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<p>Ringing in the New Year with your loved ones is a tradition for many families around the world. However, our little ones are often tucked up in bed by the time that midnight rolls around. So, why not make the celebrations for 2022 a little bit different? Use these top kids&#8217; New Year&#8217;s Eve party ideas to help your child join in on the celebrations this year.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Ring in the New Year With a Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party</h2>



<p>Every member of the family will be looking forward to a brand new year full of adventures, laughter, and everything else in between. Although your young children may want to stay up until midnight to celebrate with the adults, that’s not very realistic. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t join in on the celebrations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Preparing a kids’ NYE countdown party full of exciting activities and games is a great way to get your kids involved on the day. This way you can all celebrate together as a family without having to risk your children being over-exhausted and cranky the next day. Below are some of our favorite ways to celebrate the New Year with our children.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>10+ DIY New Year Activities for Toddlers &amp; Preschoolers</h2>



<p>No kids’ New Year’s Eve party is complete without a selection of activities that will keep you and your kids entertained. Whether you are a board games type of family or prefer to get crafty, there are plenty of ideas below that will bring you all some joy.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>New Year&#8217;s Eve Party Ideas</h3>



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<p>A kids’ New Year’s Eve countdown doesn’t have to be elaborate or over the top. The best New Year’s Eve activities for toddlers and preschoolers can often be those that are simple and family-centric. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which activities kids will enjoy most when ringing in 2022.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Mock Countdown</h4>



<p>If your children are too young to stay up until midnight why not have a mock countdown instead? Simply set an alarm to go off at 8 pm, pass around some party hats and poppers and celebrate the New Year a little early. This way your child can join in on all the excitement while not missing out on their bedtime.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Photo Booth</h4>



<p>No kids’ New Year’s Eve party is complete without your very own photo booth accompanied by some festive accessories. Whether you make a DIY photo booth with some sparkly tinsel and fairy lights or rent one, taking photos with your children (while looking only a little bit ridiculous wearing a glitter hat and glasses) will create very special memories for your family.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Host a Movie Marathon</h4>



<p>Is your child a movie fan? Why not include a movie marathon on your list of New Year’s Eve activities for preschoolers. This can be a great way of wrapping up another year with your family. Perhaps you could re-watch your favorite movies from the year or take it as an opportunity to introduce your kids to some of the <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/best-educational-movies-for-preschoolers">best educational kids&#8217; movies</a> that they haven&#8217;t seen yet.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Bake New Year Treats</h4>



<p>Baking some delicious New Year treats with your kids that they can enjoy as part of their New Year’s Eve dinner is another great way to celebrate the start of 2022 together. Does your family have a tradition of making sugar cookies or gingerbread men for New Year’s Eve? If so, ask your kids to help you bake them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This way you get to spend some quality time with them as the year comes to an end while getting to munch on some yummy treats.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>New Year’s Eve Crafts&nbsp;</h3>



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<p>New Year’s crafts for toddlers and preschoolers is another activity that you should be including as part of your family’s kids’ New Year’s Eve party this year. From DIY firework decorations to confetti poppers that you can use to ring in 2022, there are plenty of craft ideas that you can use.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Confetti Poppers</h4>



<p>No party is complete without some party poppers. Confetti poppers are a fun (albeit messy) way for your children to join in on the celebrations. For supplies, you’ll need a toilet paper tube, colored or tissue paper, confetti, ribbons, and any other craft supply you have for decoration. Use Craftaholics Anonymous&#8217; instructions to create your own <a href="https://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/easy-party-poppers-tutorial">DIY confetti poppers</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>DIY New Year’s Eve Ball</h4>



<p>We all know of the iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop that happens in Times Square every year. So, why not make a glitter ball for your kids’ NYE countdown at home? All you will need is some glittery or sparkly paper, scissors, a hole punch, and thread for hanging. Tatertots and Jello have a great step-by-step <a href="https://tatertotsandjello.com/happy-holidays-diy-new-years-eve-ball/">DIY New Year’s Eve ball guide</a> on their website.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Firework Decorations</h4>



<p>Can’t see any firework displays where you live? No need to worry, your family can have their own firework display for New Year’s Eve. This guide to making firework decorations by <a href="https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/fireworks-painting.html">Fantastic Fun and Learning</a> is another excellent way of getting your children to experience an iconic New Year’s Eve activity from the comfort of their own home.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Happy New Year Garland</h4>



<p>Missing festive bunting for your kids’ New Year’s Eve party? That just won’t do! Making and hanging a garland is another ideal New Year’s craft activity for young children that can be enjoyed by the whole family. All you need is some colored paper, alphabet letters, and gold string. Follow Vicky Barone’s instructions on how to make a <a href="https://blog.vickybarone.com/2013/12/24/diy-happy-new-year-garland/">DIY Happy New Year Garland</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3>New Year’s Books for Kids</h3>



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<p>The New Year’s festivities don’t have to stop once bedtime rolls around. Why not continue your child’s NYE countdown by reading them a book that celebrates welcoming a brand new year full of joy and excitement. Below are several of the New Year’s kids’ books that we love at Vivvi.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>P. Bear’s New Year’s Party</h4>



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<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/P-Bears-New-Years-Party/dp/1883672996">P. Bear’s New Years Party</a> by Paul Owen Lewis is a fun and beautiful story about a polar bear that decides to invite all of his animal friends to a party on the night of New Year’s Eve. As we are introduced to each of P. Bear’s guests, children learn how to count and how to identify different types of animals.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolutions</h4>



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<p>As we all know, the start of the New Year often means making resolutions for what you would like to do during the brand new year. In <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/squirrels-new-years-resolution-pat-miller/1101038148?ean=9780807575925">Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution</a> by Pat Miller, your children will be introduced to Squirrel who is trying to understand what resolutions are. As she visits her friends in the forest and helps them to make their lists, she begins to wonder even more what should go on her New Year’s list of resolutions.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>The Night Before New Year’s&nbsp;</h4>



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<p>The <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-before-new-years-natasha-wing/1100475276?ean=9780448452128">Night Before New Year’s</a> by Natasha Wing should be in every child’s personal library. This gorgeous book talks about the traditions and symbols that surround New Year’s Eve such as festive party hats and sparkly streamers. As you read about the young children doing their best to stay awake until midnight, you and your child will be left laughing and smiling at all the New Year’s Eve festivities.&nbsp;</p>



<h4>The Stars Will Still Shine</h4>



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<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stars-Will-Still-Shine/dp/0060546395">The Stars Will Still Shine</a> by Cynthia Rylant is a comforting book for both parents and young children. It reminds you of how to admire the beauty in the simple things in life such as flowers and the stars. This is particularly for those who may find the New Year a more challenging time or for those young children that are unsure of change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Our team at Vivvi would like to wish you and your family and a very happy and prosperous New Year.&nbsp;</p>


Don’t let your children feel left out this New Year’s. Use these kids’ New Year’s Eve party ideas to get them involved in the festivities.

10+ DIY Kids New Year’s Eve Party Ideas for 2022 | Vivvi

10+ DIY Kids New Year’s Eve Party Ideas for Ringing in 2022


<p>According to Liz Wilkes, CEO of Exubrancy, there are “many calculations” that go into being a parent, regardless of whether you’re a stay at home parent or one in a high-powered job. Considerations such as: “What are they going to eat? When should they sleep? What books should we be reading?” can all feel like a giant puzzle for a parent.</p>



<p>For Liz and her family, COVID made this puzzle even more complex. A move from the Big Apple to the suburbs provided less programming and structure than the couple had anticipated for their family. And while Liz and her husband were optimistic about figuring out how to make it work, they found themselves wanting something more.</p>



<p>Enter Vivvi’s <a href="https://vivvi.com/in-home">at-home childcare option</a>: the Vivvi Learning Model brought into the comfort of your own home with trained teachers. In this article, Liz shares her personal experience of juggling childcare responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>



<h2>Q&amp;A: A Personal Experience of Childcare During the Pandemic</h2>



<h3><strong>Tell us about your daughter and your parenting journey.</strong></h3>



<p>My husband and I got married about five years ago and took a few years to settle into married life, focus on our careers, and travel as much as possible, pre-kids. We’re both entrepreneurs, so we had very busy and unpredictable schedules.&nbsp;</p>



<p>After some initial difficulty conceiving, we were thrilled to welcome a baby girl, Emilia, into our lives in November of 2019. It was four months before the pandemic. Little did we know what was in store for us!</p>



<h3><strong>As an entrepreneur what was your maternity leave plan? Did you have early childcare plans?</strong></h3>



<p>I run a company called Exubrancy, which is a global corporate wellness company. We run meditation, fitness, massages, workshops, and events around wellbeing for companies like Spotify and Etsy and hundreds of other companies around the world.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Almost five years ago my company was acquired by Tishman Speyer and because of that, my schedule became a bit more conventional. That also granted me a more conventional maternity leave, which wouldn’t have been the case if I had a child pre-acquisition.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There are incredible benefits from having formal <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/supporting-mothers-returning-to-work">maternity coverage</a>. That’s not always afforded to female entrepreneurs having children.</p>



<p>I knew that I was going to take about three months off when I had my daughter. I had this whole plan that I was going to go back to work. I’m lucky that our office has a very nice nursing room—I was going to do the pump-at-the-office thing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I remember so vividly going back to work last February and pumping at work for three weeks. It was a total nightmare. I would always forget a pump part, or the logistics of keeping the milk cold would break my brain…It was really, really hard. I’m sure I would have found a rhythm, but I will say one of the huge silver linings when the COVID-19 pandemic hit was that I could keep breastfeeding with relative ease.</p>



<p>My husband is the co-founder of a company called Aktivate and we knew that while he would have a little bit more flexibility, we needed some level of childcare support. At the time we lived on the Upper West Side, in New York and we hired a local nanny.</p>



<p>When the pandemic hit, we decided to go lockdown outside of the city. We eventually moved in with my in-laws because we realized we just couldn’t make it work without any childcare solutions. For about two months, we lived with them and they basically watched Emilia every day while we worked.</p>



<p>Once living in this pandemic time became more manageable, we started feeling comfortable having our nanny come to our home part-time again. We thought, “Other days when we don’t have her we’ll just figure it out!” And that was really not sustainable. Suddenly your workweek is cut down and it became really stressful.</p>



<p>That’s when I realized that Tishman Speyer had started working with Vivvi and was offering an <a href="https://vivvi.com/blog/family/articles/nanny-vs-in-home-education">in-home program</a> where they had educators available to come to your home–like a nanny, but with teachers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For us, it was such a no-brainer because we needed additional part-time childcare coverage and we felt we were really missing out on the rich experiences she would have had growing up in New York City &#8211; being able to go to classes all the time and interact with other children. Vivvi’s In-Home program felt like the perfect alternative.</p>



<h3>Can you explain your experience of getting set up with Vivvi?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Myself and my husband&nbsp; vetted a number of potential educators for our family. Vivvi ran a search for us and would pre-interview people and line up interviews for us with candidates they found to be viable.&nbsp;</p>



<p>We ended up interviewing three different people. We found Hailey who was the right fit from the moment we interviewed her. She has been our part-time educator ever since. We instantly got back some of that enrichment that we felt like we lost when we were leaving New York.</p>



<h3>What’s a day in the life of Emilia like with Vivvi’s In-Home Program?</h3>



<p>The days Hailey comes, she’s here from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. One thing that I have loved about her from the beginning is that she’s so oriented around being outside. They spend so much of the day outside in the fresh air just exploring. I like that Hailey has access to Vivvi’s overarching themes from their early learning curriculum and materials which allow Hailey to get creative with Emilia and build a structured, fun day with her.</p>



<p>Every day, we get these fantastic reports from Hailey about her day with Emilia with pictures on an app called Brightwheel.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hailey really notices changes in Emilia week-to-week and reinforces patterns that we’re seeing. It’s great to have someone come in with such an informed perspective and a strong but also very respectful point of view. It feels like Hailey’s really a collaborator with us in Emilia’s future.</p>



<p>Curious about how the right care can help your family thrive? Here at Vivvi, we help families and employers gain access to affordable childcare solutions regardless of where they are &#8211; in home or in the office. Our team of early childhood educators are highly trained and will incorporate our inquiry-led learning model into your child’s daily routine.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For more information about our early learning program or to join an open house, <a href="https://vivvi.com/contact">contact us</a> today.&nbsp;<br><strong><em>This article was originally posted on </em></strong><a href="https://babebyhatch.com/"><strong><em>Babe Hatch</em></strong></a><strong><em> in partnership with Vivvi.</em></strong></p>


Managing childcare responsibilities during the pandemic wasn’t easy for a lot of parents in the US. In this article, we speak with one mother and find out how she coped.

How One Mother Managed Childcare During the Pandemic | Vivvi

One Mama’s Solution to Childcare During the Pandemic


<p>Nesting is an important part of pregnancy and usually signals that you are getting ready for your baby to be born. This ‘nesting’ instinct is natural and is essentially a pre-labor ritual that all mothers experience. In this post, we’ll talk about when you can expect nesting to happen and the most distinctive signs of this pregnancy stage.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>What is Nesting During Pregnancy?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>If you’re not familiar with nesting, it’s just another part of the weird world of “phases” that you go through during pregnancy. More specifically, nesting refers to the urge many expectant mothers feel to organize and clean during their third trimester. This isn’t an isolated incident either &#8211; over <a href="https://redrockfertility.com/blog/what-is-nesting-tips-for-nesting-during-pregnancy/">70% of moms</a> reported going through nesting!&nbsp;</p>



<p>During the nesting phase, you’ll have an urge to clean, organize and prepare for your new arrival. Nesting before babies arrive can also encompass the urge to study childcare and learn as much as you can.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nesting before babies is a perfectly natural response. Animals throughout nature experience changes in behavior and mood right before giving birth. Many species, including humans, want to create the best possible environment for their children to arrive in.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While nesting is a biological drive, it’s important to note that it’s not any kind of a medical condition. There’s no real connection between nesting and the start of labor &#8211; though once you start nesting in your third trimester, your new arrival may not be far off!&nbsp;</p>



<h2>When Does Nesting Start?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>There’s no hard or fast answer as to the question of “when does nesting start”. Some women have reported nesting starting up as early as five months into their pregnancy. Generally, however, the third trimester is when nesting starts to show itself.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It typically will last throughout the third trimester, right up until birth. Of course, organization and home care after a baby arrives are perfectly natural as well.</p>



<h2>Nesting Signs: How to Know When You’ve Reached This Stage of Pregnancy</h2>



<p>Mood swings and changes in energy level are part and parcel of taking the journey of pregnancy. But how do you know when you’re entering into a nesting phase? If you’re curious, there are a <a href="https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/everything-pregnancy/10-signs-youre-nesting-before-welcoming-your-baby/">few signs</a> that are dead giveaways.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Intense Desire to Clean</h3>



<p>Even if you were a clean freak before, when you’re in the midst of nesting, you’re going to be on a crusade against dirt and dust. Your instincts are going to be telling you that any piece of grime could be a bacteria threat to your offspring and has gotta go with deep cleaning.</p>



<h3>Building the Nest</h3>



<p>Shopping sprees are a less covered nesting sign, but you are going to start worrying about all the things you might not have. Anything baby-related (or even un-baby-related stuff) is going to feel absolutely necessary.</p>



<p>The focal point of this is going to be the nursery, so don’t be surprised if you go nuts on renovating it in expectation of your baby. But expect to feel the need to rework your furniture all across your home &#8211; you need to make the nest perfect after all.</p>



<p>One of the biggest fixations for many women, oddly enough, seems to be clothes, linen, and towels. Maybe this is a natural instinct where a need develops to fixate on things that look like they could make a nice nest? Expect to be doing way more laundry than you need.</p>



<h3>The Great Decluttering</h3>



<p>During your nesting phase, you should expect to be putting Marie Kondo to shame. Anything loose or without a home is going to start looking like a choking hazard. If you don’t know where everything is at every exact moment, it may drive you nuts.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Wacky Energy Levels</h3>



<p>Don’t be surprised if you suddenly wake up at 5 am in the morning with your nesting instincts firing off like crazy. A heightened or irregular burst of energy is a pretty standard nesting sign. This is one sign you’ll have to pre-warn your partner about.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Ride the Nesting Instinct Wave</h2>



<p>The nesting instinct can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. Thankfully, you can rely on the knowledge that plenty of women have gone through it before you. As an expectant parent, you should view the nesting instinct as a powerful tool of motherhood that you can harness. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using your nesting instinct in a <a href="https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/preparing/nesting-phase.aspx">constructive manner</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Try to use your nesting tip to pre plan everything for after you bring your baby home. One thing many mothers forget is the food. Try to make sure that you have only fresh food in your fridge, and do as much pre-cooking as you can before you go into labor. This will leave plenty of your favorite leftovers to enjoy as you take care of your new child.</p>



<p>When nesting, it’s also important to take care of yourself. Baby clothes are important, sure &#8211; but do you have loose and comfortable clothes for breastfeeding? Making sure you have all the proper baby supplies is great, but do you have everything you need to stay comfy?</p>



<p>It’s also important to not let your nesting instinct put you or your baby in danger. Heavy moving of furniture and other renovations are not things high on the list of what you should be doing during your third trimester. Make sure that you reach out to friends and family to give you the support you need. Make your nesting instinct work for you, not against you!&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Prepare For Your New Arrival With Vivvi</h2>



<p>The nesting instinct is all about getting everything ready and perfect for after your baby arrives. This doesn’t just include purchasing the things that your baby will need but also making sure that you are already in touch with the services and support you’ll need as the parent of a new child.</p>



<p>Vivvi is here to help when it comes to childhood development and care. We’re dedicated to helping parents make the most of the vital first years of their child’s lives. If your nesting instinct is driving you to start making plans, don’t hesitate to<a href="https://vivvi.com/contact"> contact us</a>. We’re happy to help you start planning for your family’s future!</p>


In this post, we’ll talk about when you can expect the nesting instinct to kick in and the most distinctive signs of this pregnancy stage.

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Nesting Before Baby Arrives: Top Signs You’ve Entered This Pregnancy Stage

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