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Gina

The Ultimate Guide to New Years Activities for Kids

In this BLOG post I will teach you how to incorporate sensory play, crafts. motor activities and more into your home, classroom or therapy space this New Years.


Wishing Wands:

Materials:

  • Paper straws

  • Cellophane paper

  • Scissors

  • Tape


How-To:

  • Choose 4-5 pieces of cellophane and lay them on top of each other. Fold in half.

  • Cut short snips into the top side- stop right before you hit the fold!

  • With the folded side down, wrap the cellophane tightly around the straw and tape it so it’s secure.

  • the cut pieces should flap/fold down making the cutest wishing wand!


Extend your crafting by taking these outdoors in a sunny day and exploring the shadows!!


Fizzy Fun:

Materials:

  • Plastic cups (or bowls)

  • Baking soda

  • White vinegar

  • Water

  • Medicine dropper or pipette 

  • Cellophane paper 


How-To:

  • Sprinkle a layer of baking soda in the bottom of your cup or bowl.  

  • Cut cellophane paper into small pieces & add into the cups.

  • In a separate bowl or cup, add half water & half white vinegar.

  • Fill your pipette with the vinegar/water mix & squirt it into the baking soda tray.  Watch as it bubbles & fizzes & colors mix together.


Extend your sensory play by exploring colors as well. Simply add food coloring to your vinegar/water mix!


Confetti Calm Down Bottle:

Materials:

  • Plastic bottle with a cap

  • Clear liquid glue

  • Cellophane

  • Warm water


How-To:

  • Cut cellophane into small pieces & add in to the bottle.

  • Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with warm water.

  • Fill the remainder of the bottle with clear liquid glue.

  • Put the cap on and tighten.

  • Shake well to incorporate.

  • Find a sunny spot, shake the bottle again & watch as the colors shift & fall & create a beautiful reflection!


*You can add hot glue around the cap before you tighten it to ensure it wont open.  After a few hours, the cellophane may alter the color of the water, which creates a new, fun effect!


Festive Salt Tray:

Materials:

  • Sensory tray or baking dish

  • Salt

  • Cellophane paper or glitter


How-To:

  • Sprinkle a thin layer or salt into your tray or dish

  • Cut cellophane into small pieces & add in or use glitter.

  • Use your finger or dry paintbrush to create in the tray!


Extend your learning by practicing writing letters, numbers, shapes, sight words, etc.


Wishing Wands:

Materials:

  • Pony beads

  • Pipe cleaners


How-To:

  • Take 1 pipe cleaner & form it into a star.

  • Take a second pipe cleaner & wrap it around the bottom center of the star, creating a wand.

  • Add beads on the wand.  Wrap the end around the last bead to keep it from falling off.

  • Once completed, go around & take turns sharing your wishes for 2023!


Extend your play by dipping the wands into bubbles & blowing them during your celebration!


Firework Rings:

Materials:

  • 4-5 pipe cleaners


How-To:

  • Put all the pipe cleaners into an even pile.  Fold them in half.

  • Twist the folded end into a loop the size of your finger.  Twist the pipe cleaners around a few times to secure.

  • Now that you have a ring shape, push the ends of the pipe cleaners down & bend them at the end to look like fireworks.


Extend your play by creating letters with the dough, practice cutting with the dough and/or representing numbers with the dough.


New Year's Eve Poppers:

Materials:

  • Balloon

  • Cellophane paper

  • Paper towel roll

  • Tape

  • Scissors


How-To:

  • Cut a paper towel roll in half.

  • Tie the deflated balloon into a knot. Cut the bottom quarter of the balloon off.  

  • Pull the cut portion of the balloon onto the end of the paper towel.  Tape around the balloon to secure it.

  • Cut the cellophane into small pieces & stuff inside the popper.

  • Pull the bottom of the balloon, release it & watch the confetti fly!


Extend your play by trying this with pom poms and measuring which one goes the furthest.


Beaded Year Numbers:

Materials:

  • 4 pipe cleaners

  • Pony beads


How-To:

  • String beads onto each of the 4 pipe cleaners.  Twist the end into the last bead to secure them.

  • Twist the pipe cleaners into the numbers 2023.

  • This is such great fine motor work!


Extend your craft by creating patterns, then counting the number of beads on each number.


Confetti Play Dough:


Materials:

  • 1 cup of flour

  • 1/4 cup of salt

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or coconut oil

  • 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar

  • 1 cup of water

  • Cellophane paper or glitter


How-To:

  • Pour all of the ingredients (except the cellophane paper/glitter) into the pan.!


Extend your play by adding in your favorite cookie cutters and trinkets and creating with the dough.


Confetti Oobleck:

Materials:

  • 2 cups cornstarch

  • 1 cup water

  • confetti or flitter

  • Sensory tray or bowl

  • Spoon


How-To:

  • Pour all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

  • PLAY!


Extend your play by adding in your scoops, bowls and trinkets!


New Years Pizza:

Materials:

  • Pre-made pizza crust or crescent rolls

  • Pizza sauce

  • Shredded cheese

  • Baking sheet


How-To:

  • Pre-heat the oven based on dough directions.

  • Roll out the dough and form it into the numbers 2-0-2-5.

  • Spread sauce on the numbers, top with cheese and toppings of your choice.

  • Bake based on dough instructions.

  • Enjoy!


Fingerprint Painting:

Materials:

  • Construction paper

  • Paint

  • FREE 2025 cut out HERE

  • Painters tape


How-To:

  • Gather your materials and print out the 2025 template.

  • Cut out the numbers and use painters tape to secure them onto the construction paper.

  • Squirt out some paint onto a sensory tray or plate. Dip your finger in and dot around the numbers. If you don't want to get your fingers in paint, use a craft pom pom instead!

  • Let the craft dry and slowly peel off the numbers to reveal your art!


Noisemakers:

  • Large craft sticks

  • Pipe cleaner

  • Small bells

  • Glue (Hot glue works best but liquid glue will also work)


How-To:

  • Glue 4-6 bells onto a craft stick, depending on size.

  • Take 2-3 pipe cleaners & twist them around the craft stick. You can also add a drop of glue to hold these down permanently if you want!

  • Shake & sing & dance into the New Year!


Festive Firework Sensory Bin:

Click HERE for all of the details on how to dye this festive and fun sensory bin!


*Use your judgement if using hot glue & small objects around children. Always monitor young children during activities for safety.


Download our FREE 23 page packet HERE!!!







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