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New Year's Day Family Activity Kit

by Margy Davidson

Happy New Year!
Here are some fun things to do with your kids around New Year's Day.

Family Resolution Book
Resolutions -- those little promises that you make to yourself each year but don't necessarily keep. Here's a way to keep you and your family on track with those promises.

What you need:

  • A photo album or scrapbook
  • Resolution form (print one for each family member)

    What to do:

    Using the resolution form, each family member writes up his/her resolutions for the upcoming year. Put this in the book along with photos or anything else that strikes your fancy from the past year. Check in every month or so to see how you're doing with your promises to yourself.

    Variation: For those who own camcorders -- record each family member talking about his/her resolutions on camera. Take a look at the video every month or so to see how you're doing with your resolutions.

    Prediction Time Capsule

    New Year's Eve has come and gone and the party's over. But it doesn't have to be! Try these fun ideas to do with your kids on New Year's Day.

    What you need:

  • A container of any shape or size, such as an empty paper towel roll or a shoe box
  • Predictions form (print one for each family member)

    What to do:

    Invite each family member to make predictions about your family, pets, the world, and so on for the upcoming year. Put the predictions form and a favorite item from each family member into the container. This will be your time capsule. Seal the capsule and put it in a safe place. Open it on next New Year's Day to see what predictions came true.

    New Year's Cookie Party
    New Year's Eve has come and gone and the party's over. But it doesn't have to be! Try these fun ideas to do with your kids on New Year's Day.

    What you need:

  • Your favorite family cookie recipes, such chocolate chip or sugar cookies (or buy slice-and-bake cookie dough)
  • Ingredients needed for your recipes (including cookie cutters and stamps)
  • All family members
  • Fancy paper plates (or pretty tins or gift boxes)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Ribbons and gift tags

    What to do:

    Spend part of New Year's Day baking a batch of cookies together as a family. Wrap them up in pretty packages and deliver them as presents to friends, neighbors, and family.

    Variation: For added fun, invite your friends and neighbors to make the cookies with you. Everyone gets a care package to take home. Yummy!

    The Backyard Neighbors
    New Year's Eve has come and gone and the party's over. But it doesn't have to be! Try these fun ideas to do with your kids on New Year's Day.

    What you need:

  • Feeders (store-bought or homemade)
  • Bird food (store-bought and/or homemade)
  • Other food (stale bread, orange slices, corn, etc.)

    What to do:

    Don't forget your feathered friends and other creatures in your yard. Make sure that the bird feeders are out and full. Set up feeding stations around your yard for all the wild creatures that share your neighborhood. You and your kids can make and decorate your own bird feeders.

    Variation: Ready to discard your Christmas tree? Turn it into a giant feeding station.

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