3 ways to make New Year’s Eve special for kids

3 ways to make New Year’s special for kids 

Ready to ring in the New Year with your family, but not quite sure how to make this one extra special? A Bend therapist has put together a go-to list for how to connect with your kids and teens, while making time for reflection and celebration. 

1. Create your own family tradition. Annual traditions are a great way to help everyone in your family feel connected, grounded, and festive. And once you’ve established your very own traditions, they can be passed down from generation to generation. Is there a special movie you can watch, a recipe you can try, or a game that you can play? Remember that there is no wrong way to do this — our tradition can be as simple as you’d like! 

2. Have a festive meal together. Set aside distractions and make time to have a special holiday meal with the ones you love, focusing on sharing food, laughter, and conversation. You can ask the kiddos to help with meal prep, creating a playlist, setting the table, and coming up with fun games to play like, "Would You Rather?" or “I Spy.” To add extra sparkle, you can decide on a theme, decorate the room, give toasts, or dress up for the occasion.
   
   
3. Take time to reflect. Get out some pens, paper, and any other art supplies you have at home and ask everyone to reflect on their favorite parts of the year. Get curious and take time to set intentions for the year ahead. You can ask questions like, “What would you like more of in 2025?” or “What are some of the things that feel important to you in the upcoming year?” Give everyone a chance to share and consider stashing your intentions away to read together the following year. 

Remember that the holidays can be overwhelming for everyone, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself to make your celebration picture perfect. Your friends at Bend are here if you could use some extra support this year.

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