Once Christmas passes, it seems we’re all gearing up to ring in a brand new year! For some, the week following Christmas is a time to put away Christmas decor and get a jump start on those resolutions. For others, it’s just a week to relax before changing the date on everything. Regardless of how you view the upcoming new year, you don’t have to spend New Year’s Eve bored! Try playing games and involving neighbors or family members!
Games to Play
One surefire way to lighten up the atmosphere on New Year’s Eve is to play group games! Don’t forget to charge your phones so you can capture these memories!
- Beverage Relay Race: Whether you have an adult beverage or sparkling cider, this game is always a hit. Set up two tables (one at each end of a room) and on each table, secure a clear plastic cup. Mark the cup with a line about two inches from the top. For the relay, each person will go all the way to the other table and back, pouring whatever remains into his or her glass into the plastic cup.
- Name That Carol: Singing Christmas carols is definitely a heartwarming part of the holiday season. But let’s face it – they’re also the perfect songs to do karaoke or to play a couple of fun games! For Name That Carol, simply play the first five seconds of a song (which is usually instrumental) and see who – or which team – can correctly guess the song title the fastest. You can also reward bonus points to the person/team who can name the artist!
Activities to Do:
If you still have roaring laughter built up, try some of these activities – they’re sure to tickle your funny bone!
- Pin the Nose (on the Snowman): This is a perfect idea for those who live in snowy climates. Go outside and build a snowman as tall as you can make it. Fresh, fluffy snow works best for this. Once you’ve added the essentials (i.e. buttons, eyes, a nose, a hat, a scarf, and a hat), Then, take turns attaching the tail to the snowman!
- New Year’s Eve Jokes: The LaffGaff is full of funny jokes and puns related to just about any topic you could think to search. (*Warning: some jokes have adult content such as alcohol. We didn’t find anything offensive, but kids may not “get” the humor in some.)
At times, it can feel like waiting around for the new year to roll in takes forever. Instead of sitting glued to the television waiting for the ball the drop, indulge yourself and your family members in activities that will bring about laughter and create long-lasting memories. Start the new year off right – laughing until your sides hurt!
Tasha Swearingen
Tasha is a homeschooling mom to 5 and has been homeschooling for 14 years. Currently, her children's ages span from toddler to young adult. Tasha has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Social Sciences from Florida State University and is working on her MBA through SNHU/Berklee School of Music.
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