Keeping kids entertained until midnight is a New Year's Eve challenge every parent knows. The secret is a mix of crafts, games, and a few 'midnight' surprises — so the whole family can celebrate together, even if the real countdown is past bedtime. Here are the best New Year activities for kids in 2027.
New Year coloring pages are a calm, creative start. Print pages with '2027,' fireworks, party hats, and clocks — kids can color while the adults prep. Set out crayons, markers, and glitter glue, and turn it into a decorating station. The finished pages double as party decor.
Make a time capsule. Have each child write or draw their favorite memory of the year, a prediction for 2027, and one wish. Seal them in a jar or box marked 'Open New Year 2028.' It becomes a yearly tradition kids look forward to — and a snapshot of who they were each year.
Build a balloon countdown. Write an activity on a slip of paper inside each of 10 balloons — dance party, silly photo, snack break, joke round. Pop one every hour (or every 30 minutes) leading up to 'midnight.' The anticipation of what's inside keeps kids engaged all evening.
New Year crafts: make party hats from cardstock and stickers, create noisemakers from dry pasta in a decorated plastic bottle, and craft '2027' glasses from cardboard. These hands-on projects fill the time and give kids something to wear at the countdown.
New Year games for kids: 'Midnight Bingo' with New Year-themed cards, a scavenger hunt for hidden clock cutouts, and 'Guess How Many' jars filled with gold chocolate coins. For older kids, a trivia round (see our New Year trivia guide) is a hit.
Host a 'noon year's eve' for little ones who can't stay up. Count down to 12:00 noon instead of midnight, with confetti poppers, juice toasts, and a balloon drop from a sheet pinned to the ceiling. Kids get the full experience and still make bedtime.
Free printable New Year activities make it easy: coloring pages, resolution worksheets, 'my year in review' templates, and bingo cards are all available free online. Print a stack in advance so you're never caught without a backup plan.
Whatever you choose, the goal is the same — make the wait part of the fun. With crafts, games, and a countdown they can actually attend, kids will remember New Year's Eve as the night the whole family celebrated together.