by Meredith Scott

Created on: December 28, 2009   Last Updated: December 29, 2009

Should Young Children Stay Up For the New Year’s Countdown?

While it may not be smart to take a young child to the traditional “ball dropping” in New York, staying up for the New Year’s countdown does not harm a child physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally. Instead, it is an activity steeped in tradition that can actually create sweet memories for young children.

From a social point of view, New Year’s Eve is an occasion meant to be spent with loved ones or that special someone, where you kiss the old goodbye and welcome the new with open arms. Many Americans spend this night dressed in their “Sunday Best,” dancing to their favorite tunes from the year and drinking their favorite spirits. There is no harm in allowing young children the opportunity to say goodbye to the old, whether it be reruns of their favorite television show or old ways that got them in plenty of trouble during the year, dressed in their favorite pajamas and drinking a glass of sparkling apple cider or grape juice from the best plastic champagne glass.

Christian communities take the opportunity to come together on New Year’s Eve and give thanks for blessings of the past year while welcoming the blessings awaiting them in the New Year. These religious celebrations, affectionately named “Watch Night” or “Freedom’s Eve” include worship services that begin New Year’s Eve and end early New Year’s Day. The services are filled with soulful music, plentiful blessings, and gestures of love shared amongst friends and family. Children, young and old will not enter the New Year with anything more than a positive outlook on the year to come after attending a New Year’s Eve church service.

Bottles of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, a homemade relish tray and the radio playing the year’s top 100 hits - these are my memories of staying up for the New Year’s countdown and I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything. I haven’t met a child yet who was harmed from staying up to count down the New Year with their family. Most children will fall asleep before the New Year approaches - the same way they do when waiting to see if the cookies and milk they left out will be consumed by jolly old St. Nick. Besides, anyone with children will probably appreciate the extra sleep they will get after allowing a young child to stay up on New Year’s Eve, especially if your choice of drink to toast in the New Year included a few more bubbles and higher alcohol content than sparkling grape juice.

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