If you are planning a family celebration this year, keep the kids busy until the ball drops by doing these fun (and easy) DIY activities:
New Year’s Eve Noise Makers via Make and Takes
Materials:
Empty toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls
Wax paper—cut 4×4 square for each
Hole punch
Rubber band
Markers, stickers, crayons
Instructions:
- On one end of each roll, punch a hole about 1 inch in from the edge. Now on the same end, fold over a square cut piece of wax paper over the opening. Use the rubber band to hold it in place.
- Make sure the paper is on tight over the end. It won’t make a good sound unless the paper is on tight. Now on the open end, say “Do Do Do Do” into your tube to test out the sound. It should sound kind of like a kazoo.
- Decorate your noise maker with your markers, stickers, and crayons and you’re set for Midnight!
Tin Can Wind Chimes via Kiwi Magazine
Materials:
Hammer and nail
9 clean metal cans (vegetable cans are great!)
Nontoxic paint
Glitter
String or twine
Large plastic lid
Instructions:
- Use the hammer and nail to pound a hole through the bottom of each can.
- Paint cans different colors (including bottoms). While the paint is wet, sprinkle glitter on cans and then let dry (bottom side-up).
- Cut a 20-inch piece of string. With can bottom facing up, run string through the hole of one can, leaving 8 inches of string hanging out. Tie a knot in the string in the inside of the can. Then, on the same string, tie two more cans in the same way to make a tin can chime. Repeat with remaining cans and string.
- Poke three holes near the edges of the plastic lid. Run string from each chime through one of the lid holes and knot to secure.
- Poke four holes into the lid corners. Cut two 25-inch strings. Run the first string up through two diagonally-opposing holes so the ends meet at the top. Repeat with other string. Tie string ends into a knot.
Water Bottle Penguins via Candle in the Night
Materials:
An empty (DRY) water bottle
About 40-50 cotton balls
Black felt
Googly eyes or buttons
Yellow or orange pipe cleaner (you only need a small piece)
Glue
Instructions:
- Have each child stuff the cotton balls inside the empty (and DRY!) water bottles until full.
- While they are stuffing, cut two wings, the feet piece and a strip that will wrap around the lid to make the head from the black felt.
- Cut the beak piece from the pipe cleaner.
- Have your child glue the face (beak and eyes) on to the middle of the head piece. Then, have them glue the wings and feet onto the water bottle.
- When the face is dry, glue the black strip into a ring. Measure to be sure the ring will fit over the water bottle lid. Have your child pinch the ring shut while the glue dries a bit. After a couple minutes, they can put it on the water bottle lid to finish drying.
Talk to us: How do you celebrate the New Year with your children?