Engage with your little one while celebrating the New Year! This WoodlandsMommy.com-created lesson plan includes craft and activities, songs and fingerplays, storytime, links to coloring pages fun YouTube videos, and more!
Crafts / Activities:
What's It All About?
Teach your child that it's now the start of a brand new year. Explain that there are twelve months in a year, and that this is the first month - January. Will he understand you? Perhaps not, but if he hears it enough, he'll start to catch on. Help him pronounce the word "January," then tell him about some of the fun things you'll do this year. Mention Easter eggs, birthday parties, family vacations, and more. Most toddlers enjoy this one-on-one time to just listen to mommy talk.
Celebrate!
Celebrate the start of the New Year with your child. Make it FUN, with paper party hats, noiseblowers, bells, streamers, and more. Put on some music and march throughout the house.
Make this Paper Crown craft that can be used to celebrate New Year's Eve and a number of other festive holidays.
2025 New Year's Book
Staple 5 pieces of paper together (light-colored construction paper works best). Write the date on top of the front page. On the second page, write "My name is_____". On the third page, write "Mommy's name is_____". On the fourth page, write "Daddy's name is_______." And on the fifth and final page, write "This year, I would like to: " Recruit your toddler's help to finish the book. Ask your child to draw a picture (scribbling is fine) underneath the date on the first page. Fill in the blanks on the remaining pages with your child's help, then find separate photos of child, mommy, and daddy to paste on the respective pages. Use a magazine or Google to find pictures for the final page of the book (This year I would like to...). Picture examples: play with toys, swim, eat ice cream, etc.
Practice saying "Happy New Year" throughout the house. Call up family on the phone and let your child practice wishing "Happy New Year."
Fingerplays & Songs
Cheer the Year
(Tune: "Row, row, row your boat")
Cheer, cheer, cheer the year,
A new one's just begun.
Celebrate with all your friends,
Let's go have some fun!
Clap, clap, clap your hands,
A brand new year is here.
Learning, laughing, singing, clapping,
Through another year.
New Year's Here
(Tune: "Frere Jacques")
Crash your cymbals, toot your horns,
New Year's here! New Year's here!
A time for happy drumming,
New birthdays are coming.
New Year's Day! New Year's Day!
Happy New Year
(Tune: "Are You Sleeping?")
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Good-bye to the old year!
Hello to the new year!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Videos
"A New Year Is Coming" by Kiboomers - YouTube Video
"Happy New Year Action Song" by Dream English Kids - YouTube Video
"Kids Yoga Clock Stretching Exercise" by Namaste Kids - YouTube Video
Storytime:
"Happy New Year Spot" - YouTube Video
Language:
Words/Phrases:
"New Year"
"2025"
"January"
Additional Learning Activities
Color: Blue
Numbers: 1 to 20
Shape: Crescent
Coloring Page 1
Coloring Page 2
Coloring Page 3
Coloring Page 4
