You can involve preschoolers in the fun New Year’s festivities too! And it’s really simple.
There are quite a few different activities that are great for preschoolers that can also help them learn. Below you will some happy new year activities for preschool that you can use in the classroom or at home.
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What Types of Activities Are Good For Preschoolers?
Preschoolers learn a lot through play. They develop motor skills and learn to use all their senses. That means any activity that involves them being able to use their hands and maybe even challenge their brains is great for preschoolers.
The Best Happy New Year Printable Activities & Crafts For Preschool
There are several activities below that are great for toddlers and preschoolers in the home or the classroom. They range from super easy to a little more elaborate. There are also several different crafts, games, and fun activities.
Let’s review the top happy new year activities for preschool.
New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt
Enjoy a fun New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt around the house (or classroom). You can click here to download our fun family-friendly New Year’s Scavenger hunt, or you can make your own. Be sure to include a fun surprise at the end.
Noisemakers
Make a fun noisemaker craft to use at Midnight or for a countdown.
Party Hat
Make a party hat. This is a super simple craft, especially if you download my hat template for FREE. Just decorate it and glue it together. Super fun and easy.
Glow In The Dark Ring Toss or Tic Tac Toe
Play glow-in-the-dark ring toss or glow-in-the-dark tic tac toe. You can find a lot of glow-in-the-dark accessories at Dollar Tree. Make the ring toss with some old bottles. Put some glow-in-the-dark paint or tape on them, and use glow-in-the-dark bracelets to “ring” the bottles with the lights off.
Make tic tac toe by using some glow-in-the-dark tape to make a tic tac toe grid and use bracelets for the X’s and O’s. Play in the dark. You can find some glow-in-the-dark paint here and you can find some other glow in the dark paint, stickers, and rope options here.
Fake Snow
Play with fake snow. We have played with this stuff before, and it’s crazy how real it feels, and it’s not cold. It’s just weird.
Coloring Pages
Download these FREE NYE Coloring Pages. They are simple, but fun for little kids. (If the picture below isn’t updated, the coloring pages will be)
Clock Matching Game
One of the best times to learn about clocks is for New Year’s. Do this fun clock-matching activity that is at a super easy level. You can download it for FREE – Winter NYE Clock Matching Preschool Activity.
Fireworks Craft
Make a fun fireworks craft by making a stamp out of pipe cleaners. Just fold them in half, twist them together at the fold, then spread them out. Press it in some paint and press it onto some paper, now you have a firework.
You could do the same thing with a toilet paper roll by cutting it halfway down the sides about a fourth of an inch apart all the way around.
Another great firework craft, that does not involve paint, is gluing cupcake liners all around a piece of cardstock and then cutting them down the sides all around it to make it look like a firework!
Glitter Writing Tray
Put a bunch of glitter onto a cookie sheet. Have your preschooler write letters or numbers in the glitter. To make it less messy, you can also put the glitter in a Ziploc baggie. Lay the baggie flat and spread out the glitter.
Preschoolers should be able to write on the bag and make the glitter move. Here is an example with shaving cream.
Glow In The Dark Bubbles
Get some glow-in-the-dark bubbles that you can use with a blacklight. Preschoolers and toddlers love bubbles. You could also get some glow-in-the-dark balloons.
Make a Sensory Bottle
Create a sensory bottle by putting water, oil, and food coloring into a plastic bottle. You can also add confetti, glitter, or other decorative items. Then glue the lid on.
Now you have a fun sensory bottle. Here are the full instructions.
Confetti Lava Explosion
Do some fun and EASY science by making a lava glitter or confetti explosion.
Play-Doh Mats
Do some fun Play-Doh by writing the new year in Playdoh. You can download my FREE New Year’s Eve Play doh mats. (The date has been updated, even if the picture is not.)
Paper Plate Clock & Countdown
Make a clock out of a paper plate and have your child countdown the hours with you. This is a fun way to learn about time and do a craft together.
New Year’s Eve Treat
Decorate cookies or make a fun New Year’s eve treat together.
New Year’s Eve Sensory Bin
Create a New Year’s Eve sensory bin with glitter, confetti, noisemakers, foam numbers, stars, jewelry, and things that sparkle. Or buy the whole bin on Etsy. Hide toys and other fun goodies in it.
New Year’s Q-Tip Painting
Do some fun Q-tip painting with these simple New Year’s Eve Q-tip printables. (The printable has been updated with the date, even though the picture may not.)
Ways To Celebrate New Years With a Preschooler
If you are celebrating the new year with a preschooler and also older kids, you might find it easy to use this countdown activity guide. The New Year’s Eve hourly countdown guide includes 29 different activities and printables for the whole family. It includes some of the ideas shared here, plus much more.
It’s great for young kids and toddlers. And even if they can’t do everything, they can participate in their own way. It makes it fun for the whole family.
There are quite a few fun happy new year activities for preschool and you can try them out this year if you want to.
Use any of these simple and fun activities to create a memorable New Year’s Eve with your preschooler or toddler. You can do as little or as much as you have time for.
Some of these activities are super simple, like the New Year’s Eve coloring pages. Or, try the more elaborate ones like creating a glow-in-the-dark ring toss. There is fun for the whole family!
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