This time of year can seem especially crazy. You might be wanting to plan a New Year’s celebration while you’re still preparing for Christmas or Hanukkah.
There’s a special celebration that can make the New Year extra meaningful for preschoolers. It doesn’t need to be done right on New Year’s Eve, although you can do it then if you wish. I have ideas here for a special Montessori New Year’s celebration along with lots of other wonderful ways to make the New Year extra special.
Montessori Birthday Celebration for the Earth
My favorite Montessori idea for celebrating the New Year is with a Montessori birthday celebration for the earth. I first read about this idea on Montessori Mom: “The Moon and New Years.” You’ll find a number of helpful ideas and links there.
You could still sing:
The Earth goes around the sun,
The Earth goes around the sun,
It takes a year to go around,
The Earth goes around the sun!
or you could sing something like:
The Earth goes around the sun,
The Earth goes around the sun,
The Earth goes around the sun,
And then a year is done!
I have a roundup post with a number of ideas for Montessori birthday celebrations: ” Montessori Birthday Celebration.”
See a roundup of songs and printables for a Montessori birthday celebration (many of which can be used for a New Year’s celebration) here: “Free Celebration of Life Songs and Printables for a Montessori Birthday.”
You can see a simple home version here: “Montessori Birthday at Home – How to Have a Simple DIY Celebration of Life Ceremony.”
Montessori-Inspired Activities throughout New Year’s Eve
Another fun way to celebrate the New Year is by using Montessori-inspired activities throughout New Year’s Eve day and evening. You could do an hour-by-hour countdown starting in the morning and ending at 9pm or whenever you choose (since it’s the New Year somewhere).
Jacquie from Edventures with Kids has some great ideas for an hour-by-hour countdown in her post “New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids.” Most activities could be placed on Montessori-inspired activity trays and put on the shelf at their designated hour for children to choose whenever they wish during the day and evening. (I have a post on how to turn crafts into Montessori-oriented activities.) You can find lots of ideas for New Year’s crafts and activities on my Kids’ New Year’s Activities Pinterest Board.
A Variety of Ideas for the New Year
More New Year’s Resources
Amazon Affiliate:
“Starting and Nurturing New Year’s Traditions” has traditions my family has loved along with helpful resources.
“Preparing for New Y ear’s Family Celebrations” is a roundup of popular family celebrations from around the blogosphere.
“Free New Year’s Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time” has songs to bring in the New Year as well as songs for the beginning of the New Year.
Do you have a family or group New Year’s celebration planned?
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Great links! I am thinking forward to Chinese New Year as it is big in our local community. Will you be doing a feature on that as it gets closer?
Thanks so much, Rosemary! I have a previous Montessori-Inspired Chinese New Year Activities post: https://livingmontessorinow.com/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-chinese-new-year-activities/