Fake midnight New Year’s Eve countdown ideas for kids

Lots of little kids are very keen on the idea of New Year’s Eve.... very few of them are built to happily stay awake till midnight... 

So how about this for an idea... do a fake midnight. Ok, so it's not great telling untruths, but then... Santa!!!

So, here's how you do it...

You give the kids the full build up, the countdown and the “Happy New Year” moment earlier in the evening, then tuck them into bed at a sensible time... leaving you time to celebrate at actual midnight (or head to bed too!!) 

Streaming platforms now have made-for-kids countdowns you can play any time and parents are sharing clock-changing hacks and YouTube countdown tricks in parenting groups and on social media.

This post walks you through exactly how to set up a fake midnight. 

Why an early “midnight” works so well

A fake midnight is not about tricking your child forever. It is about matching the celebration to their age.

Benefits:

• They still get a proper countdown and cheers
• Bedtime stays close to normal
• You get some of your evening back
• Siblings of different ages can each have a version that suits them

Parents have been using early countdowns for years now, from Netflix and YouTube kids countdown videos to playing last year’s Times Square or London footage at 8 p.m. and moving the household clocks forward.

Think of it as a family tradition that protects everyone’s sleep.

Decide your “midnight” time and vibe

Pick your pretend midnight

Choose a time that works back from bedtime, not the other way round.

Ideas that tend to work:

• 7.30 or 8 p.m. for preschoolers
• 9 p.m. for early elementary kids who want to feel “big” but still need sleep

Choose the tone of your evening

Decide early how “big” you want this to be.

You could go for:

• Cosy pyjama countdown on the sofa
• Mini house party with cousins and neighbours
• Fake midnight as the final part of a Noon Year’s Eve style day

Knowing the vibe helps you ignore anything that does not fit, rather than feeling you should add more.

Countdown options that feel real to kids

You have three main routes. All of them can be done at any time that suits you.

1. Streamed kids countdowns

Several streaming services now release short kids countdown specials each year. They are usually:

• A couple of minutes long
• Bright and silly
• Designed to be played before midnight, whenever parents choose

How to use them:

• Try one earlier in the day so you know what it looks and sounds like
• Queue it up before you gather the kids
• Press play when you are ready for your “midnight” moment

2. Previous year’s countdown clips

If you want more of a “real” feel, you can:

• Find last year’s London, Sydney or Times Square countdown on YouTube
• Screen mirror it from your phone or laptop to the TV
• Change the visible clocks in the room so they show 11.59 p.m. when you want to start

Younger kids will usually accept this at face value. Older kids may know it is from last year but still enjoy the ritual.

3. DIY family countdown

Screen free works too.

Ideas:

• Make a poster with big numbers 10 to 1 and let kids decorate it earlier
• Stick it on the wall and fold down or peel off each number as you shout together
• Use a kitchen timer or phone alarm for the final beep

You can even combine it with a balloon drop or bubble wrap “fireworks” for extra drama.

Set the scene so fake midnight feels special

Tiny tweaks can make 7 p.m. feel like midnight.

Lights and atmosphere

• Close curtains or blinds
• Turn off main lights and use lamps or fairy lights
• Light LED candles if you have them

That alone makes the living room feel like a party.

Simple décor

You do not need a full festive setup.

A few ideas:

• One cluster of balloons in the “countdown corner”
• A basic banner or streamers
• Party hats or crowns from your Noon Year’s Eve activities if you did that earlier

If you already have New Year’s Eve decorations or a theme in mind, this is where you could gently link to your New Year’s party themes post for mums who want to go further.

A mini “midnight toast”

A special drink gives the countdown a real ceremony.

Quick wins:

• Fizzy water or lemonade with a splash of juice
• Apple juice in plastic champagne flutes
• Warm milk or hot chocolate for small children who find fizz too exciting

If you want grown up mocktail ideas you can adapt for kids, your mocktail round up post is a natural link here. Parents can pick one simple recipe and do a kids version and a grown ups version so everyone feels included.

Easy activities to lead into fake midnight

You do not need to fill every half hour. One or two moments before the countdown are plenty.

Energy burners for an hour or two before

• Ten minute dance party with glow sticks or torches
• Balloon keepy uppy in one room
• Quick “find something that...” scavenger game in the living room

These help burn off the pre bedtime wiggles.

Calming activities just before “midnight”

In the last 10–15 minutes:

• Turn music down and lights a bit lower
• Ask everyone to share one favourite memory from the year
• Let kids draw fireworks or “next year me” while you set up the countdown

By the time you hit the countdown the excitement will be short and sharp, not wild.

Also read: 8 Fun New Year's Eve Games For Kids

What to say to kids about the countdown

You know your children best, but a few simple scripts help.

For preschoolers

Keep it gentle and honest in a way they can grasp.

You could say:

• “We are having our family New Year’s countdown before bed.”
• “We are doing our countdown now so you don’t have to stay awake all night.”

Most under fives are happy with the idea that families can have their own special countdown.

For older siblings who know the time

If you have a child old enough to read the clock, bring them into the plan.

Ideas:

• Explain that you are doing an early countdown so everyone is rested
• Ask them to help choose the countdown video or make the poster
• Offer them a quieter “late” countdown with you later on, even if it is just 10 minutes reading together in bed near actual midnight

That way they feel like a helper, not someone being tricked.

Keeping the evening calm after fake midnight

Once your countdown is done:

• Do a last “Happy New Year” cuddle and photo
• Head straight into your usual bedtime routine
• Keep screens and lights calm and cosy

If kids are a bit giddy, a short story, audiobook or quiet Lego on the bedroom floor for ten minutes can help them settle.

Then you get to decide what your grown up New Year looks like:

• A film and snacks
• A mocktail and chat
• An early night so New Year’s Day feels fresh rather than foggy

Printable games as a backup plan

If your fake midnight is turning into a little sleepover with cousins or friends, it helps to have some ready made games in your back pocket.

Printable slumber party game bundles work brilliantly for this. You can:

• Print a few pages in advance
• Let the kids pick a game when you reach that “we need something new” stretch before countdown
• Save the rest for another night

It means you are not scrambling for ideas at 7.45 p.m. when everyone suddenly decides they are bored.

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