New Year is a period of magic and good fairy tales, it is the smell of tangerines and a fluffy beautiful Christmas tree, this is the time when Zhenya Lukashin will mix up the apartments again, and the Grinch will again try to steal Christmas. It is children who look forward to the New Year holidays with special impatience, and the task of parents is to create a festive atmosphere, bring a bit of magic into the gray routine and arrange great fun for them on New Year's Eve.
You should not perceive organizing a holiday as a boring routine, because in fact it is a very interesting activity! Looking for children's competitions for the New Year, creating props, buying prizes and treats, decorating the house with tinsel and colorful lights - all this pleasant fuss just creates the New Year's mood. And the joy that children’s New Year’s games will bring them will be the best reward for their efforts for parents.
A New Year's party is a concern not only for parents, but also for school teachers and kindergarten teachers. Many competitions and games are universal, that is, suitable for both home and school parties.
How to prepare for the holiday
The New Year's party will go well if you prepare for it correctly. Proper organization of the holiday is already half the success. It is important for parents to be able to delegate authority: there is no need to write the script themselves, run to the shops after work and hastily decorate the apartment two hours before guests arrive. Involve children in the organization, they will happily plunge into the fun chores of preparing for the New Year.
In order not to miss anything, make yourself a cheat sheet of the important stages of organizing a New Year's party. Here is a list of basic steps to take before the holiday:
- Scenario. How to entertain children for the New Year? Of course, prepare an interesting competition program for them. Games should be selected taking into account the age of the participants (it would be a good idea to have several competitions in which adult guests can also take part). It is also worth finding active, calm, “table”, funny competitions for the New Year for children and alternating them. After an energetic dance competition, the children will want to relax and have a snack - just at the table you can hold a comic quiz or a calm game.
- Home decoration . You definitely need to involve children in this stage - both kids and teenagers will be happy to play the role of interior designers.
- New Year's atmosphere. Prepare a New Year's playlist, let your morning begin with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, “Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra or children's New Year's songs. Coniferous essential oil and tangerines will help fill your home with a pleasant aroma. In the evenings, you can organize a family movie show - probably in a year you have already forgotten what happened to Kevin McCallister on New Year's Eve and how Vanya Pukhov saved his Alyonushka.
- Christmas tree. Decorating the New Year tree is a wonderful family tradition in which both adults and children participate. In a house where there are children, it is better to use safe toys made of plastic or cardboard - glass decorations can break and injure the baby.
- Present. Well, what's a New Year without gifts! Both adults and children are waiting for them (if guests come to you on New Year's Eve, take care of small surprises for them too). Presents for family members are best wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper and placed under the Christmas tree. You can also invite Santa Claus, who will give gifts for a poem or song.
Choose your gift carefully. It is unlikely that a child will be happy with winter boots or a sweater. To make sure you don’t miss a surprise, ask your children to write a letter to Santa Claus in advance.
- Menu. If adults are happy to eat Olivier and “shuba”, then children most likely will not be happy with such dishes. It’s worth considering a children’s holiday menu so that little guests don’t go hungry.
- Outfit. Even if you're celebrating the New Year at home, you don't need to sit down at the table in a robe or sweatpants. Casual clothes will destroy all the holiday magic. Buy holiday outfits or fancy dress costumes in advance.
New Year competitions for family and guests, dancing, launching fireworks together or a night walk to the city Christmas tree - such activities are necessary if you don’t want the New Year to turn into lazy overeating while watching “The Blue Light”. Don’t expect someone to perform a miracle for you - become your own magicians for your children and give them (and yourself) some real holiday fun.
Bestsellers
The best gift is something that has stood the test of time. These games have long been loved by the public, which means your gift will surely be to their liking:
- "Carcassonne";
- "Alias";
- “Munchkin” (there is a New Year’s edition - “Munchkin under a fur coat”);
- "Jenga";
- "Jackal";
- "Colonizers";
- "Equivocals";
- "Uno."
New Year's competitions for children
Both kids and teenagers love a variety of activities, so when organizing a holiday party, the emphasis should be on outdoor games and New Year's dance competitions for children. Give the guys the opportunity to fool around, let off steam and relieve the stress that has accumulated over the year.
Whether it's a party at school or a home party, adults need to worry about safety during the event. To ensure that outdoor New Year's games and competitions for children do not end in injury, the room must have enough space for movement. It is better to remove furniture with sharp corners, glass or mirror inserts, and fragile items from the room for a while.
Running in felt boots
- Number of participants: even, so that you can split into two teams.
- Props: two pairs of felt boots.
- Age: 5+
Participants are divided into two teams and stand in pairs. The first couple of each team receives felt boots. At the command of the leader, one participant puts on the left felt boot, and the second – the right one, in this form they need to get to the finish line and back. Then the felt boots are passed on to the next couple. The team in which all pairs jump faster than their opponents wins.
New Year's bag
- Number of participants: even, so that you can split into two teams.
- Props: two bags, a lot of holiday paraphernalia (Christmas tree decorations, tinsel, tangerines, etc.), as well as things not related to the New Year.
- Age: 4+
Participants are divided into two teams. The first player is blindfolded. His goal is to reach the finish line, where there is a box with props, and with his eyes closed, take one New Year's item. Next, you should return to the start and pass the baton to the next player. The winner is the team that collected the most holiday paraphernalia without confusing it with other “extra” things.
Tangerine races
- Number of participants: even, so that you can split into two teams.
- Props: tangerines, spoons for all participants.
- Age: 6+
Teams line up in two lines. The first player takes a spoon in his teeth, on which lies a small tangerine. The goal of the game is to run to the finish line and back faster than your opponent without dropping the tangerine. The second player is already waiting for the first with a spoon in his mouth; you need to pass the tangerine without using your hands.
Sack race
- Number of participants: even, so that you can split into two teams.
- Props: two large bags.
- Age: 5+
One of the most common competitions, the goal of which is quite simple - to get to the finish line faster than the opposing team. But this needs to be done in a bag - the first participant puts a bag on his feet, jumps in it to the finish line and back and passes the baton to the next player.
Velcro round dance
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: none.
- Age: 6+
All participants stand in a circle. Each person takes turns naming any part of the body: “chin”, “knee”, “shoulder blade”, “ear”, etc. At the command of the leader, the players “stick” to the named part of the body, but not their own, but the neighbor on the right. The host turns on New Year's music, and everyone “glued” dances in a circle. Whoever cannot resist and “falls off” from the round dance is eliminated from the game.
Puzzles
To prevent your brain from getting rusty over the holidays, we recommend paying attention to puzzles.
Penguins on ice floes
This is a cool puzzle for children from 5 to 11 years old. Her goal is to save all the penguins and place them on the ice floes one at a time. Develops fine motor skills and logic.
Forbidden Island
A puzzle for the whole family. Participants team up to explore the island and collect magical artifacts.
Calm games
No matter how much energy children have, sooner or later it will run out, and the kids will want to rest. And to make the break fun, it’s worth preparing calm children’s New Year’s games and competitions that you can play right at the festive table.
Siamese snowman
- Number of participants: even, to play you need to split into pairs.
- Props: plasticine.
- Age: 6+
Participants are divided into pairs. You can hug so that one of the player's arms is fixed. That is, players in a pair have only one hand free. The task is simple: the couple needs to build a snowman. 3 minutes are allotted to complete. The couple with the most beautiful snowman wins.
New Year's menu
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: none.
- Age: 8+
A simple but interesting game to develop memory and ingenuity. Children need to create a New Year's menu with the largest number of dishes. The catch is that the names of the dishes must begin with one specific letter (during the game the host can periodically change the letter). For each dish the player receives a small prize. The winner is the young chef who can remember (or come up with, depending on what conditions the presenter voices) as many dishes as possible for the New Year's table.
"Ambulance" for a bunny
- Number of participants: unlimited, but even so that you can split into pairs.
- Props: nylon tights according to the number of participants.
- Age: 6+
Participants are divided into pairs. Before the start of the game, the presenter says that one player from the pair is a bunny who ran very quickly through the forest and his ears got tangled. Next, the “hares” are put on tights on their heads, which are tangled in several knots. The task of the second player in the pair is to untangle the “ears” faster than the opponents.
Dance of the New Year's song
- Number of participants: unlimited, but even so that you can split into pairs.
- Props: hat and notes with tasks.
- Age: 8+
Participants are divided into pairs, one person will show, the other will guess. A couple pulls a note from a hat with a line from a famous New Year's song written on it. The participant’s task is to show the name of the composition with facial expressions and gestures.
Songs that you can take for the game: “A Christmas tree was born in the forest”, “Christmas trees”, “The New Year is rushing towards us”, “Song about a Snowflake” and others.
Horoscope in verse
- Number of participants: unlimited, but even so that you can split into pairs.
- Props: hat and notes with tasks.
- Age: 10+
All guests remember the year in which they were born. There are 12 symbols of the year in total: Rooster, Pig, Sheep, Monkey, Rat, Snake, Dragon, Horse, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Cat. Next, players are asked to read (or maybe even compose) a New Year's quatrain in the style of their symbol.
You can take one poem for everyone, or you can prepare several different ones, put them in a hat and mix them. Each player chooses a note at random.
Comic competitions for the New Year
Nothing lifts your spirits and creates a festive atmosphere like funny New Year's games. Both adults and children love to laugh heartily. Having a few fun competitions in your arsenal is the right strategy that can save even the most boring party and give any party a festive mood.
Cool competitions will appeal to all participants of the holiday. With such funny games, your New Year's party will be incredibly bright from the dazzling smiles of guests and household members.
Draw a snowman
- Number of participants: 2 teams of 3–4 people.
- Props: Whatman paper or a sheet of wallpaper, blanks with tasks, markers, blindfolds.
- Age: 6+
A blank piece of paper or wallpaper is attached to the wall. Participants are divided into two teams. The goal is to draw a snowman on whatman paper. But this must be done blindfolded. Before the game starts, each participant pulls out a piece of paper on which is written the part of the drawing that he needs to depict (head, carrot nose, hands, hat, body, etc.).
Noisy orchestra
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: musical instruments and any available means that can make sounds.
- Age: 4+
This is a fun New Year's game that will amuse everyone present at the holiday. Participants choose an “instrument” – it could be pot lids, rustling bags, maracas, a children’s drum or a tambourine. The host invites the orchestra to perform a famous New Year's song, after which the real musical fun begins.
Telegram to Santa Claus
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: a pre-prepared telegram template.
- Age: 8+
At the beginning of the game, the host asks you to name 13 adjectives (“cheerful”, “gray-haired”, “green”, “fat”, “sweet”, etc.). It is better to write down all the words on a separate piece of paper. Next, the presenter reads out the text of the telegram, one by one inserting adjectives invented by the children.
The telegram text may look like this:
"… Father Frost! All... guests are looking forward to your... arrival. New Year is the most... holiday of the year. We will sing for you... songs, dance... dances! Finally... New Year is coming! How I don’t want to talk about... studying. We promise that we will only receive... grades. So, quickly open your... bag and give us... gifts. With respect to you... boys and... girls!
Dress up the Christmas tree
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: attributes for decoration (this can be either real Christmas tree decorations and garlands, or improvised means: paper clips, hairpins and elastic bands, kitchen utensils, candies, jewelry, scarves, hats, etc.).
- Age: 4+
Participants are divided into two teams, and a “Christmas tree” is selected from each team. At the signal from the leader, the teams must decorate their “Christmas tree” using the prepared props. The team with the funniest spruce wins.
Adults
Games for adults are more serious and complex board games. You need to understand the rules, but it's worth it. These games usually have a gripping and dark plot and come with a variety of elements. You can buy gifts for a person with any hobbies, as board games come out in different genres: horror, detective, puzzle, stories based on books, films and computer games. Here are three dark, challenging, and beautiful board games for adults.
What else to read: Board game Nightmarium
Arkham Horror
Arkham Horror is a co-op adventure and strategy game for lovers of Lovecraft and horror. Players travel through Arkham and nightmarish parallel worlds, challenging ancient monsters. You'll have to dig into the rules - the game is quite complex, but accessible to everyone. The gameplay is addictive, and participants have to team up to win or lose together.
Resistance
"Resistance" is a psychological game with a deep plot. You need to play with a group of 5 to 10 people. Participants take on the role of revolutionaries who need to save the country from brutal authorities. Players will have to use insight and intuition to find the traitor.
Pandemic
The world is gripped by a terrible epidemic. To save humanity, countries need to unite and take decisive action. Two to four players must carefully plan routes and coordinate actions. In 2015, a new edition of the game “Pandemic” was released. Legacy”, and in 2021 the game “Pandemic” was released. Call of Cthulhu." The “pandemic” may delay the entire New Year holidays!
New Year competitions for the whole family
Adults also love to have fun and participate in fun games. Before the party starts, it’s worth preparing not only children’s entertainment, but also New Year’s competitions for the family. If there are older children, such as teenagers, at the party, then you can arrange a real battle of generations.
Movie buffs
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: printed frames from New Year's films and cartoons.
- Age: 10+
Participants are divided into two teams, the teams’ task is simple: name or guess as many New Year’s films and cartoons as possible. You can say the names one by one, or you can make the task more difficult. First you need to print out several frames from films and cartoons, the teams take turns guessing the work.
You can also split into teams of adults and children. Adults guess films, children guess cartoons.
Films: “Home Alone”, “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, “Christmas Trees”, “Morozko”, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”.
Cartoons: “The Grinch”, “Frozen”, “Save Santa”, “A Christmas Story”, “Santa’s Secret Service”.
- Films about New Year and Christmas for family viewing
Festive masquerade
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: a bag with New Year's paraphernalia (headbands with deer horns, Santa Claus hat, mittens, “rain”, red nose, etc.).
- Age: 5+
All participants stand in a circle and the music is turned on. The bag with the props is passed around. The music suddenly turns off. The player who has a bag in his hands at this moment, without looking, takes out one thing from there and puts it on himself. The game continues until the bag is empty. At the end, when all the participants are funny dressed up, don’t forget to take a festive photo.
Santa and his reindeer
- Number of participants: even, to be divided into pairs: child + parent
- Props: a set of Santa Claus hats and headbands with reindeer antlers.
- Age: 5+
A fun competition for children and adults. Parents act as reindeer, while children become Santa Claus. All players dress in appropriate outfits, after which the relay begins. Santa and his reindeer must ride to the finish line and back faster than a couple of opponents. The Santa whose reindeer is the fastest one wins.
A spark of wishes
- Number of participants: unlimited.
- Props: sparklers according to the number of participants.
- Age: 8+
Great idea to end the party. Each guest, regardless of age, picks up a sparkler. Participants take turns lighting the lights, the task is to say as many pleasant wishes as possible until the sparkler goes out completely.
Children's competitions for the New Year with parents are a great way to unite. In addition, the sight of a mother writing a telegram to Santa Claus with a red fake nose, or a father reincarnated as Santa's reindeer will definitely become one of the most cherished childhood memories.
You can end the entertainment program with a tradition borrowed from the Germans. In Germany, it is customary to “jump into the New Year” at the sound of the chimes. With the first blow, you need to climb onto a chair or on the sofa, and on the last blow, jump to the floor with joyful shouts and congratulations. You can take a large Whatman paper in advance, on which each guest will write or draw his dream or wish to the owners of the house. It is on this Whatman paper that everyone needs to jump together from a small elevation.
- DIY New Year's toys: 22 crafts with photos that will decorate your home
According to the famous saying, how you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it. Celebrate this magical holiday in a good mood and in a cheerful, friendly atmosphere, which a properly prepared entertainment program for children and adults for the New Year will help you create.
