At last, 2020 is coming to a close. The New Year’s Eve celebrations are going to look different this year, of course. While you’ll probably be celebrating at home with your family, I’ve gathered some end of year activities to do with your children to say goodbye 2020! Let’s look for the silver linings and turn our eyes toward 2021 with renewed hope and fresh dreams. May the New Year bring you all abundant joy!

1. Create a 2020 memory book. Have fun with it. Tape in a disposable mask and a sheet of toilet paper because one day this will all be a memory. Record your child’s favorite 2020 memories and thoughts of the year along with a few snapshots and headlines for a wonderful keepsake for your child.
2. Make a time capsule. This is always my favorite New Year’s Eve tradition. Some things I like to put in our time capsule jars are this filled out printable, a piece of string that measures how tall my kids are, a handprint, photos, ticket stubs, sea shells, and other momentos. 
3. Set new goals for 2021 and write them down on this printable.  Ask fun questions like “what would you do if you won a million dollars” and “what superpower would you choose and why?” Create a bucket list or a vision board for 2021 and check out these 7 fun goal-setting activities by Big Life Journal. 
4. Make this paper plate noise maker to shake as the ball drops! You’ll just need a paper plate, pasta or beans, markers, curled ribbon, tape, and glue. Your child will have a blast making it and shaking it!
5. Start a 2021 happiness jar! Buy a large mason jar and decorate with ribbon, stickers, etc. Tell your children that it’s the 2021 happiness jar, and every day have them write down one thing that made them happy that day on a strip of paper and place it in the jar. They’ll get to watch their happy moments mount up throughout the year and will have such fun pulling them out next New Year’s Eve and reminiscing!
6. Hey bookish friends, ask your child to write a to-read list for 2021 of at least 10 books and then create origami bookmarks together. Check out this list of the 25 best children's books of 2020 for reading ideas. 
7. Party big. Look, I know you’re likely just going to be at home because...COVID. But there’s no reason you still can’t party big. Dress up. Get that party hat on. Get the balloons, the streamers, and the noise makers. Celebrate because life is worth celebrating even when it isn’t perfect and also the end of 2020 is something worth celebrating!
8. Have a cheeky, silly photo shoot. There are lots of photo props you can print from the internet. Hang a sheet, grab your props, and snap away! 
9. Make a party popper craft. Ring in the new year with a BANG with this fun and simple craft. Find the template and the instructions here. 
10. Make countdown balloons! This is another one of my favorites. Write one activity on a strip of paper and stuff inside a balloon. Create as many balloons as you want for the evening. Feel free to make up your own activities, but here’s a done-for-you schedule for the night:
    
    6:30 PM – New Year’s Eve dinner and cookie baking!
    7:30 PM– Make the paper plate noise maker from 4.
    8:30 PM – Pull Out the New Year’s Printables from 3.
    9:30 PM – Pop some popcorn & start your New Year’s Eve Movie!
    10:30 PM – Intermission! Eat those cookies you baked earlier and have a photo shoot.
    11:30 PM – Prepare to Ring in the New Year!

Rebecca Eanes is the bestselling author of multiple books including Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide, The Positive Parenting Workbook, and The Gift of a Happy Mother. She is the grateful mom of two boys.