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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Noon Year's Eve is a kids' New Year's Eve party held at midday, with a countdown to 12:00 so little ones do not need to stay up past bedtime.
- A 60 minute plan has 5 parts: a craft, a snack, a game, a noisemaker moment and the countdown.
- Toddlers need a shorter, calmer version: 25 minutes, one craft, one game and a quiet countdown. Ages 6 to 8 can handle the full hour.
- Skip balloons for children under 8. Uninflated and broken balloons are a choking hazard. A paper streamer drop gives the same moment with none of the risk.
- Keep noise low. Use shakers made of sealed jars or paper cups, not horns, poppers or fireworks, and watch for children who dislike loud sounds.
In this post16 sections
- What is Noon Year's Eve?
- A 60 minute noon years eve party plan, toddlers versus ages 6 to 8
- 8 noon years eve crafts and games
- 1. Paper plate countdown clock
- 2. Paper party hats and crowns
- 3. Jar shakers
- 4. Paper streamer drop
- 5. Toddler pom-pom sensory tray
- 6. Time capsule jar
- 7. Countdown bags
- 8. Photo booth props
- A no-prep noon years eve party (15 minutes of setup)
- Noon years eve snacks and drinks
- Balloon and noise safety
- Keep the rest of the winter break going
- FAQ
What is Noon Year's Eve?
Noon Year's Eve is a New Year's Eve party for children, held at noon on December 31. The countdown is to 12:00 midday instead of midnight, and there is usually a "drop" of streamers or balloons at the stroke of noon. It works because small children do not have to stay up late, and the whole party is done by nap time or lunch.
If you want the full evening version for older children, our New Year's Eve activities for kids plan has an hour-by-hour countdown through the day. This page is the midday plan.
A 60 minute noon years eve party plan, toddlers versus ages 6 to 8
The party runs from 11:00 to 12:15. Toddlers need a shorter version, so the table shows both. For a 2 to 4 year old, start at 11:30 and skip the row that is marked for older children.
| Time | Toddlers (ages 2 to 4) | Ages 6 to 8 |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | Skip. Start at 11:30. | Make the paper plate clock and a paper crown. |
| 11:15 | Skip. | Fill the shaker jars and tape on the streamer drop. |
| 11:30 | Make a paper crown and sit down for a snack. | Snack table: fruit clock and cheese cubes. |
| 11:40 | Play a pom-pom sort game on a tray. | Game: freeze dance, then a "what will happen next year" time capsule. |
| 11:50 | Shake the shakers softly, then a quiet song. | Shake the shakers and set the clock to 11:55. |
| 11:55 | Move the clock hands to 12 with a grown-up. | Count down from 60 together, one minute at a time on the clock. |
| 12:00 | Streamer drop and a cheer. | Streamer drop, cheer and photo booth. |
| 12:05 | Juice toast and a hug. | Juice toast, then a time capsule jar to seal. |
8 noon years eve crafts and games
Pick 3 or 4 of these. Each has the ages, prep, mess and a safety note, because every one needs a grown-up at the table.
1Paper plate countdown clock
Draw numbers on a paper plate, cut two hands from colored paper and attach them with a brass paper fastener. The child moves the hands from 11 to 12 and counts the minutes. Set the clock to 11:55 and let the children move it toward 12 together. It is a craft, a counting lesson and a countdown tool in one.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes to cut the hands.
Mess: low.
Supplies: paper plates, colored paper, a brass paper fastener, markers.
Safety: paper fasteners have sharp ends. A grown-up should attach them.
2Paper party hats and crowns
For a crown, cut a strip of cardstock 22 inches long and 4 inches high, cut zigzag points along the top and tape the ends to fit the head. For a cone hat, roll a half circle of cardstock and tape the seam. Decorate either with stickers or glitter pens. Everyone wants to wear one, and they double as the party costume.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes to cut the strips.
Mess: medium. Stickers and marker.
Supplies: cardstock, tape, stickers, glitter pens.
Safety: skip loose glitter and use glitter pens. Stickers are a choking risk for children under 3, and a grown-up should do any stapling.
3Jar shakers
Fill an empty plastic jar one-quarter full of dried rice or small bells, seal the lid with tape or hot glue and shake. A sealed shaker is quiet enough for a living room and fun for all ages. A grown-up should seal the lid so it cannot be opened.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: plastic jars with lids, dried rice, tape or hot glue, stickers.
Safety: the jars must be sealed so children cannot eat the contents. Use plastic, not glass, and supervise throughout.
4Paper streamer drop
Instead of a balloon drop, tape strips of paper streamers across a doorway, with the strips hanging down. At noon the children run through, pull them down and toss them in the air. The streamers fall softly, with no choking risk and no loud pop.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low to medium. Paper strips on the floor.
Supplies: paper streamers, tape, scissors.
Safety: never use balloons or confetti poppers for children under 8. Keep scissors with the grown-up.
5Toddler pom-pom sensory tray
For the youngest, put large gold pom-poms and a few scoops on a tray, and let a toddler sort and scoop. Use pom-poms big enough that they do not fit through a toilet paper tube, so they cannot be swallowed. A tray keeps the mess in one place.
Ages: 1 to 4.
Prep: 3 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: a baking tray, large pom-poms, large scoops, a bowl.
Safety: stay beside the child. Check that every item is bigger than a toilet paper tube opening.
6Time capsule jar
Ask each child to draw or dictate one thing they want to remember about the year, and one wish for next year. Fold the notes into a jar and seal it. Open it next New Year's. It turns the party into a keepsake.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: a jar, paper strips, pens, a ribbon.
Safety: use a plastic jar for younger children and keep small objects out of it.
7Countdown bags
Fill 12 small paper bags with a tiny activity for each 5 minutes of the countdown: a sticker, a riddle, a dance move. Open one every 5 minutes until noon. This makes a long hour feel short and gives the children something to do. It also appears in our free winter break plan.
Ages: 4 to 8.
Prep: 15 minutes to fill the bags.
Mess: low.
Supplies: 12 paper bags, stickers, riddle cards, tape.
Safety: do not put small toys, coins or candy in the bags for children under 3.
8Photo booth props
Cut shapes like glasses, stars and mustaches from card, glue them to craft sticks and let the children pose at noon. It gives a photo for the family and something to hold. Make them early, before the guests arrive.
Ages: 3 to 8.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, craft sticks, glue, scissors.
Safety: craft sticks can splinter. Smooth the ends and supervise.
A no-prep noon years eve party (15 minutes of setup)
If you only have 15 minutes, do this. Make the paper plate clock (5 minutes), put out a plate of fruit and cheese, and set a timer for noon. At 11:55, count down together, then pour juice into cups for a toast. Add one song and a dance. That is a complete party.
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Noon years eve snacks and drinks
Keep snacks easy to pick up and low-mess. A clock made of fruit (a circle of sliced strawberries, grapes and orange segments) doubles as the centerpiece. Cheese cubes, crackers and sliced fruit work for a crowd. For the toast, pour apple juice or sparkling juice into small cups on a tray, and give the youngest children water or milk in a sippy cup.
Food safety for little ones: cut grapes in quarters for children under 4, skip whole nuts and popcorn for children under 4, and check for food allergies before the party. Whole grapes, hot dogs and raw carrots are among the top choking foods for young children.
Balloon and noise safety
Balloon drops are the most common noon year's eve idea, and the biggest hazard. Uninflated balloons and broken pieces are a choking risk for children under 8, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises keeping them away from young children. Swap the balloon drop for paper streamers or a paper lantern, which look as good and carry no risk.
Keep noise low. Skip horns, poppers and fireworks, which are loud enough to scare toddlers and to harm young ears at close range. Sealed shaker jars are a gentle replacement, and children who dislike noise can wave streamers or ribbons instead. Keep the party to one room so the sound does not carry, and stay close to the youngest child.
Keep the rest of the winter break going
Noon Year's Eve is one day in the break. The free winter break two-week plan has a morning activity for every day from December 20 to January 2, including the New Year's Eve countdown bags. For party games on other days, Christmas party games for kids has a plan for ages 3 to 8, and winter activities for kids covers the days between.
If you want a folder of printable activities ready for the rest of the year, the Kids Printable Activity Bundle is the next step. It is four packs, 137 pages in all: the Indoor Day Rescue Kit, the Road Trip and Restaurant Pack, the Christmas Elf Planner and the Christmas Activity Pack, plus a 5-page Start Here guide. It costs $12, where the four packs bought one at a time come to $24. It has no noon years eve pages in it. It is for the rainy days, car rides and December evenings that come next.
Supplies for a noon years eve party
- Most used
Paper plates, 9 inch, 100 pack
Typically $8 to $15
For the countdown clock craft.
Check price on Amazon for Paper plates, 9 inch, 100 pack -
Brass paper fasteners, 100 pack
Typically $3 to $7
To make the clock hands turn.
Check price on Amazon for Brass paper fasteners, 100 pack -
Paper streamers, assorted colors
Typically $5 to $10
For the streamer drop and decorations.
Check price on Amazon for Paper streamers, assorted colors -
Cardstock, assorted colors, letter size
Typically $8 to $15
For crowns, hands and photo props.
Check price on Amazon for Cardstock, assorted colors, letter size -
Plastic jars with lids, 8 oz, 12 pack
Typically $10 to $18
For shakers and the time capsule.
Check price on Amazon for Plastic jars with lids, 8 oz, 12 pack -
Jumbo craft pom-poms, 2 inch
Typically $6 to $12
A large size for the toddler tray.
Check price on Amazon for Jumbo craft pom-poms, 2 inch
Frequently asked questions
What is Noon Year's Eve?
Noon Year's Eve is a New Year's Eve party for children held at midday on December 31. The countdown is to 12:00 noon instead of midnight, so little ones can join in without staying up late.
What do you do at a Noon Year's Eve party for toddlers?
Keep it short and calm: a paper crown craft, a snack, a simple pom-pom sorting game on a tray, a soft shaker moment and a countdown with a paper plate clock. Plan for 25 minutes and stay close.
How long should a noon years eve party for kids last?
About 60 minutes for ages 6 to 8, and about 25 to 30 minutes for toddlers. Start about an hour before noon for older children.
What can I use instead of a balloon drop?
A paper streamer drop or paper lanterns. They look festive and carry no choking risk. Keep balloons away from children under 8.
What can we do for a noon years eve party with no prep?
Draw a clock on a paper plate, put out fruit and crackers, set a timer for noon and count down together. Toast with juice. It takes about 15 minutes to set up.
Is a noon years eve party good for a mixed-age group?
Yes. Give the youngest the sensory tray and a crown, and give older children the clock craft or the time capsule jar. Everyone joins the countdown and the streamer drop together.
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