Making It to Midnight
NYE Party Tips from Happily Ever Laughter
Most nights, the stroke of midnight turns your brood into a pumpkin patch.
New Year's Eve is not most nights.
Ensure their nice spell lasts a few extra hours with these family-friendly celebration tips from Fae Diddle Diddle, proprietress of fairy princess troupe Happily Ever Laughter.
Take the lip-lock out of the ball drop.
Institute new ceremonies to make it more about magic. Put candles on cupcakes, walk outside, or blow out a flame at midnight.
Play games that are fun for kids from 0 to 92.
Ask guests to bring leftover cardboard gift boxes to build an epic fort, or have everyone snap photos of meaningful things from 2010: Partygoers can guess which image belongs to whom.
Bonus Project: Have the kids make their own noisemakers.
Dine in shifts.
Serve predinner champagne while sippy cuppers eat an early supper. (Full stomachs lead to fewer late-night meltdowns.) Later, adults feast while little ones play in the fort. This way, everyone gets a little age-appropriate conversation.
Related: Make mealtimes fun with these sippy cups, place mats, and other great gear.
Provide rest areas.
Make it to midnight in good spirits by designating at least one bedroom a nap area for grouchy tykes. Bonus: A well-rested child makes for a happier New Year's Day.
Happily Ever Laughter (831-331-8634 or happilyeverlaughter.com).
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