and maturity level of the kids attending the party, parents may have to take turns supervising the kids.
3. Minimize drinking among adults. I don't believe that it's necessary to ban drinking entirely at a party where kids are present, but it's absolutely inappropriate for adults to get visibly drunk in the presence of impressionable children. Politely remind your guests that there are children present, and that no one should be having more than a couple of drinks, especially not while the kids are still awake. If your grown-up guests are looking for a place where they can ring in the New Year with puking and passing out, they'll have to look elsewhere.
4. Don't let kids stay up until midnight unless they can absolutely handle it. Most youngsters aren't going to make it until midnight, but they're certainly going to try! Don't let kids have any caffeinated beverages, or they're likely to be both awake and irritable. Remind kids that tantrums and crankiness will not be tolerated, and force them to go to bed as soon as they start acting up. The countdown to midnight is only for kids who can behave until then.
5. Keep your grown-up guests happy, too. No one wants a New Year's party to revolve entirely around entertaining children. Make sure your adult guests are getting plenty of fun and entertainment, too. Have music playing all night, opening up the possibility for dancing. Keep plenty of snacks out, along with drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and perhaps include some grown-up board games or video games in the festivities. Remember that it's possible for kids and parents to have fun at the same party.
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