AINU to think NYE is rubbish with children?

[Youthgonemild]

I’m totally at a loss for fun family ideas for NYE that work with kids who are 6 & 8. I really don’t want another year of us all being woken up by fireworks at midnight and then just turning over and going back to sleep whilst everyone else we know is out having fun.

Does anyone have any idea what we can do that will give us a fun night?

Details:
We’re based in SE and have a budget of £200.
None of our friends have kids and no one we know is having a child friendly party.

I just can’t find anything suitable. Am I missing something or is NYE just a bit rubbish with young kids?

It's not kids that make New Year's Eve rubbish - it's rubbish anyway.

Always celebrated NYD instead when dc smaller. Lovely to be up early &the first one. Local town for breakfast, trip to the beach, a blustery hill walk.

Make resolutions, light candles or sparklers, create some kind of ceremony. Nice lunch out or at home. Trip to a show or a concert?

You are not wrong OP

Just ignore the fact its NYE and just treat it like any other day go to bed as normal and get up as normal who cares about NYE

My teens are all out this year so I was glad to get the chance of an early night rather then have to stay up with them

Younger DC will go to bed as normal.

NYE is so overrated. I am a lone parent and am more than happy to get us something nice to eat, watch something on tv, once DD is in bed get the chocs out and snuggle up on the sofa watching something I've wanted to see in a while. Its perfect.

This year we are going to see relatives whose children have grown up but they're v good with my 7 year old and on NYE we are going to a big play park thing which my DD hasn't been too before so she will think that's great, then we'll have a long journey back home in the afternoon so we'll both be happy to not do much in the evening. I don't make much of NYE to my DD as I think it heightens expectations of years to come!

This is the most evenly split vote I’ve ever seen

Your only hope is to find a teenage babysitter who is too young to go out drinking and celebrating - there's a brief window (age 14-16, really).

But yes, you do need to lower your expectations. Most years, when we had young kids, we'd have another family or two round for dinner, or go to someone else's, kids included. But that's because most/all of my friends had similar aged families (met most of our local friends through the children - NCT, nursery, school, football etc). Sometimes a friend would throw a big party that we could bring the kids to, and leave them to run feral for a few hours; we would usually find them panned out on a sofa at 11.30pm, smeared with chocolate, as the party raged around them.

But it is many years since I've been "out out" for NYE. Now mine are older teenagers, and they are the ones going out and catching 3am taxis home while DH and I slump on the sofa with a bottle of wine and Jools on the TV. That's enough for me nowadays; it's just another night.

We do a mini party. Mocktail Station for the kids. Fancy glasses, those umbrellas, all the different juices and sparkly non alcoholic stuff. We play some games (like limbo, musical statues, silly things) and play music. Wear our best clothes. Get a takeaway (pizza or McDonald's, nothing elaborate!) and watch jools Holland. Sometimes the kids drop by 10. In that case me and dh open a bottle of champers.

Although, last year we had a full on party and it was messy. Children asleep all over the house, adults drinking and partying until 5 am. Never again felt like death for 3 days and guilty about the kids. It wasn't supposed to be a full on party, it just became one!

This year we're doing a quiet nye and we've got 15 for dinner on new year's day. The key is to mix it up I'd say.

We invite people who want to come. Mostly family with kids and our parents. Friends with kids if they want, usually ones with older kids though. We have food and drinks, let the kids stay up as long as they want, then when they pass out on the sofa usually we put them to bed and get on with our night. Probably not the best example but it's what we do, we have fun, the kids have fun and its relaxed. Even if the kids get up early the next day we still have a lazy day on the sofa eating junk and watching movies. Just relax, dont worry about time/schedule for one night and you may find you enjoy it 😊

The most fun new year's eves I've had have been since I stopped expecting them to be fun. I'm going to bed at my usual time and will be bright eyed and bushy tailed on New years day. Decorations can come down and I will tidy the house. Sorry I'm no help

Ok, I’ve been busy! Here’s what I’ve planned so far:

• Booked kids themed afternoon tea at children’s cafe for afternoon
• Purchased a chocolate fondue set
• Purchased kids edition of trivial pursuit
• Decide on Chinese for the adult take away part
• Found last year’s fireworks to stream on the TV at 9pm so the kids can go to bed.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I feel better now I’ve got a plan.

I know I’m romanticising going into at NY and in reality it would probably suck, but I also miss the excitement of getting ready and knowing I’ll see all my friends.

Next year I think we’ll go away and dodge the whole thing

@DonPablo I love the idea of Mocktails! Definitely doing that!

I haven't been out for NYE since my DD was born 21 years ago...and I have a long way to go as a single parent to an 8 yo DS. It no longer bothers me. I get some nice food in for us, I have some wine/fizz and allow DS to stay up. We go outside at midnight, wave to the neighbours and watch other people's fireworks from the front door. It's not that exciting but it sees the NY in! I think you have to lower your expectations really, it IS difficult with children unless you get together with other families with children (which you say you don't have). That'll change as time goes on. I can't imagine wanting to go "out out" again...such a bloody faff!

Why don't you host a party? My friend does this .... children are welcome but people without children go too.
All the kids stay up ( youngest is 5) and everyone gets to chill and have a bit of fun.... communal childcare works well for occasions like this as do child friendly games.

@CosmoK None if my friends have children and they all go to one event, so there’s no way I’d tempt them to my suburb for a kid friendly party. They’re great with my kids usually, so I can’t complain really.

When our kids were young we’d do something special for dinner, get them in bed and me and the husband saw the new year in with a bang!

OP your update sounds fab. Personally I am never happier than in my cosy house, pyjamas on watching tv with nibbles and decent wine so I'm actually quite happy doing that on NYE too and so far my DC (10 and 13) seems happy too, in a couple of years I imagine they'll want to go out and DH and I wont but for now I'll enjoy the smugness of not being horribly hungover on NYD.

Ah okay. Your plans sounds great anyway.

I’m child free, but a colleague of mine chooses a different country each year and celebrates as if they were having NYE there - this year is Thailand so they’ll have Thai food and decorations, and celebrate at 5pm (as they’re 7 hours ahead). The kids feel like they’ve been a part of it, try something new, and can go to bed at normal time. Think the adults try and stay up but don’t feel under pressure to do so!

Your plans sound good to me! We rarely make it to midnight these days, and if we do it’s to say a brief happy new year then head to bed :)

I’m child free, but a colleague of mine chooses a different country each year and celebrates as if they were having NYE there - this year is Thailand so they’ll have Thai food and decorations, and celebrate at 5pm (as they’re 7 hours ahead)

This is a great idea! teaching kids about other countries cultures

I hate NYE and always have.
I think you are way over-indulging the children with all that stuff!

Your plans sound fab OP. It was always Mocktail making, board games and lantern making, followed by walking into the market square with said lanterns to watch the fireworks.
One year we had thick snow and the DC's rolled a snowball all the way back ( helped by a young couple that befriended us!). It took about 3 weeks to melt! Magical times.

Thanks @MeetmeinParis, @CosmoK and @modelthroughit I’m feeling much happier now I’ve planned something.

I love the idea of choosing a different country each year and celebrating in their style. Sounds like great fun.