What to Do on New Year's Eve when You Have Children

If you have children, you know how hard it can be to go out for New Year's Eve. If you're lucky enough to find a babysitter, you can do anything your heart desires. If you don't, then you can still have fun ringing in the New Year. You just have to be a little more coherent than the normal partygoers.

So, let's look at some of the things you can do on New Year's Eve with children.

You can check in your area to see if there are any local festivities. I know a town about 20 minutes away that has a ball-drop. Kind of like a mini Times Square. It's very cute. I saw lots of kids there. But you can't judge how cold it is going to be, and if you have very young children, this may not be such a good idea.

How about hosting a New Year's Eve party? It's not too later to get those invitations out. You can invite people that you know have children. They probably have the same dilemma that you do. Even invite people without kids. A lot of people would rather be safer in someone's house than out on the street with drunk drivers. You can have a room set up with sleeping bags or cots for the little ones who just can't stay awake. If you are serving alcohol, make sure there is a "Designated Watcher" that can care for the children.

Have a family night. If you don't have the room, or you're just not up for a party, consider spending a night at home with the family. You can watch the ball drop on TV. You can have dinner, bake cookies, or make crafts.

What about babysitting other children? Babysitters tend to get more money that night. I don't know if it's due to the time frame (watching the children for longer hours, or all night) or the "Holiday" (kind of like on Valentine's Day when the roses are $50 per dozen, instead of $10). You can have playmates for your children, help out a fellow parent, and make some extra money. If you decide to do this, you can start advertising by posting flyers at local supermarkets, YMCA's, childcare centers, or online at websites like craigslist.com.

Whatever you decide to do, you can still have fun spending New Year's Eve with your children. With a little thought and a lot of love, you can make it a night to remember. Perhaps this may be the beginning of a family tradition.