Getting ready for New Year’s Eve with little ones buzzing around? Forget stressing about elaborate plans; the real fun is often found right at home, especially when you get crafty! Making things together is a fantastic way to build excitement for the midnight moment (or, let’s be real, the kid-friendly early countdown). Plus, you end up with personalized party gear that beats store-bought stuff any day. Let’s dive into some simple, fun crafts that will have your kids ringing in the New Year with handmade cheer.
Make Some Noise! DIY Shakers and Clappers
What’s New Year’s Eve without a little bit of happy racket? Instead of just handing out noisemakers, let the kids create their own instruments of celebration. It adds a layer of pride and ownership to the countdown clamor. These ideas use common household items, making them easy to pull together even at the last minute.
Paper Plate Tambourines
These are a classic for a reason: simple, customizable, and they make a satisfying rattling sound. You likely have everything you need already.
What You Need:
- Paper plates (the sturdy kind work best, 2 per tambourine)
- Dried beans, rice, pasta shapes, or pony beads (the ‘noise’ element)
- Stapler or strong craft glue
- Decorating supplies: crayons, markers, paint sticks, glitter glue, stickers, yarn
How to Make Them:
First, let the kids go wild decorating the *bottom* side (the side you eat off) of two paper plates. This will be the outside of the tambourine. They can draw fireworks, write Happy New Year, cover them in glitter – anything goes! Once the decorations are dry (if using paint or glue), place one plate face down. Sprinkle a small handful of your chosen noise-makers (beans, rice, etc.) onto the center of the plate. Don’t overfill, or it won’t shake well. Place the second decorated plate on top, also face down, so the decorated bottoms are facing outwards. Carefully align the edges. Now, secure the plates together. A stapler is quickest and usually holds well; place staples close together around the rim. Alternatively, apply a strong line of craft glue around the edge, press the plates together firmly, and let it dry completely (using clips can help hold it while drying). Once sealed, give it a shake and let the joyous noise begin!
Festive Rice Shaker Bottles
Smaller hands might find these easier to grip, and they offer a different kind of sound.
What You Need:
- Small empty plastic bottles with lids (water bottles, small soda bottles, spice jars – clean and dry!)
- Uncooked rice or small dried beans/lentils
- Optional: food coloring, glitter
- Strong glue (like hot glue – adult use only!) or sturdy tape (like duct tape)
- Decorations: colored tape, stickers, permanent markers, ribbons
How to Make Them:
If you want colorful rice, put some uncooked rice in a zip-top bag, add a few drops of food coloring and a tiny splash of vinegar or water, seal, and shake until coated. Spread the rice on a baking sheet to dry completely. Once dry (or using plain rice), funnel some rice into each clean, dry bottle. Add a pinch of glitter if desired for extra sparkle. Fill the bottle about one-quarter to one-third full – enough to make noise but still have room to shake. Now, the crucial step: securing the lid. Apply strong glue around the bottle’s screw threads before tightly screwing on the lid. For extra security, especially with younger kids, wrap strong tape (like colorful duct tape) around the lid and neck of the bottle. Once the glue is dry or the tape is secure, let the kids decorate the outside of the bottle with tape, stickers, or permanent markers. Tie some festive ribbons around the neck for extra flair!
Safety First! Many of these crafts involve small items like beads, beans, or rice, which can be choking hazards for very young children. Always supervise crafting closely. Ensure lids on shakers are securely glued or taped shut by an adult to prevent accidental opening.
Top It Off: Party Hats Galore
No New Year’s Eve party outfit is complete without a festive hat! Ditch the flimsy store versions and create unique headwear that reflects each child’s personality.
Classic Cone Hats with Pizzazz
The quintessential party hat, made infinitely better with personal touches.
What You Need:
- Cardstock or thin cardboard (old cereal boxes work!)
- Cone hat template (easily found online) or just draw a large semi-circle
- Scissors
- Tape or glue
- Elastic string or ribbon for the chin strap
- Hole punch (optional, but helpful)
- Decorations: paint, markers, glitter, pom-poms, stickers, pipe cleaners, tinsel
How to Make Them:
Trace your template onto the cardstock or draw a large semi-circle. Cut it out. Now’s the time to decorate the flat piece! Let imaginations run wild. Paint stripes, draw stars, glue on sequins, add glittery numbers for the upcoming year. Once decorated and dry, carefully roll the shape into a cone. Secure the seam firmly with tape or glue. To add a chin strap, either punch a small hole on opposite sides near the bottom edge and tie on elastic string or ribbon, or simply staple the ends of the elastic securely to the inside bottom edge. For extra fun, glue a fluffy pom-pom or some curled ribbon to the very tip of the cone.
Royal New Year Crowns
Let every child feel like royalty welcoming the New Year.
What You Need:
- Sturdy cardstock or poster board (gold or silver looks great!)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Measuring tape (optional)
- Decorations: craft jewels, glitter glue, metallic markers, stickers, foil shapes
How to Make Them:
Measure around your child’s head loosely or estimate. Cut a long strip of cardstock, about 3-4 inches wide and long enough to fit around the head plus a little overlap. On one of the long edges, draw a crown shape – zig-zags, rounded points, whatever you like! Cut along this line carefully. Now, decorate the ‘crown’ band. This is where the bling comes in! Glue on plastic jewels, draw intricate patterns with metallic markers, add lines of glitter glue, stick on shiny stars. Once the decorations are dry, wrap the band into a circle to fit the child’s head and secure the ends with tape or glue. Instant royalty!
Counting Down in Style: DIY Clocks
Build the anticipation for the big moment with a visual countdown! These clocks are more about the fun of tracking time together than perfect accuracy.
Paper Plate Countdown Clock
A simple, interactive clock face perfect for practicing numbers and time-telling.
What You Need:
- Paper plate (sturdy)
- Cardstock or construction paper for the hands
- Markers or crayons
- Brad fastener (split pin)
- Scissors
- Glitter, stickers, etc. for decoration
How to Make Them:
First, decorate the paper plate rim. Make it festive! Write “Happy New Year!” around the edge. Inside the rim, help your child write the numbers 1 through 12, just like on a real clock face. Or, if you’re doing an earlier countdown, you could just write the last few hours (e.g., 6, 7, 8, 9). Cut out two clock hands from cardstock – one short (hour) and one long (minute). Make them distinct! Poke a small hole in the center of the paper plate and at the base of each clock hand. Layer the hands (minute hand on top) over the hole in the plate and push the brad fastener through all layers. Spread the prongs of the brad on the back of the plate to secure the hands, making sure they can still move. Kids can then move the hands to track the time leading up to their special countdown moment.
Countdown Paper Chain
A visual representation of time passing that’s satisfying to break apart.
What You Need:
- Construction paper in various festive colors
- Scissors or paper trimmer
- Glue stick or tape
- Marker
How to Make Them:
Decide how many hours or perhaps half-hours you want to count down. Cut strips of construction paper, about 1.5 inches wide and 8-9 inches long. On each strip, write a time (e.g., 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:00 PM…) leading up to the New Year or the designated “midnight” for kids. Take the strip for the final moment (e.g., Midnight! or Happy New Year!) and form it into a loop, securing the ends with glue or tape. Take the strip for the second-to-last time, loop it through the first ring, and secure its ends. Continue linking the strips in reverse chronological order until you have a chain representing your countdown period. Hang the chain up, and let the kids tear off one link as each designated time arrives! It’s a great visual cue.
Verified Fun Fact: Crafting with kids isn’t just about the final product. It helps develop fine motor skills, encourages creativity and problem-solving, and provides quality bonding time. Focusing on the process rather than perfection makes it enjoyable for everyone involved. Let the glitter fly!
Setting Up for Crafting Success
A little preparation goes a long way in making craft time smooth and enjoyable.
Protect Your Space: Lay down newspaper, a plastic tablecloth, or an old sheet to catch spills and stray glitter (because there will be stray glitter!).
Organize Supplies: Put paints, glues, and small bits like beads or sequins into shallow trays or containers to minimize spills and make them easily accessible.
Kid-Safe Materials: Always opt for non-toxic, washable markers, paints, and glues. Use safety scissors appropriate for your child’s age.
Dress for Mess: Have kids wear old clothes or smocks. Things might get messy, and that’s part of the fun!
Embrace Imperfection: The goal is fun and creativity, not a masterpiece worthy of a museum. Let the kids lead the way with their ideas, even if the hat is lopsided or the noisemaker is more enthusiastic than harmonious.
Creating these simple New Year’s Eve crafts is more than just a way to pass the time before the ball drops. It’s about making memories, fostering creativity, and adding a personal, handmade touch to your celebration. Whether shaking a homemade noisemaker, proudly wearing a self-decorated hat, or eagerly tearing off the next link in the countdown chain, your kids will feel a special connection to the festivities. So gather your supplies, cover the table, and get ready for some creative, celebratory fun!
