Finding new ways to celebrate New Year’s is a must. Once you transition to "Mom" or "Dad", the things that used to occupy New Year's Eve may no longer be the right option for you. So what are some simple ways to enjoy the day with kids? Here are a few of our favorites. 1. New York New Years Living on the west coast? Many young kids will want to stay up for midnight, but not have the stamina to pull it off. That can lead to a midnight meltdown. And we all know that those are no fun. Why not celebrate the ball dropping on east coast time? You don’t even have to tell the kids that the timing is off! This gets young kids off to bed around 9 pm instead of 1 am, and leaves a little one-on-one time for mom and dad to enjoy the true New Year’s celebration. 2. BYOB No beer needed! In this instance, the last “B” stands for BABY! If you have little ones, why not invite other parents over for a big-time sleepover? It’s a Bring Your Own BABY party. Make a room that is kid-friendly and safe and let the kids enjoy the company of their peers. If the adults plan to consume adult beverages, be sure that you have enough sleeping space for moms and dads, too. This party can become a tradition that the kids look forward to just as much as the parents! 3. Noon-Years Having kids doesn’t mean that you have to stay in. If mom and dad really want to hit the town, do it. You can still celebrate NYE with the kids. It’s just as fun to make a big deal about and the countdown to noon as it is to midnight. 4. Go out! Another way to still enjoy New Years as a family without staying in requires a little research. Many family-friendly restaurants will have special events in the early evening targeted specifically towards families. A quick Google search should help you locate a few, but starting with family-friendly restaurants is a good start. 5. Traditions Hard as it may seem to believe right now, your babies won’t stay tiny forever. As your kids get older they may want to spend NYE without you. Sometimes those evenings can lead to poor choices by teenagers. Keep the kids home and safe by making home a fun place to be from an early age. Develop a family tradition that lends itself to family identity. Things like a special game that is played, or a certain meal that is cooked, or even a certain place that you go – these all add up to a custom that becomes a family identity. WHAT it is – is not nearly as important as the fact that you’re establishing a family identity and tradition that becomes beloved. 6. Day Late & A Dollar Short If the kids are still young enough, we say it’s A-OK to play a little trick on them. Waiting until New Year’s Day to celebrate New Year’s Eve is a thing! Not only does it allow you to get a sitter for the kids on NYE proper, but it also allows you to hit the party store sales the day after and stock up on decorations on the cheap. Since kids aren’t exactly aware of days in the way that adults are, many won’t even realize that you’re late to the New Year’s party. New Year’s as a family is just a matter of getting creative with family time. Find a way to do something that becomes a tradition and you’ll be setting yourself up for years of memories that become essential to your family identity.