Over My Dad Body

New Year’s Eve takes on a whole new vibe once you become a parent. Babies and tiny tots typically follow a sleep schedule, and pulling an all-nighter results in an overtired, cranky baby for the next few days.

So, don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself reading bedtime stories rather than attending a fancy midnight party since your little one won’t quite grasp the concept of the New Year’s revelry just yet.

Now, when it comes to children aged five and up, it is a different story. I mean, who wouldn’t want a front-row seat to bid the old year adieu and usher in the new one?

Since the New Year’s Eve countdown only happens once a year, it’s natural for us to want our kids to celebrate with us on the year’s most festive evening. After all, watching the ball drop together is a special moment you’d want to share with those you love the most.

Below are some of the ways you can keep your kids up until midnight for the New Year’s countdown, ensuring you ring in the New Year together:

Make Sure They Get Enough Sleep

The night before, ensure your child gets a solid eight hours of sleep. When they’ve had a full rest leading up to the New Year’s Eve celebrations, their bodies will be geared up and ready for action. If they are worn out in the days leading up to the NYE festivities, chances are they won’t have enough steam to last the night.

Let’s face it: children tend to sleep late during their Christmas break when they get that “Holiday Rush,” staying up way past their usual bedtime. Remember that when kids are thrown off their regular sleep routine, they will struggle to keep their sleepy eyes open.

It won’t be surprising if they snooze through all the New Year’s commotion. Also, be mindful of letting your little ones oversleep, as too much shut-eye can leave them feeling sluggish all day and night long.

While it required extra effort, I tried to get my daughter to squeeze in an afternoon nap to help keep her awake for our New Year’s revelry. This little siesta could compensate for any lost hours during the celebration.

Now, convincing her to go down for an afternoon nap when she got older became more daunting. But it was worth stressing that it would give her the energy to power through the night. Otherwise, she might find it a little more tough to keep her eyes open long enough to watch the ball drop and catch the fireworks.

Set Up a Vibrant Space to Keep Your Child Energized

Creating a festive environment will do wonders to amp up the excitement and keep your kid wide awake. For starters, flick those switches and make the whole house brighter. Remember that when everything is bright and cheery, your kid won’t feel sleepy.

Cue in some lively tunes to get everyone’s spirits soaring. Crank up the volume for a boost of adrenaline – just keep it within reason to avoid turning the house into a concert hall or waking up the whole neighborhood.

Fill Up the Time With Fun Activities

The little ones are less likely to doze off if they’ve got some engaging activities to pass the time. When boredom strikes, sleepiness might sneak up on your kids when you least expect it.

Much like Christmas, you don’t have to go overboard just to have a fun NYE celebration. Here are some lively (and wallet-friendly) ideas to keep the zzz’s at bay:

• Start a dance party with a fun playlist.
• Play party games for some spirited competition.
• Unleash creativity with arts and crafts activities to keep your kid’s hands and minds busy.
• Spice things up with a cozy movie night.
• Allow them to take charge of snack time (a little extra munching won’t hurt.)
• Bring out the party poppers to add a touch of festive flair.
• Come up with some New Year’s resolutions together.

Bring in Some Extra Joy

Having a bunch of other kids can help keep your own munchkin wide awake and full of energy until midnight. When they’ve got buddies to play with, their energy levels go through the roof! It’s just the way kids roll.

If you’re aiming for a family-filled New Year’s, inviting their younger cousins can be a stellar move. No worries if your family doesn’t live nearby; just throw the invite out to friends with their own bunch of little ones.With more people around, your home will transform into a hub of festive fun.

Boredom and sleepiness? No chance.

Take a Reflective and Relaxing Breath of Fresh Air

When you and your child are in the midst of a bustling New Year’s Eve party with a bunch of people, things can get pretty cozy, and your house might start feeling a bit warm and stuffy. This can make your child feel sleepy.

Keep them awake by taking a breather outside and inhaling some fresh air. If you’re in a place where it can get a bit chilly, make sure to bundle up before stepping out.

Skip the energy-draining activities like riding a bike or playing tag. Opting for a quick stroll around the block or just chilling on the porch for a dose of fresh air is all it takes to clear everyone’s heads and give your kids that much-needed boost in the holiday spirit.

Serve Small, Nutritious Meals

Besides everything listed above, food is the key to keeping your kid buzzing with energy on New Year’s Eve. While processed goodies are a crowd favorite, go for meals packed with vitamins to help sustain your child’s energy level.

Small meals are best because they keep children’s metabolisms running. Large meals take longer to digest, dragging things out and making everyone feel a bit sluggish.

Since becoming a dad, we’ve always celebrated New Year’s Eve at home. But just because we’re staying in doesn’t mean it has to be dull.

If you’re welcoming the New Year at home with your little ones, these delightful treats will add a sprinkle of excitement to your family’s New Year’s countdown.

Countdown Cookies

Amp up the celebrations by adding a countdown clock to the mix! These cookie clocks will bring a festive vibe to your table and serve as a sweet countdown to midnight. The best part? They are a no-bake delight, making them the ideal finale to your party.

Ingredients:

• Oreo Cookies
• Black Candy Melts
• White Almond Bark
• Black Fondant
• White Fondant
• Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions:

• Start by melting your black candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Make sure your cookie mold is clean and dry before adding the candy. Then, stir the melted candy until it’s smooth with no lumps.
• Now, fill each cavity just over halfway. Press a single Oreo cookie down into it.
• Once all are filled, give the tray a good bang on the counter to settle the candy and eliminate any air bubbles. Gently add more melted candy on top to cover the cookie completely, and bang the tray again to release any trapped air.
• Pop the tray into the freezer for about 5 minutes to firm up.
• Once out of the freezer, flip the tray over and (with a gentle circular motion) press around the back of the mold to release the cookies.
• Clean the mold of any excess black candy and repeat the process with the white candy.
• Moving on to the decoration phase, roll out about a golf ball-sized amount of fondant on a silicone mat coated in shortening. Use cutters to create 2 and 7/8” circles to place on top of the cookies.
• Grab your black edible marker to draw clock hands on the white fondant, and use white candy melts on the black fondant.
• Let your treats sit and dry completely before serving.

Create Memories. One Late Night Won’t Hurt…

Your little ones aren’t exactly night owls (yet), and that’s totally cool. If you’re feeling up to the challenge of keeping them awake until the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve, trust me, it’s all good health-wise. Besides, studies suggest that positive childhood experiences (like ringing in a new year) could set the stage for happier adults with sharper minds.

And let’s not forget, it is a holiday, so feeling extra celebratory is absolutely normal.

However, remember that every kid is a unique bundle of energy with their own quirks and sleep preferences. Expect a bit of tiredness the next day for most, so it’s best to keep things low-key to let them recharge and catch up on some Z’s. Letting your kids stay up late to celebrate is no biggie. So keep these tips on hand to help them stay wide awake until the ball drops.