This simple New Year’s Eve tradition for families is a fun way to remember your family’s favorite parts of the year in a meaningful way.
I’m pretty sure everyone is in agreement by now: 2020 has been rough!
Our family, like so many others, has been turned a little upside down this year by pandemic-related challenges like cancelled family reunions, homeschool/virtual school, and going completely stir crazy from the isolation. Add to that the normal non-COVID-related challenges of life (like cancer) and I’m really looking forward to a fresh start for 2021.
That being said, 2020 was still a GREAT year in so many ways for our family. We spent so much more time together, went on lots of creative (and socially-distanced) adventures, played tons of games (here’s our current favorite game), learned way more about Pokémon than I ever wanted to know, and increased our capacity to do hard things.
So even though I am more than ready to bid farewell to 2020, I want to acknowledge all the good that happened this year. I want those memories to be the ones that endure.
It was out of that desire to “look for the good” (our family motto this school year) that this new New Year’s tradition was born:
Our Favorite Memories Celebration
A simple New Year’s Eve tradition for families
Step 1: Make a poster with the words “What we loved about 2020” (or whatever the year is). You can decorate this as much or as little as you want. I just got a dollar store poster board and (Tip: If you have an artsy/crafty child, put him or her in charge of designing the poster! Remember, it doesn’t matter if it looks professional…it’s all about making it reflect your family).
Step 2: Invite each family member to share their favorite memories from the year. Meal time is a great time for this activity. Write each memory on the poster board directly or have family members write them on sticky notes and then add them to the poster.
Step 3: Display your poster in a place it will be seen frequently in your house. Leave it up for as long as you want to remind you of good times.
That’s it! We like simple around here. After the hubbub of Christmas, I need low-effort traditions, thank you very much. Despite being uncomplicated, this simple New Year’s tradition for families is a powerful way to encourage gratitude, positivity, and love for each other.
Have a little more energy left to take this activity up a notch? Try one of these ideas!
Draw Pictures
Young kids may enjoy drawing pictures of their favorite memories from the year.
Make a photo collage
Print out photos of from the year and make them into a family memory collage. Hang it on the wall next to your list.
View a “year-in-review” slideshow
Make a digital slideshow with pictures from your phone. You could even show this to your family before making your poster to help remind everyone of all the memories you’ve made throughout the year.
Play the M&M Game
This sweet game is a fun way to challenge family members to think beyond their first answer. It’s a variation on the classic ice breaker game you may be familiar with.
How to play: Pass around a bowl of M&Ms and have family members pull one out randomly. The color you choose determines what you share:
red – a PLACE you went
orange – something you LEARNED
yellow – something NEW you tried
green – something FUNNY that happened.
blue – a FOOD you loved eating OR a BOOK you loved reading.
brown – WILD card. Share any good memory from the year.
What are your New Year’s Eve traditions? Share in the comments below!
Leave a Reply