January is New Year’s Resolutions Month!

3 Jan posted by

Look, I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a maker of New Year’s resolutions and I’m fully aware that most only last an average of two weeks for those that even bother to do so. But still, there is something intriguing about the idea of recognizing what areas of your life need improvement and taking action to fix them. To me, New Year’s resolutions can happen anytime, not just on the first day of the year. Some random Wednesday in February is a great time to start eating healthier just as the second Saturday in July is the perfect day to begin exercising or playing more with your kids.

Throughout the entire month of January, we’ll be throwing out ideas of how to conquer some common resolutions, all things that are easily maintained well beyond the usual two week threshold. No grand proclamations of “A New You for the New Year”, just some good ideas on how to improve upon what you’ve already got going. If you’re looking for some healthy recipes to add to your menus or exercise plans that we have tried and we know work or just some tips on how to get better organized or spend more time with your kids, it will be right here all month long. Look for posts on eating better, exercising more, spending more quality time with your kids, trying new things, beautifying yourself or your surroundings, getting more “me time” and better ways to get organized. If you have some great ideas for how to help others achieve what they have planned for 2012 too, feel free to share them, we’re always open to suggestions!

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012!

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Filed Under: Health and Lifestyle, New Year's, New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Eve Letter for Kids

31 Dec posted by

For the past week, we’ve been all about New Year’s Eve here at Hello Little One and one thing we’ve been really talking about is how to make it enjoyable for the kids too. As part of our kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party, I’m having all the kids fill out these quick letters, talking about where they are now and where they expect to be in the future. Sub-par organizational skills notwithstanding, I plan to stash the finished letters away somewhere safe so we can pull them out way down the road to read together. My goal is to do this with them every year so they get a visual timeline of how their handwriting, goals, passions and hopes have changed throughout their entire childhood. The littlest ones can just color in the lines or dictate their answers, and the bigger ones will have fun filling theirs out all by themselves.

Here’s our New Year’s letter for the kids, and click this link here if you’d like to download a copy for yourself. Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable New Year’s and a great beginning to 2012!

My Name Is:

Today’s Date Is:

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be: 

My Best Friend Is: 

My Favorite Toy Is: 

In 20 Years, I Will Be: 

My Favorite Thing That Happened This Year Is:

I Am Going to Have ____ Kids When I Grow Up.

Next Year, I’m Looking Forward To:

My Favorite Thing to Do Is:

 

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Filed Under: Kids Activities, New Year's

New Year’s Eve Activities for Kids

28 Dec posted by

A fun New Year’s Eve with kids is kind of an oxymoron – like a relaxing playdate or an enjoyable episode of Caillou. To most of us, the “Biggest Night of the Year” is just another night but as the kids get older, they want to stay up to see what all the fuss is about. This year, I promised my oldest two that they could ring in the new year with us so we’re hosting a small, kid-friendly party in the hopes that everyone will sleep in late enough the next day to make it all worth it.

Usually, a bunch of kids in the house means they run around like crazy smashing things and yelling, kind of like what New Year’s used to be with adults actually. This time though I figured I’d come up with some fun activities to keep them occupied so the rest of us can focus on what’s really important, food and cocktails.

If you too are going to be hosting your smallest party animals in the safety of your own home this year, here are some fun activities and ideas to keep even the youngest of revelers happy right up until the clock strikes midnight.

New Year’s Resolution Art

New Year’s Eve Crowns

New Year’s Eve Bingo

Party Hats

Try wrapping some sparkling apple juice in these fun champagne printable wraps so the kids can toast the new year long with you!

Time Capsule Can

Make some clock pops

Is your tree still up from Christmas? Take down the ornaments (or if you have a toddler, pick them all up from under the couches and tables where he’s been throwing them all month) and replace them with New Year’s horns, glasses and party supplies. Turn the lights on and you’ve got yourself a sparkly New Year’s tree!

First Night Hats

Kid’s Countdown Clocks

Write a New Year’s Letter. Imagine getting a letter that you wrote to yourself 10, 15 or 20 years ago? Have everyone write themselves a letter saying what they were doing in 2011 and then write some specific questions down for each of the kids to answer. Where will you be in 15 years? What will you be when you grow up? What do cars look like in the future? How many kids do you have? Think of anything you think would be fun to read in the future and then hang on to them in a safe place until the kids are all grown up.

Party Poppers

New Year’s Pasta Numbers

Noisemakers (because kids aren’t loud enough already)

Bubble Jumping

Hand out some fun confetti party favors to guests, young and old, so everyone can join the wild rumpus once the clock strikes midnight.

Whatever your New Year’s plans are, have fun, be safe and best wishes for a wonderful 2012! Here’s to hoping all the little maniacs sleep in on January 1st!

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Filed Under: Family Traditions, Kid-Friendly, Kids Activities, New Year's, Parties