New Year's holidays are a magical fairy tale even for adults, let alone children who look forward to these days with great impatience.
Of course, matinees will be organized for the kids, schools and kindergartens will organize their own entertainment, but the child cannot be allowed to simply be bored at home these days. A party where children's competitions, New Year's quizzes, and competitions for children will be held is simply necessary!
There are many games, entertainment and competitions that you can spend with your family, with your child’s friends, and with loved ones. If someone doesn't know them, here's a little hint on how you can entertain your child.
Attention!! Children under 3 years old may be afraid of dressed-up people. That is, before Santa Claus plays the game, you need to carefully introduce the child to this fairy-tale character. And if children are under 3 years old, then it is better to replace Santa Claus with just the Snow Maiden. Or it’s better for the holiday to be hosted by your mother or someone close to you.
Games at the table
These games are the very first to be held. You don't even need to leave the table for them. This game is good when the children have just arrived, because not everyone has yet gotten used to it and coped with the embarrassment.
Good luck in the New Year
While everyone is sitting at the table, the Leader throws notes with the names of all the children into the hat. Then the presenter reads the questions (which he composed in advance), and one of the children takes out notes with names.
Questions:
- Who will be the best student in the coming year?
- who will be the most athletic?
- Who will be given the most cherished gift?
- who will become famous?
- who will receive the most gifts?
- Who will travel the most?
- who will be shown on TV?
- who will be the best this year?
Any questions can be asked.
Psychics
For this entertainment, you need to take out a box that needs to be decorated in advance. There must be items in the box. For example, a mug. One child is called and asked to guess what is in the box. He can touch the object with his hands, but he cannot just look.
New Year's words
A piece of paper with a drawn letter is placed in front of each child sitting at the table. At the leader’s command, everyone must come up with a New Year’s word starting with this letter.
Such a song
One of the children at the table puts a mask on his head (Bunny, Monkey, Christmas Tree, etc.). The rest of the children, at the Leader’s command, must quickly remember and sing a song that mentions the hero of the mask.
For example:
- bunny - “The cowardly gray bunny was jumping under the Christmas tree...”;
- monkey - “Ah, monkeys, hippos...”;
- Christmas tree - “a Christmas tree was born in the forest”;
- dog - “a dog only bites because of the dog’s life”;
- Snegurochka - “Tell me, Snegurochka, how are you doing...”
- Wizard - “Suddenly a wizard will fly in...”
Important!!! The Leader should have a song for each mask in order to give timely hints.
Prizes for competitions - the best ideas for children
The appearance of a gift for a child is no less important than the gift itself. Prepare boxes of different sizes, bright wrapping paper, shiny ribbons, and bows in advance. Packed in such a wrapper and beautifully tied, they will attract the attention of little guests.
As for the gifts themselves, prizes for children can be very different. The main thing is that they should evoke joy, awaken imagination and a desire to play. Our tips will help you choose the most interesting prizes for competitions that will appeal not only to the guests, but also to the hero of the occasion:
- We surprise with familiar things. A creative approach will help present even familiar things in an unexpected light. And then even school supplies or ordinary sweets, of which there will already be a lot on the holiday table or candy bar, will become real “trophies” worth fighting for! A large chocolate medal or a kinder surprise, a set of fruit-scented ballpoint pens, an original sharpener in the shape of cartoon characters, bright erasers of various shapes and similar items will inspire anyone!
- We remember our own childhood. Soap bubbles, a set of balls for modeling compositions - all these items have been and remain relevant for many generations. They will never “go out of fashion” and will be enthusiastically accepted by children;
- We develop by playing. Compact games such as children's dominoes, checkers, lotto, puzzles, tags, and puzzles are always useful on trips and in groups;
- We support talents. Bright coloring books, kits for cutting out dolls with clothes, crayons, paints, pencils, plasticine and paints will never be superfluous for young talents;
- You can never have too many toys! Water pistols, catchy swimming fish and turtles, jumping frogs, rubber snakes and scorpions, small dolls will be in great demand;
- Cool attributes for a masquerade - glasses with a nose or painted eyes, headbands with mustaches, huge ears, clown and angel wigs, various masks;
- Beauty is a terrible power! The girls who come to your event will be especially pleased to receive hairpins, bracelets, rings, small mirrors and cosmetic bags in which it is convenient to store all the “female things”. These prizes for competitions, entertainment and games will attract the better half to team games;
- Memorabilia selected according to the theme of the holiday: keychains, badges, which modern children like to decorate school backpacks, handbags, clothes and shoes with.
Outdoor games competitions
Outdoor games are New Year's games that require children to be active, running, jumping, and moving. And this delights the kids.
Snowy Egrets
Slow music is playing, children are walking near the Christmas tree. At the same time, they depict a heron, that is, they raise their legs high. The music suddenly ends and each player freezes on one leg. The one who stands on one leg the least loses and is eliminated from the game.
We are artists
For this game you need to make cards in advance where the task will be written. The task is this: with your movements you need to depict, for example, Santa Claus, a Hare who is running away from a fox, a Bear who is hibernating in winter, a Hedgehog who is laying out his autumn supplies, a Wolf who is very cold, or any other characters.
The most beautiful Christmas tree
All children are divided into two teams. A “Christmas tree” is selected from the children in each team and placed in the center of the room. On the chair there is a box with various toys and decorations, to which clothespins are attached.
When the chimes strike (they need to be recorded in advance), children take one decoration and hang it on their Christmas tree.
The team that has decorated its Christmas tree the funniest during the chiming clock wins.
Who is faster
All children stand in a circle, in the middle of the circle there is a table with various decorations. One less decoration than children. Music is playing. Children dance in a circle. As soon as the music stops, everyone runs to the table, grabs the decoration and puts it on themselves. The one who does not have enough decoration leaves the game.
Attention!! A child who leaves the game must be given either candy or a small chocolate bar. Because you can’t upset kids on such a holiday. And the winner is given a large chocolate bar.
Magic staff
Here you can play either as players alone or as a team. Father Frost and Snow Maiden (or just two people) are holding Father Frost's staff. Children must pass under this staff without touching it. Whoever gets hit leaves the game. Then the staff is lowered lower. Whoever lasts the longest wins.
For older children, you can complicate the task and walk under the staff blindfolded.
Snowstorm
Children stand in a circle. One of the children is given an object (a mitten, a hat, a “snowball”, a soft toy or something else). In the middle of the circle stands a New Year's character (or simply the presenter). Under the command “A snowstorm has begun,” the children begin to pass the object so that the leader cannot catch up with it. If the leader catches up with the object, then the person who held it is eliminated.
Snowstorm (variant of "Buran")
The game is very similar to the game Buran, only there is no leader.
Children also line up in a circle, and one person is given an object. Music starts playing and the object is passed around. As soon as the music stops, everyone freezes. The one who has the object in his hands must complete some task (dance, sing a song, recite a rhyme).
Evil Blizzard
Children line up like a train, and the last one puts on a hat. The leader takes the lead. The leader must rip off the hat from the last team member and “freeze” him. And the children should not let them do this, that is, the whole train should move like this. So that the presenter does not catch the latter.
NEW YEAR'S GAMES INDOOR
Dikmi : As a rule, guests who do not know each other are often embarrassed to go out on the dance floor at the very beginning of the holiday, or to participate in anything. Your task, as the host of the party and part-time chief wizard, is to make sure that they quickly and easily join the team and get used to it. Start the entertainment program with games in the house. Moreover, in order to participate in most of them it is not necessary to even leave the table.
Game 1. Magic watercolors
Number of participants : everyone.
Props : wide plastic plates, black markers, timer.
Rules : At the leader's command, all players must place a plate on their heads and take the marker in their right hand. After the words “start!” everyone starts drawing a snowman on the bottom of the plate. The task is difficult because you have to draw without looking, intuitively. As a rule, this game is accompanied by a sea of comments and cheerful laughter. Time to complete the task is 2 minutes. The author of the best “picture” (determined by applause and applause) is awarded a prize!
Game 2. New Year's snowman
Number of participants : unlimited (required in pairs).
Props : rolls of white toilet paper, New Year's hats, cardboard carrot cones with elastic bands for each pair of participants.
Rules : The participants of the game are divided into pairs. One of the pair will be a “sculptor”, the second – a “snowman”. The sculptor's task is to create a snowman using toilet paper and other props. The winner is the pair that completes the task better and faster than anyone else.
Game 3. Santa Claus Cookies
Dikmi : In Hollywood, there are many New Year's films and cartoons that retell the belief that Santa Claus, in gratitude for the gifts he brought, must leave his favorite treats under the tree - milk and cookies. Play with this cute idea!
Number of participants : no more than 7-10 people.
Props : chocolate round cookies.
Rules : Each participant receives one chocolate chip cookie. He places it on his forehead so that the treat does not fall on the floor. After the presenter’s command “start!” he must roll the cookie so that it ends up in his mouth. In this case, it is forbidden to use hands and the help of the audience! If the cookie falls, the participant leaves the game.
Dresses for the New Year
Game 4. Fun snowballs
Dikmi : The props for this game need to be prepared in advance. First of all, you need to make snowmen. For this you will need disposable plastic cups, cardboard (black and red), glue. Cut out circles for the eyes and mouth of the snowmen from black cardboard, and a triangle-carrot from red cardboard. Glue everything to the glasses. Snowmen are ready! Now make the balls. You can use old socks for this. Fill them with unnecessary scraps and cotton wool. Sew and cut off excess. That's it, you can go into battle!
Number of participants : 5-7 people.
Props : 10 plastic snowman glasses, fabric balls.
Rules : The task is to knock down a pyramid of snowmen with a ball. It is complicated by the fact that the distance from the player to the pyramid must be at least 10 steps. The winner is the one who knocks down all the snowmen. Three attempts are given to complete the task.
Game 5. Santa Claus's beard
Number of participants : doubles
Props : shaving foam, plastic spoons, paper towels.
Rules : Divide all participants into pairs. One will be “Santa Claus”, the second will be his barber. Santa Claus is given a beautiful foam beard on his chin. The barber's task is to shave Grandfather using a plastic spoon. The pair that completes the task the fastest wins.
Game 6. New Year's gifts
Number of participants : doubles (at least 8 people)
Props : wrapping paper, roll of adhesive tape, scissors, boxes, satin ribbons (each team has its own set)
Rules : All players are divided into pairs and given a set of props. The challenge is to wrap a New Year's gift using only one hand. Let's say one player is on the right, the other is on the left. At the leader’s command, “start!” couples start working on gift boxes. The winner is the team that completes the task faster and better.
DIY Christmas gift wrapping
Game 7. Marmalade tower
Number of participants : at least three
Props : 15 pcs. marmalade of the same size for each participant, toothpicks, timer Rules: Each player on the command “start!” assembles a tower of marmalade using toothpicks (the result should be something similar to a crystalline metal lattice, visible under a microscope). The winner is the one who completes the task faster and whose tower is the strongest.
Game 8. Candy Friendship
Dikmi : And we usually play this game at the very end of the party! It is like an indicator with which you can determine whether guests will be able to get home on their own! Very fun! A lot of positive things to add to the list of impressions about the New Year holiday!
Number of participants : everyone (at least 10-12 people)
Props : lollipops.
Rules : All players are divided into two teams and stand in a row, one after another, facing the leader and opponents. Each team member receives a lollipop and clamps the lower, smooth end with his teeth. Another lollipop hangs like a fishhook on the “stick” of the first one in the row. At the leader’s command to “start,” the hanging candy is passed along the chain to the last player, using only the candy held in the mouth. The team that completes the task first wins.
Dikmi : In addition to indoor games, you can organize several interesting competitions as entertainment for New Year's Eve. They also won’t require a lot of space and props from you.
Musical and dance New Year's games competitions
In such entertainment, music plays a major role. Children always really like this. And it’s very difficult to imagine a holiday without music.
Friendly choir
Two or more teams gather. The presenter (Father Frost or Snow Maiden), waves a wand, and the team begins to perform any simple song. The leader waves the baton again and the choir stops singing out loud. However, they sing to themselves. And the next time the leader waves his baton, the choir begins to sing again, but from the place where he sang the song to himself.
In a new way
In this game any song can be sung, but in a new way. It could be different music, or you could offer to sing the song with the voices of hungry wolves or jumping squirrels.
Snow dancing
Children are divided into teams, and each team stands opposite the other. Children from one team perform dance movements, and children from the other team repeat these movements. The one who cannot repeat the movement in time is eliminated from the game.
Dance with a ball
This game can be played with children of any age. For example, younger children are asked to simply repeat the movements behind the leader, holding the ball in one hand, above their head or behind their back. For older children, you can offer this option - dance to fast music with a ball held under their chin so that the ball does not fall out. You can dance with a ball, holding it between your ankles. You can offer to dance in pairs, holding the ball with their backs.
New Year's round dance with tasks
There are no winners in this entertainment. Here the children stand in a circle and a round dance begins to the music. As soon as the music stops, the children freeze, and then, at the leader’s command, they begin to perform tasks - jump like hares, depict a fox that dances with its tail, show a wolf that catches fish in an ice hole with its tail, or others.
Drawing competitions
In such entertainment you will need to practice drawing. But since drawing is one of the favorite activities of children, it will not be out of place at the holiday. In addition, such entertainment will be appropriate for even the smallest company. And you will need very few details. It is better to hold such competitions for elementary school children.
Draw Santa Claus
To do this, you will need several large sheets of whatman paper (you can cut pieces from wallpaper rolls; sometimes these remain after repairs).
You need to draw Santa Claus blindfolded. Whoever did it better won.
The game can be played in different ways. Here are some options:
Option 1: it is proposed to draw Santa Claus, or you can offer a self-portrait, this is always more interesting;
Option 2: you can play the game in a team way, that is, everyone blindfolded draws some part of the proposed character;
Option 3: you can draw not just with felt-tip pens or pencils. And pencils that are tied to a short thread;
Option 4: Draw only with your left hand.
Guess one piece at a time
To play, you need to draw (or buy) a picture with different fairy-tale characters in advance. Then you need to take a large sheet and cut a window in it. By moving this window, you need to invite children to recognize the fairy-tale hero by only one piece that is visible through the window.
I'll draw your portrait
Here all the players look carefully at each other, and then try to depict it on a piece of paper. Then each player shows what he drew, and everyone else must guess who is depicted on the sheet.
Mistakes when choosing prizes for competitions. What not to give
Adults should remember that children remain children and some really interesting (from your point of view) gifts should not be given to them for a number of reasons:
1. Age restrictions. This criterion is most important when choosing children's prizes for the holiday. Small toys or those that consist of many parts should not be purchased for 3-4 year old toddlers. This also applies to handicraft kits - the presence of small beads, beads, needles is dangerous for the health of even six-year-olds.
2. Gender of the child. Gender is not taken into account - this happens if there are a lot of people invited to the holiday or you have not made a list of the number of girls and boys in advance. It is very difficult to track who received what gift, so choose universal options.
3. Gifts “without a twist”. Even if you have the best intentions and you think that schoolchildren always need stationery items, and not a single child will refuse sweets, these prizes for children will not inspire anyone. It is quite possible to save the situation, but we will talk about this a little later.
4. Select “for yourself”. What you like, a child may not appreciate, so always consult with your son or daughter, for whom this holiday is being organized;
5. Hygiene items, children's cosmetics. It’s so difficult to figure this out that it’s best to leave it to the parents of the girl or boy who comes to visit you.
6. Lack of functionality. Children love dynamic things that they can play with, somehow change, apply, test, so they are not interested in decorative objects.
7. Expensive does not mean interesting. Even knowing the cost of gifts, children, due to their age, will not appreciate them. They are more likely to be fascinated by some trinket that has an unusual shape or that they can play with.
Now that you have an idea of the typical mistakes in choosing prizes for children's competitions or games, we will tell you about the most interesting options.
Games with blindfolds
Such games develop children's coordination, train their memory, and teach them how to navigate in space.
Nose for a Snowman
Here they draw a Snowman in advance, but without a nose. The nose is sculpted from plasticine.
The player is blindfolded and must go up to the Snowman and glue his nose.
You can also glue a beard to Santa Claus, a tail to a dog, or Snow Maiden’s boots. Only in this version, the beard, tail and boots need to be drawn on paper, and can be glued with tape.
Catch a deer
Children stand in a circle, one of the children puts on a hat with horns - he will be a deer. And the other player is blindfolded. They are placed in a circle and music is turned on. The blindfolded player must catch the "deer". The rest of the children can make the circle wider or narrower. If a blindfolded player fails to catch the “deer,” then he chooses any player from the circle and he catches the “deer.”
