We are having our 3 oldest granddaughters overnight on New Year's Eve. We don't plan to let them stay up late - one was 4 in Oct, one will be 4 in Feb. and the other will be 3 in Jan, so definitely too young to see the New Year in! However we want to do some fun things with them, besides just playing with toys and reading stories which they love. I was hoping for some type of simple craft that could be a memory to take home. They visit often but this will be the first real overnight. Any ides will be appreciated!
You could bake cookies. Simple, with diff. sprinkles, or more involved, like the #s 2010. Have fun, don't stress. :)
You will have fun with them! My parents watched our children for years on New Years Eve!! They celebrated early with sparkling grape juice, pizza and veggie and dip. They thought it was great to be at Grandma's. They played lots of bored games and made noise makers out of paper towel rolls, cut in half and put in buttons or dried veggies, cereal, anything that will make some noise....they love it! They also played lots of board games. My children love to go to grandma's still, because they know Grandma will play games with them. Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Turbo Yatzee, Spoons... Happy New Years and Enjoy!
Don't forget games like CHUTES AND LADDERS and Candy Land, Memory Match (Concentration) for this age! Find a special movie, too. There are plenty of Winnie The Pooh good ones for this age as well as things like Nemo, Alladin, Franklin the Turtle (lots of life lessons) etc. There is also a series by the Book of Virtues that has lessons on things like obedience, trust, etc. that are appropritate for that age.
You could make play dough....very easy, make your own special colors, etc. and just use your cookie cutters. Store in good ziplocs.
How about a picture frame of craft sticks and sponge type decorations and glitter to glue on? You can find these at Wal-Mart. Then......take a picture of the girls, print them and put in the frames as a memory of your New Year's Eve together.
Hope that helps.
Hi my favorite thing I have of my kid and they are at the perfect age is draw their hands on a paper, put their name, and date it. Our kids are 48,39,37 and I still have their hands on just a plain piece of paper. Have Fun!! enjoy as you know how fast they grow up.
Maybe some painting on paper or maybe you can go in craft store and buy a little shirt or something like that and they can design something like their hands,feet ot maybe you can draw for then and you guys can paint,i know seems messy but if you put then in a old pair of clothes and some plastic in the floor it wont be that messy,it can be alot fun...its just a thought...Have fun thats its the point right?
Oh, wow, you are going to be a very tired Grandma on New Years day! I have an idea for you. Get some construction paper and have them make hand flowers for the Moms. You take their hands, let them draw around them and then you cut them out. Put them on the paper, then make "stems"....you can make a whole bouquet.......and they can paste them on. Do it portrait style so they can add a flower pot on the bottom too.....hope this helps.
Well, I must have posted my question incorrectly as I can't figure out how to tell you "What Happened" except to post it here! First I really appreciate all the responses there are some really great ideas here! Some I am saving in my "Ideas for Grandkids" file to use another year as we hope to make this an annual event, adding the other grands as they get a little older. Plus we frequently have them come when it's not a sleepover and some of these ideas are perfect for a quick activity in an afternoon.
So I found foam rectangles that I am using to make picture frames and they can decorate them with foam stickers I found. I'll also write on the child's name and the date. We'll be taking LOTS of pictures, so after they are settled for the night, I'll choose some that showcase each child and print them for their frames. We also plan to do the party with the noise makers and will bundle them up and let them bring in the new year outside. It should be a lot of fun and I really appreciate all your great ideas!
I recently bought some Crayola air dry modeling clay and made little paper weights-- or whatever-- for gifts. I just rolled it into balls then flattened the bottoms and then my daughter stuck beads into them. (When it is dry they can color on it with markers). She is two so your granddaughters could make something more elaborate, I am sure. The tub was 4.99 and I just used some cheap beads from Walmart. Cheap and fun and should last quite a while!
If you have a digital camera and a printer you could do a silly/fun picture album. Buy cheap photo albums and take pics of you doing fun things like dressing up in grandma's clothes, doing each others hair and make up and have a "fashion show" Plus pics of normal fun stuff like reading stories, drinking hot chocolate, etc . Then print (use regular paper and the lowest quality setting on the printer to save money) and make each girl an album of fun with grandma to take home and enjoy
For a craft you could make party hats out of paper or cardstock and let them decorate it.
My step mom is having the kids over for new years and she bought sparkling grape juice and plastic wine glasses. You could do little things to make it a small "party"
You could have an early toasting of the new year with apple juice & party hats & horns. Do a count down at 8:00 instead of midnight. Try Michaels for craft ideas. They have little packages of crafts that all you have to have is glue, then put together.
It might be fun to make a "poster" to remind them of the new year 2010.
Use some colored construction paper or cardstock.
You or they (if they know how) make a big 2010 in the center of the sheet with a pencil....
Use glue and glitter, sequins, other sparkles, or pompoms on the numerals to make them stand out.
Then make a similar border around the sheet.
You could also scatter a few sparkles etc. around the background if they want.
Then they can hang these up at home to remind the family of the new Year!
OR, you could use dark blue paper or cardstock and cotton balls to make a snowman picture.
Same idea.
You or they outline it and they fill in with cottonballs.
Tiny black pompoms make the face and buttons.
Draw stick arms if you want.
Make a hat and/or scarf out of colored felt if you want.
Pompoms, felt, paper and cardstock are available at Hobby Lobby or Michael's.
Have fun.
If you get them early enough you can ring in the new years at noon with a little party and then spend the evening letting make their own pizza or something. Another idea is to help them make a book/drawing of what the new year will be like in 2050 ( flying cars etc.) or what life is like on a chocolate planet and make people with a Hershey bar body twizzler arms etc.
