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Original poster

New Year’s Eve with a 4 year old

27 replies

Sowhatnextthen · 26/12/2022 21:07

Any ideas of anything to do?

Last year I made a little party at home in the late afternoon-no way could we stay up until midnight-just us and made steak and chips, had balloons and poppers etc..it was nice but I cba this year 🙈🤣
The other years we’ve gone for a quick drink at the beach at sunset or just got a takeaway.
There are fireworks nearby at midnight, but couldn’t keep her up, plus we have a dog who we couldn’t leave as the fireworks scare her.
What do you do, if anything on NYE with little ones?

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 26/12/2022 21:09

We’re having sushi and dumplings - break from endless roasted veg and cheese - then getting an early night. Got a nearly 3 year old and I’m 6 months pregnant. It’s just another night. She’s had more than enough excitement over Christmas!

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 26/12/2022 21:12

We dont usually do anything, DP is usually at work and i put the kids to bed at normal time then go to bed myself at 10. This year DP is off and we have friends coming over with their children, were having a buffet and the kids can play until they drop.

MissAmbrosia · 26/12/2022 21:12

Um nothing - put them to bed like normal.

35965a · 26/12/2022 21:12

I just do party food for dinner and that’s it really! They probably wouldn’t last til midnight anyway and I don’t think they’re bothered at all.

Numbat2022 · 26/12/2022 21:13

Just a normal night really, they can't stay up that late so not much else to do.

I wouldn't mind letting an older child stay up, but it's in no-one's best interests to have a grumpy shall child the next day!

Stompythedinosaur · 26/12/2022 21:13

We have a family board games party and eat pizza.

wonderingpondering1 · 26/12/2022 21:14

I put mine to bed at the normal time and then me and DH have steak and open a bottle of Prosecco as a treat. No one nearby to babysit so we can’t even go out…if we did I don’t think if last until midnight though!

Oysterbabe · 26/12/2022 21:14

It's DD's birthday so we'll have a day out with her. We're seeing a panto this year. Nothing special for New Year. The kids go to bed at their normal time.

LargeglassofRosePlease · 26/12/2022 21:15

Just a normal night. Perhaps a few little party nibbles maybe as a treat but nothing out of the ordinary.

I really don’t like NYE. Can you tell? 🤣

DarkDarkNight · 26/12/2022 21:15

I do the Panto on NYE rather than before Christmas then pizza after. Is there any shows still on? Or any cinemas showing kids films?

If not I would just do an early takeaway or party food.

userh79 · 26/12/2022 21:16

Boards games and nice tea at that age, it was a few years before I let them stay up until midnight, around 7+ then they started "downstairs sleepovers".

BashfulClam · 26/12/2022 21:16

I miss the Hogmanays I had as a child. All in my subtitles house with the fire lit, adults all drinking and us in pyjamas watching Taggart and Scotch and Rye…chimney smoke mixed with frost takes me straight back.

mycatsanutter · 26/12/2022 21:17

I wouldn't do anything other than nice food and a film at that age ,I wouldn't plan to stay up til midnight .

TokenGinger · 26/12/2022 21:18

We don't usually do anything. We just have an evening in. If DS manages to stay awake, we stand outside wrapped up watching fireworks at midnight.

Hobbes8 · 26/12/2022 21:20

We did fake midnight when the kids were younger (they’re too old to be fooled now). You can watch previous years London fireworks on YouTube - we used to a countdown about 9pm

Original poster
Sowhatnextthen · 26/12/2022 21:21

I’m also not a massive fan of Nye and am usually asleep, just wanted to do even a little something as then it’s boring Jan, no fun & back to school/work
Board games & pizza/takeaway sounds nice 🤔

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 26/12/2022 21:21

Never done anything with mine and she's 9 now. I like to have the time to myself!

christmaslover88 · 26/12/2022 21:31

We'll probably do a fun family evening, play some games and have pizza and watch previous years fireworks on YouTube but the kids will go to bed at normal time. Dh and I might have a bottle of fizz but I'm not sure we'll stay up till midnight as have a 6 week old and we're knackered. 4 year olds don't really have much concept of nye and wouldn't know if it was midnight or not any way so no point keeping them up, they'll just be unbearable the next day and won't even have appreciated the event

Original poster
Sowhatnextthen · 26/12/2022 21:33

We won’t keep her up and she’ll go to bed at normal time as she has previous years, would just like to do a little something different maybe

OP posts:
Hesma · 26/12/2022 23:28

When my DDs were little we would stream last years fireworks on tv do they thought they were up until midnight and then put them to bed. They loved it!

Iwantamarshmallowman · 27/12/2022 00:03

Watch a family movie or two, put out some nibbles. Then they usually lay on the sofa under a blanket watching their tablets untill they ask go to bed / fall asleep or make it to midnight.

Rosebel · 27/12/2022 01:11

2 year old will go to bed around his usual time. Older ones are teenagers so we'll probably stay up. Take away and a film is what we've done since they were about 6 so will do the same this year. Watch the fireworks then go to bed.
Don't really know why we bother. It's always a let down.

Changechangychange · 27/12/2022 01:13

Nothing for DS, and he is 6. We can celebrate the New Year the following morning with a special breakfast.

christmaslover88 · 27/12/2022 18:37

@Changechangychange ooh, what do you do for your special breakfast?

Changechangychange · 27/12/2022 18:39

Oh just pancakes, it’s not that special!