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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'Tis the season! Are you looking for fun family activities and things to do this holiday season? We've gathered up the 25 best holiday light displays in the greater Indianapolis area and beyond. During the holidays, Indiana is a festive place. Many of the holiday light displays start the weekend before Thanksgiving. Some of these Indiana holiday activities and light shows are free.
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You've eaten until your belly feels like it is going to pop. You've unbuttoned the top button of your pants to make room for desserts. What next? You can sit in the chair and watch the same old holiday movies while in a food coma or you can go for a ride and get in the holiday spirit with a festive holiday light show display or an immersive holiday activity that's fun for the whole family. If you start now, you can do them all before New Year's Day!
25 Best Holiday Light Display Shows and Family Friendly Activities in Indiana
2016 was the inaugural light show at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway. Pay per car load and take a ride around the famous track.
See over 2 million lights at the Brickyard: 11/17 - 12/30, $25 per car Monday to Wednesday, $30 Thursday to Saturday, $50 for vehicles with 15+ passengers, speedy passes also available for an additional cost.
Danville - Ellis Park Drive Thru Light Display Winterland is open daily starting 11/24 thru 12/30 (Closed Christmas Day) Sunday to Thursday 6pm to 9pm and Friday & Saturday 6pm to 10pm. $10 per car load. See Santa in the Train Station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 23rd. Copy and print this discount coupon to save $5 at the gate.
Carmel - ChristKindlmarkt The Carmel Christkindlmarkt offers a blend of traditional German foods and gifts, surrounding a beautiful outdoor ice skating rink. The whole family will enjoy exploring the market and making cherished memories. Event is located at 10 Center Green - Between The Palladium and The Tarkington Theater 11/18 - 12/24 (Closed Thanksgiving Day) Wednesday thru Thursday 4-9 pm and 1-9 pm weekend days.
Located on the north side of Kokomo in the 2300 block of North Market Street (just west of the intersection of Gano and Lafountain) this outdoor display has over 1,000,000 lights and animated displays. Drive thru the park or walk the 3 acres to enjoy. Muncie - Minnetrista Enchanted Luminaria Walk
Kick off the holiday season with this family event. Experience sweet treats, winter games and crafts, carriage rides, and holiday music in celebration of the season. Enjoy rides and food for a small fee. Indoors, Minnetrista also hosts a holiday tree event.
Fishers - Conner Prairie by Candlelight As a past Conner Prairie Interpreter and Manager of Music and Theatre programming, I participated in this event many times. Dress warmly. This magical, family friendly 90-minute walking tour transforms you back in time to 1836 Prairietown where it’s the night before Christmas. 12/8-12/23, $16/adult ($14/adult member) $13/youth ages 2-12 ($11/youth member) Groups of 15+ guests $15/adult & $12/youth. Tours begin at 6 PM and run every 12 minutes until 9 PM. Best for ages 7+. Fishers - Winter Wonderland
Celebrate the magic of the season when Fisher's Nickel Plate District transforms into a Winter Wonderland, complete with a place to leave letters for Santa. Starts 11/30, FREE.
Fishers - Reynolds Farm Christmas Light Show A million bulbs illuminate a 57' tall abominable snowman and donations benefit a local food bank. 11/21 - 1/1, FREE.
Indianapolis Museum of Art - Newfields - Winterlights Winterlights is an outdoor strolling experience in the gardens of IMA. Wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes. Enjoy millions of lights that dance to music and beverages and firepits to roast s'mores at Newfields (Art Museum). 11/9 - 1/7, $8 to $20, FREE for children 5 and under, 5 & 7 PM Indianapolis -Christmas at the Zoo Twinkling lights surround the seals, sea lions, walruses and tigers. 11/24-26, 29-30; 12/1-3, 6-10, 13-23, 26-30, $9.95 for children and $12.95 for adults. Indianapolis - Circle of Lights See the Soldiers and Sailors Monument transformed into a giant Christmas tree made of more than 4,000 lights. Lighting of the tree is 11/24, FREE. Indianapolis - Chinese Lantern Festival Thirty sets of giant Chinese Lanterns light up the Indiana State Fairgrounds. 11/24 - 1/7, $10 to $15, FREE for children 4 and under.
Broad Ripple - Broad Ripple Lights Up! Broad Ripple lights up for the holidays complete with a Wonderland activity village and twilight parade. 12/3, FREE. Mooresville - Victorian Christmas Celebration The annual Victorian Christmas Celebration features a number of fun stops and activities throughout Mooresville. A free shuttle service takes you to each stop so you don't miss a thing! Enjoy carolers, craft fair, carriage rides, performances and Victorian characters 12/2, FREE. While in Morgan County, hop over to Martinsville and see the candy canes being made at the Martinsville Candy Kitchen. Santa Claus - Santa Claus Indiana for the Holidays The town with Santa's name is packed with holiday activities. Visit Santa, mail a letter and more. Check the website for dates and details.
Garfield Park - Conservatory Crossing See the Conservatory decked with a brilliant display of poinsettias, enjoy model trains and villages, and thousands of twinkling lights. 11/24 – 12/31, Monday-Saturday: 10-5 pm, Sundays: 1-5 pm, Evenings Hours (until 8 pm): December 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23, $4 per person or $10 per family (2 adults max.)
Celebration Crossing comes alive with holiday merriment from the sounds of bands, bell and vocal choirs and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will entertain visitors in their cozy home through 12/24. Take a trip back in time by gazing into the recreated L.S. Ayres store windows rekindling Christmases past. 11/24 - 1/7, included with museum admission. Don't miss the train - it will make cherished memories for years to come.
Celebrate family traditions and holidays with Jolly Days Winter Wonderland. Enjoy favorites like the two-story Yule Slide, Jingles the Jolly Bear, and visits with Santa. 11/24 - 1/7, included with museum admission. The Eiteljorg Museum - Jingle Rails
This popular locomotive wonderland and Indianapolis family tradition opens 11/18 - 1/15, included with museum admission. Indiana History Center - Festival of Trees The history center is full of festive activities at the Festival of Trees. Visit the website for a full list of holiday happenings. 11/17 - 1/6, included with museum admission.
Nearby Events - Mason, Ohio - King's Island Winterfest Ring in the holidays with the return of WinterFest at Kings Island on select nights 11/24 - 12/30. The park transforms into nine enchanting winter wonderlands featuring ice skating on the Royal Fountain, the Eiffel Tower transformed into a magical Christmas tree, up to 17 rides including Mystic Timbers, more than 5 million lights and 14 holiday characters spreading merriment, like Jack Frost and Sugar Plum Fairy. Visit the website for hours and cost. Recommended: Things to do in Indiana
Holiday Road: Dress the whole family in festive Christmas pajamas while you tour the light shows from the comfort of your vehicle.
Ring in Ring in the holidays with the return of WinterFest at Kings Island on Pin it!
As a parent, one of the biggest dilemmas for every birthdayand holiday season, is what gifts to buy for your kids. Recently, it's become a trend to give kids gadgets, but always giving the gift of technology is proving detrimental for your kids well-being of our future adults. Instead, why not invest in something that's both educational and enjoyable. This way, your children will develop and grow into well balanced adults and still have fun along their childhood journey.
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For More Help Buying presents for infants and toddlers is even more difficult than for older children. Luckily, there are many websites and blogs to guide you with gift ideas and recommendations. Snugbaby is one such helpful blog. From reviews about the best strollers for your young ones to life-saving advice for new struggling parents, Snugbaby.net has it all. So, be sure to check it out for more helpful gift reviews and advice on parenting little ones.
0-1 year olds Educational Toy Gift Ideas
Melissa and Doug Shape-Sorting Set This classic toy is a popular educational toy for kids and comes in a variety of themes. See the farm sorting set pictured above, It gives a basic introduction to shapes and colors, as well as, problem solving skills and manual dexterity. Kids have to insert the blocks into the correct shape.
VTech Musical Rhymes Book This colorful book with baby-friendly pages engages your toddlers with nursery rhymes while providing a fun way to learn the rhymes. Skoolzy Rainbow Counting Bears with Matching Sorting Cups Another simple game, it's an excellent way of teaching colors and simple math skills. Here, toddlers learn to put the bear in the matching colored cup. They also have to count the number of bears available to fill each cup, which makes it a helpful lesson in mathematics.
VTech Sit to Stand Learning Walker This popular toy encourages 9-month-olds to walk while engaging them with colorful activities and sound, thus developing their sensory skills and coordination.
1-3 years (Toddlers)
Learning Resources Alphabet Island Game Using the classic ABC rhyme doesn’t have to be the only way to teach kids the alphabet. Make learning fun for your toddlers while they go treasure hunting for the alphabet.
Learning Resources Fine Motor Hedgehog The spikes on the hedgehog are color-coded and easy to grip, making it a great game for kids to play to enhance motor skills, color coordination, and sorting abilities. LeapFrog Scribble and Write Tablet What a great way to introduce letters and numbers before your kids start preschool. Kids trace the letter or number using the tracing tool without the need for writing with crayons or pencils. The Learning Journey: Match It! Spelling Visual learning is a great method to teach kids. Linking words with images helps children learn more quickly. Moreover, the puzzle nature of the game also develops kid’s dexterity.
VTech Smart Shots Sports Center This game is a great way to introduce an active toddler to sports. The Smart Shots Sports Center comes with a net and two balls. It teaches counting by scoring hoops for points and also teaches shapes, songs, and simple words.
ehome Toddler Musical Instrument People of all age groups enjoy music, kids are no different. This set contains various musical instruments, so parents don't have to worry about which instrument to buy. Encourage your kids to try out playing the different instruments. Who knows, you may have the next Michael Jackson in your house. These also make a great gift for Easter baskets!
3-5 years (Preschool)
Magnetic Drawing Board Mini Travel Doodle There's nothing wrong or right when it comes to art. This is the basic concept behind this old, yet popular toy. Give your kid free reign over the board and let the pen do the rest. It's fun for trips with family too!
Learning Resources Pretend and Play Doctor Kit Playing doctors is still just as popular as ever. The doctor kit is a great gift for aspiring doctors and it's also a great way to teach kids to be kind, helpful, and patient. ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Board Game This award-winning game is a fun family activity. Essentially bingo with tiles that have labeled images, it teaches kids word-picture association, and it's also a great way to teach preschoolers new words. Ideal My First Magic Set Magic is always fascinating to kids, and what better way to teach your kids confidence, social skills, and self-discipline than using this fun magic game? The 25 tricks in this set, which comes with props, instructions, and online videos, make a great Christmas gift for children. Back To Nature Outdoor Toy Set For little explorers, this set includes a flashlight, binoculars, compass, and a magnifying glass. Make the game more fun by making a map and preparing a treasure and set your kids out treasure hunting. Can you imagine a memorable childhood play experience?
5-12 years (Elementary School)
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Exploration Kit Does your kid love tinkering around with electronics? This is the perfect gift for engineers in the making. The color-coded circuit components come with a guide and after they have mastered the basics, watch your kids build their own circuits!
Melissa and Doug Fashion Design Activity Kit Science isn't the only subject of educational toys. Let your child's creative side flourish with this attractive fashion design kit that contains fashion plates, pencils, and crayons.
Scientific Explorer Mind Blowing Science Kit This kit is equipped with 11 fun activities that will entertain your little ones’ inquisitive minds. Build curiosity for new things and a love of science with this science experiment kit that's easy to clean and will quickly become your kid’s next favorite toy.
Grow ‘n’ Glow Terrarium A unique toy that even adults have fun playing, is this gardening terrarium game. Kids plant the Chia seeds in the terrarium. The kit also comes with glow in the dark stickers and resin figurines to decorate. IQ Builder Building Toy Set This building toy set, featuring various shapes and sizes, challenges your kids to expand their creative boundaries in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Equipped with a storage box, this must-have STEM toy, barely takes any space in your room. ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Logic Game Develop strategic thinking skills with this innovative game. It uses blocks arranged in different ways to creatively work around the effect of gravity. The difficulty level increases as the game gets more complex. Scharkspark Telescope For Kids This birthday, gift your kids something out of this world. This wonderful telescope helps kids realize the beauty of our vast universe. Introduce your kids to the amazing world of star-gazing and also teach them to take care of their toys with this real working scientific instrument. National Geographic Break Open Geodes For the little James Huttons and Florence Bascoms who love scavenging and exploring, this amazing geology set is the perfect gift. Watch your kids squeal in delight when they discover beautiful gems after breaking open the included rocks.
Thames and Kosmos Candy Chemistry Kit Inspire your kids love of chemistry with this fun game that rewards kids with handmade sweet treats. Sweets and science have truly undeniable chemistry together, a match made in heaven. Summary Parents spend a lot of money and time trying to give the best educational toys for kids. From toys to education, parents try not to compromise anything for the sake of their children. However, the best gift that parents can give their children are good values and a strong support system. Always encourage your children to try new things on their own and give their best effort. Eventually, your little one will grow to guide you on the journey of life, instead of the other way around. Good luck on your journey of parenthood; you'll need it! Recommended: Activity Games you can Play with Things Around the House
50+ Easy Circle Time Games for Three, Four, and Five Years Group Time for preschoolers often happens several times a day, you need fres...
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