We host an annual New Years Eve party for our friends and neighbors, many of whom have children.  I used this party idea a couple years ago when my twins were 13 years old to keep the kids entertained in the basement rec room while the adults socialized upstairs.  INVITATIONS:  I made paper clocks by cutting a circle out of white paper.  On each circle I wrote the numbers 1-12 around the edge of the circle (like a clock) in black ink. I cut out the clocks hands from black construction paper and attached these with a metal brad, so the hands could turn. On the face of each clock, I wrote Countdown to New Year's Day, along with our name, address, date and time of the party. DECORATIONS: I let the kids do the decorating for this party. I supplied all the basics (balloons, crepe paper, streamers, tape, etc.) and I let them decorate their space however they wanted.  This was their first activity for the evening.  ACTIVITIES: I gave the kids a basket filled with envelopes. Each envelope contained the directions for a game or activity, which was sealed inside.  On the front of the envelope were the instructions; OPEN AT ___ (for example, Open at 8:00). The activities I put into our New Year's Eve Party basket were:  * 9:00- Decorate the Party Room, *9:30- Make a New Year's Eve Party Hat (I provided construction paper, tape and scissors), *10:00- Tell your New Year's fortune (I provided directions and supplies for making paper fortune tellers also known as cootie catchers) *10:30- Balloon Bounce, Divide into two teams and see which team can keep a balloon in the air for the most bounces, * 11:00- Treasure hunt in the dark (I provided glow sticks for each child and instructed them to tun out the lights in the party room while they searched for a hidden treasure- a box filled with snacks.) *11:30- Write a note for a time capsule  (I gave instructions for the kids to write about things that were important to them at that time hobbies, interests, music, school, etc.)  *11:50- The last envelope contained instructions to come upstairs with the adults where we gave the kids noisemakers and sparkling juice to celebrate the new year. SNACKS: Basic kid-favorites that they could take care of by themselves.  Crackers, cheese, chips, dip, fruit, etc.  FAVORS: Everybody got to take home their New Year's Hat,  their glow sticks, their cootie catcher and a bunch of candy and other treats that were found in the treasure hunt.