Free Games & Activities for New Year's and Kwanzaa for Kids
Two celebrations culminate in the last week of the year: Kwanzaa and New Year's. Both are mainly adult celebrations, filled with parties. This next year, invite your kids to share in the fun activities and games.
Kwanzaa celebrates African heritage and appreciation for the "first fruits of harvest." The week-long celebration ends on Dec. 31st with a feast called Karamu. December 31st is also when all the countries that use the Gregorian calendar will celebrate New Year's Eve.
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Kwanzaa Activity
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Since Kwanzaa celebrates the "first fruits," children can make a snack such as fried bananas. Peel and cut bananas into half-inch slices. Set them on a plate and sprinkle with lemon juice, then season with cinnamon and brown sugar. With a parent's help, melt butter over medium heat in a skillet. Set banana slices in the pan in a single layer and allow to cook on one side, then flip to the other.
A special part of Kwanzaa is giving gifts. Let kids make small handmade gifts. Collect objects from nature to decorate frames, make bookmarks or other small keepsakes children can give to friends and family.
Kwanzaa Game
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Make an Oware board using an egg carton, preferably the cardboard kind. Remove the lid from the carton and glue to the bottom. Cut two separate egg sections and staple one on each end. Now paint the whole thing and allow to thoroughly dry. Decorate with African symbols, beads, and other items. Gather 48 small stones or seeds and store in two muffin cups. Now you are ready to play the game of Oware. If you are unsure of the rules, find instructions on the internet.
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New Year's Activity
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The best way to make New Year's Eve "kid-friendly" is to set out board games and invite other families with children to share in the celebration. Provide plenty of hats and horns. Kids can make their own noise makers by filling empty soda bottles with beans and covering with construction paper. Decorate with glitter and markers. They can also make their own party hats out of construction paper, glue and glitter. Cut into either cone or crown shapes. Decorate and they can be "king or queen of the New Year!"
New Year Game
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Board games can be set out around the house for small groups of same aged children to play. (Leave the biggest table for the adults to play games as well). Get gold and silver balloons and in an open area--free of breakables--play a game of balloon volleyball, keeping the balloons from touching the floor.
Make some small treat bags or poppers before the party and hide them around the house. Send kids on a scavenger hunt to find the hidden items. Leave crazy clues or riddles they need to figure out to find the prize.
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References
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