“RINGing” in the New Year with a Circle Theme Kids Party!

Let’s RING in the New Year with a CIRCLE THEME Party for Kids!

New Year’s FUN FACT – Foods in the shape of a ring are thought to bring good luck and symbolize the year’s “coming full circle.”  Many celebrate the New Year with foods that are circle-shaped (especially donuts and cookies).

Decorations – Have the children make dots on paper napkins or plates with markers or bingo dot markers.  Use any circle or dot themed supplies that are commercially available.

Foods – Cut bread, meat, and cheeses with a glass or circle cookie cutter to make sandwiches.  Slice potatoes in circles, add a little olive oil and Parmesan cheese, and then bake on a foil-lined cookie sheet.  Finish the children’s plates with small slices of grapes (*cut each grape into fourths if allowing very young children to eat), kiwi, and strawberry slices.

Drink – New Year’s Punch:  Buy inexpensive flutes or glasses for the children.  Make a pitcher with ½ sparkling white grape juice and ½ white grape juice.

Crafts for Kids

Homemade “Noise” Makers –  Fold one paper plate in half and staple around the edges (leave a small opening at the top to insert any of the following items):  small toys, confetti circles, small balls (*watch for choking hazards if using with younger children), small craft stones, large beads, or lima beans.  Let the children tape pretty ribbons to their noise makers.

Homemade “Party Poppers” –  Fill the empty cardboard tubes with small toys, stickers, chocolate coins, confetti, etc. Wrap with paper and tie the ends with ribbon, string, or yarn.  When the New Year arrives, tell the children to pull both ends apart to release their treats. (See finished photo above)

Glittery Circles – Have the children make prints with the ends of cardboard tubes.  Dip the ends of the tube in tempera paint and use to make circle prints on paper.  These make very cute prints if you use white tempera and have the children make prints on blue paper.  Sprinkle the circle prints with glitter for a shimmery and festive effect.

New Year’s Paper Chains (see photo at beginning of post) – choose festive paper and have the children cut into strips.  The children can use glue sticks, glue dots, or ask an adult for help to staple the strips together to make a paper countdown chain.  Put a ribbon and noise maker or treat at the top of the paper chain.  Have the kids remove one circle link for each 1/2 hr. or hour until the New Year (or bedtime) arrives!

Game for Kids using M & M Circle Candies

Color Hunt Game – make a snack size bag of 5 M and M’s for each child.  Tell the children they must find one item in the house that is the same color as the candy colors in their bag.  For older children – have them write the name of the item found on a sheet of paper.  For younger children – make all the M & M bags contain the SAME colors.  Have the children hunt for ONE color at a time.  When all the children have found an item of that color, select another color to hunt for until all colors in their bags have been found.  The children may eat the M & M’s at the end of the color hunt (*make sure that no children are allergic to the food dyes in the M & M’s before allowing the children to eat them.)

We hope all of you and your families RING in the New Year with FUN!  Wishing you and yours many blessings for the year ahead!