Cornbread Mexican Casserole: New Year's Eve Recipe

7 Easy Recipes for New Year's Eve

Looking for an easy recipe for new year's eve? Whether you are cooking for a crowd or an informal family get together, this Cornbread Mexican Casserole is sure to please! For more easy New Year's Eve recipes, scroll to the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

Cornbread Mexican Casserole: New Year's Eve Recipe

How to Have the Best New Year Eve Party with Kids

Ideas for the Best New Year Eve Party 

What does it take to have the best new year eve party ever with kids? It depends on your expectations, of course. If you want to throw a memorable party with glitz and polish, planning is a necessity. However, a spur of the moment party with family and close friends can become a favorite memory. We're sharing some tips on how to have the best New Year's party with kids. The key is to have fun foods and simple games that everyone can play together. Scroll down for games and activities for your party. Enjoy!

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7 Creative New Year's Crafts and Activities for Kids fun for boys and girls

7 Easy New Year Activities for Kids for Boys and Girls

These 7 New Year's Crafts are creative and easy enough for little ones to do. The anticipation of the suprise package and the enjoyment of the other activities will help make it the best new year's ever. Enjoy!

 New Year's Crafts and Activities for Kids.

Click the titles for How to Make New Year's Crafts for Kids.

Festive Rocket Popper Blaster

Rocket Popper Activity for Children.

Fill this with confetti or feathers.  Ours is filled with colorful, recycled silk flowers from a craft lei project. Perfect for New Years, VBS, or, a Fourth of July Party.

Silver Surprise Package

Midnight Care Package New Year Activity.

We used a tiny jewelry box.  Tag reads, "Do not open until Midnight - 12/31/12". Fill this with a fun gift for the kiddos or make it a Midnight Care Package by filling it with a noise maker/kazoo, a pair of silly glasses, and a party hat.

Ring in the New Year Bell

Make a bell from a paper cup.

Recycle a paper cup, plastic spoon, holiday ornament or that jingle bell necklace into a fun kid-crafted bell noisemaker for the year-end celebration.

Snow Globe or Eye Spy New Year's Time Capsule Ornament

7 New Year's Decorations.

A clear glass or plastic ornament makes a fun party favor.

New Year's Necklace/Medallion

New Year Medallion a recycled Christmas decoration.

Paint an old, plastic holiday ornament with sparkles and the New Year date.  Insert a shiny ribbon or string and you've got a fun, memento.  Boy's like to wear necklaces too so this is a fun project they can personalize anyway they want.

Easy, Sparkly Ornaments to Deck the Halls

Transform Christmas Balls to sparkly New Year Decorations.

Give that Gold or Silver ball ornament new life.  Add a sparkly, spiraled pipe-cleaner to hang and paint with glitter glue.  We added a gold leaf from an old, holiday decoration to give it a little whimsy.

Fun Ball Drop Whirly-Gig Silent Spin Drum

Fun New Year activity for kids. 
Craft a whirly-gig with preschoolers.

Popsicle sticks and styrofoam make for fun!  Paint a styrofoam ball of any size, paint any color you like (be patient paint takes forever to dry on styrofoam).  Add glitter.  Pop in the stick and decorate to your hearts content.  We added a silver pipe-cleaner and silver, star garland to hang.  Add feathers and spin in your hands like a spin drum or hang upside down in the doorway as a festive replacement for mistletoe.  The kiddos can pretend to let the ball drop if you attach a long string over a hanger.

Tip:  Add tiny pieces of mirror (Find sticky back pieces at Craft Stores) to a styrofoam ball to make a Disco Ball decoration.


Recommended Reading:

P. Bear's New Year's Party: A Counting Book*

The Night Before New Year's*


Grafix 9-Inch-by-12-Inch Adhesive Backed Film Silver, 3-Pack*

More New Year's Craft and Activities






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Toilet Tube Rocket Popper: Futuristic Craft for Kids

Make a Rocket Popper Cracker from a Cardboard Tube to Celebrate the New Year with a Fun Futuristic Activity for Kids

Festive Rocket Popper Blaster made from a cardboard toilet paper roll tube is an easy, futuristic craft for kids. Fill this with confetti or feathers for a fun explosion of color. Ours is filled with colorful, recycled silk flowers from an old, recycled craft lei project. It's the perfect children's activity for New Year's Eve, VBS, a rocket theme Birthday, or a Fourth of July Party. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Futuristic Rocket Craft from recycled cardboard tube 
fun for New Year Celebrations.

How to make a rocket popper from a cardboard toilet roll tube:

Paint or decorate Toilet Tubes as desired. Set one tube aside. Cut second tube up middle, vertically. Fold over, and tape so it is slightly smaller than the other tube. Attach a large, craft stick to the outside of the smaller tube. Trace the larger tube onto construction paper, and cut out the circle. Glue paper circle with glue-stick to top of tube. Do not use hot glue! This needs to easily pop off.

Cut a strip of paper 2-3" wide and wrap around bottom of larger tube, attaching with glue stick or hot glue. Cut triangle shapes in paper to resemble the bottom of a rocket. Make a cone out of construction paper (measured to fit top of tube) attach with tape. Insert confetti, un-blown balloons, candy, or feathers into tube. Insert smaller tube on stick into base of larger tube.

Recycled Rocket Spaceship Craft for kids.

Countdown to your celebration and then push-up your rocket to explode or launch the fun! 


Recommended Reading:

Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!*

Fun Game for Boys* (Yes, girls like it too!)

Rocket Story for Kindergarten thru Third grade.

Rocket Story for 3-6 year olds (preschool).

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Ring in the New Year Bell Craft Activity for Kids

Recycle Paper Cups and Plastic Spoons for Easy Kids New Year Craft Bell Activity

Ring in the New Year with this easy New Year's Eve Craft Activity for Kids to Make. Make the craft and then at midnight everyone rings their bell. Enjoy!

New Year Bell Craft Activity.

Recycle a paper cup, plastic spoon, holiday ornament or that jingle bell necklace into a fun, kid-crafted bell noisemaker for the year-end celebration.

Make a bell to ring in the New Year with a paper cup and ball ornament.

• Paint a paper cup. 
• Paint the NEW YEAR on cup with glitter glue.
• With scissors or a box cutter, slice a 1" slit in base of cup.
• Cut a triangle pattern out around the top of the cup.
• Bend the triangles out to make a star.
• Wrap a sparkly pipe-cleaner around the spoon's handle (make a loop for hanging at top).
• Insert spoon in slit on base of cup.
• Tape may be necessary to keep spoon aligned.
• Attach a short string to a mini-ornament or jingle bell and attach with tape.
• Hang for display on mantle.

At midnight, grab those bells and make some noise! 

Recommended Reading:

New Year's Party for Kids

Make a New Year Care Package

Kitchen Kids Series: Holiday Recipes*

How to Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and Lanterns*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

How to Make a New Year's Activity Care Package for Midnight

Make this New Year Care Package Kit for the Countdown

What do you when the clock strikes twelve? When the ball drops? Here's a new Tradition for New Year's Eve. Make a Midnight Care Package for family and party guests to open in the New Year. Enjoy!

Silver Surprise Package filled with... 

Midnight New Year Care Package Kit for the Countdown.

Grab those leftover gift boxes from Christmas or get busy recycling and wrap an empty box in shiny paper. We used a tiny jewelry box. Construction paper tag reads:

 "Do not open until Midnight - 12/31/16"

How to make a New Year Countdown Care Package Kit

Tie a ribbon around the package and insert sparkly pipe-cleaners. To make spirals, wrap the pipe-cleaner around your finger or a pencil. Wrap the end of the pipe-cleaner around the ribbon to attach.

Loop another piece of ribbon through the end of package bow. Tie a knot to hang from mantle. Don't forget to curl all the loose ends with your scissors. Take strand of ribbon, stretch taut, and slide one scissor blade from end to end to curl. Hang from mantle on festive silver hooks.

Fill box with fun gifts for the kiddos or make it a Midnight Care Package by filling it with a noise maker/kazoo and a pair of silly glasses, a special message, and a party hat. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!  Surprise.

Tip:  For an Adult alternative, hang these from silver hooks over the mantle or from a fancy ribbon garland overhead in the doorway. Fill the tiny boxes with fortunes (think cookie) or use larger boxes and fill with noisemakers, and pen and paper to write down resolutions. Let guest open just before the ball drop on Times Square.  

Tip:  Instead of resolutions, have guests write fun fortunes, toss them all in a hat, and pass the hat around to "reveal" your New Year's future.


Recommended Reading:

New Year's Quote for Facebook

Games to play for New Year's Eve

Have the Best New Year's Ever

New Year's Eve Party Supplies *

Cool New Year's Giant Decorating Kit *






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

How to Craft a Snow Globe or I Spy New Year's Time Capsule Activity

Make a New Year's Time Capsule from a Christmas Ornament

A clear glass or plastic Christmas ornament makes a fun party favor and Mini Time Capsule for  New Year's Eve party celebrations with kids.

Festive New Year Decoration

I Spy Something,

How to make a New Year Time Capsule from a glass Christmas Ornament Decoration

You will need:

A clear ornament with a large opening.

Iridescent sparkle paint.

Glitter glue.

Cotton Balls or Fake Snow or Shredded Paper.

Miscellaneous items such as sparkly pipe-cleaners, star confetti, and mini-tree ornaments.

Remove the top and drip paint inside.  Let dry by standing on a toilet tube.  Once dry, insert snow. We tore cotton balls and stuffed them inside using a straw.  Add piece of sparkle (pipe-cleaners or confetti).  Insert surprises to "I Spy". We added a nutcracker soldier. Replace top. Using toilet tube as an easel paint "Happy" with glitter glue on outside.  Add glitter glue dots of varying colors. Attach shiny ribbon and hang from mantle.


Recommended Reading:

I Spy Fantasy: A Book of Picture Riddles*

Can you spy what's inside?  You can also make a real snow globe. 

Winter Day Play!: Activities, Crafts, and Games for Indoors and Out

Snowman Face

Fun Tip:  Fill with "Snow" and then paint or draw a snowman's face for an all-winter mantle decoration.

New Year's Eve Printables, Crafts, and Fun Activities for Kids: Also includes Balloon Popping Game

New Year's Eve Printables, Crafts, and Fun Activities for Kids 

Happy New Year! If you are ringing in the New Year with Kids, you'll want some fun balloon activities. Lucky you! We have balloon printables, games, and activities for New Year's Eve celebrations.  Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Start out with a fun New Year's Story...

New Year Activities for Kids.

The Night Before New Year's (Reading Railroad)
Click the image above or below to purchase.




Enjoy a Happy New Year printable.

Ring in the New Year with a 
Free Balloons Coloring Sheet Get PDF here.

Happy New Year!

Make some kid-friendly crafts.

Countdown Clocks from Kaboose.com

Clock Craft for Kids.

And at the end of the night...

Cartoon Balloons Floating Up, Up, and Away...

Celebrate with a balloon popping contest.

Fill a trash bag with Balloons*, dump them out at midnight, and have the kids sit and pop them. Give a prize to the kid who pops the most.  

Tip: Try this with Adults who've been drinking. Tee-hee.

As an alternative, purchase rocket or inflatable pumpers, and see who can inflate and pop the balloon first.

Recommended Reading:

More NEW YEAR Activities

New Year's Giant Decorating Kit*







ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)