Host an Afternoon New Year's Eve Party for Kids

New Year's Eve is a great night to gather all your loved ones close to celebrate the dawning of a new year. While adults have no trouble partying well after midnight, little ones have a difficult time keeping their eyes open after a certain hour.This fact makes it challenging for the youngest members of the family to enjoy all the New Year's Festivities. Here are some ideas on how you can throw your kids a fun New Year's Eve Party - in the afternoon.

Invitations: Begin your party planning by making up cute invitations for your children's friends. Use your computer to decorate colorful pieces of card stock with images of party hats, a calendar turned to the last day of December and the numbers that represent the new year. Include the important information on the inside of the invitation such as what time you will be throwing your party and the contact numbers for the guests to call. Your child can give out the invitations at school or hand deliver them to their playmates.

Dress: Encourage the kids to dress up for this party . State on the invitation that their very best attire is requested for this holiday party. Imagine how cute all the kids will look in dress pants, ties and party dresses. Offer each child a cardboard tiara or party hat to wear upon arrival.

Decorations: Hang silver, gold and black streamers in the party space. Blow up balloons in corresponding colors and those that have the number of the new year . Add a bit of sparkle to your New Year's Eve party decor with white Christmas lights strung about the room and battery operated candles placed in front of mirrors. Use whistles, bells and paper blowers to decorate the party table. These will be used later.

Food: Try to duplicate the foods and drinks that are offered at adult New Year's Eve parties. Offer an assortment of kid friendly appetizers such as mini pizzas and cocktail hot dogs wrapped in pastry dough. Add a bit of fizz to the drinks by adding a bottle of ginger ale to the punch. A platter of brownies, cookies, warm milk and hot chocolate can be offered at the end of the party.

Games and Activities: Have a mock countdown to New Year's Eve for the kids. An hour before the end of the festivities, gather the kids together and begin counting down to the New Year. Allow them to use the items already set out on the table to make lots of noise or offer wooden spoons, serving utensils and old pots and pans to mark the occasion. Other traditional games such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs and Duck Duck Goose can be played as well.

Be sure to end the festivities well before the dinner hour so the parents of your guests have plenty of time to pick up their children and get themselves off to their own New Year's Eve parties. Once your child has said goodbye to the last guest, you can then relax and enjoy your own holiday celebration knowing your son or daughter has thoroughly enjoyed the occasion no matter what time those eyes begin to close.