New Year’s Partaaaaaay!

Hello blogging world!  I took a short (ok maybe long) 5 month break from blogging, but I’m back!  I have so many fellow librarians out there that are always looking for new ideas, so they shouldn’t be deprived because I’m being lazy.  So my new year’s resolution is to blog more, we will see how it goes.  I made a pact with Seth that we will both blog at least once a week.   So here is mine for the week, WHERE IS YOURS SETH?   Anyways, now on to the important stuff, my spectacular 6th annual New Year’s Party for preschoolers.  OH!  And I need to include more pictures, but that will begin with my next post 🙂

This is by far my favorite program to do yearly.  My flyer reads something along the lines of, “Join us to celebrate the new year by reading stories, singing songs and sipping sparkling cider.  We will even have a countdown to noon!  So be sure to wear your fancy party clothes!”  I think this year turned out the best so far, all the kids had such a good time. 

I began by having the kids come in and decorate a fun party hat, cause well, everyone needs a party hat on New Years.  They used sequins, feathers, pom poms, pipe cleaners and they all looked pretty sweet.

Next I read the story There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow By: Lucille Colandro

Cover from Amazon.com

I always like to read winter themed stories just because I can never find any really good New Year’s books for preschoolers.  The kids don’t seem to mind.  Next we danced to the hokey pokey!  I think that’s just the prefect song to dance to during a party.  It got a little crazy this year too, a kid lost his shoe!  Seth helped me with this program (thank goodness) so I let him read the next book since I was recovering from the hokey pokey.  He read Winter Woes By: Marty Kelley.  If you haven’t read this book, YOU MUST.  It’s hilarious and the kids giggle the entire time.

Cover image from Amazon.com

By the end of this story it was time to pass out the cookies and sparkling cider!  I love giving it to the kids because for some of them it’s the first time they’ve tasted it, it can be entertaining to see their facial expressions.  Although some hate it, they still enjoy their cookies.  Next I gathered everyone on the carpet and passed out tiny cups of confetti.  YES, CONFETTI.  I started doing this last year because I’m sure they never get to make a mess at home and confetti is GREAT!  Oh, and we even had party blow-out noise makers.  After explaining what we do with the confetti and how the countdown works, it was time.  The room was a little trashed afterwards but it was so worth it, everyone had a fantastic time.  Happy New Year’s everyone!