"Ah, New Year’s Eve, everyone’s favorite night of the entire holiday season. You always find the perfect NYE sparkly outfit, have someone to kiss at midnight, and it totally lives up to your expectations, right? Well, maybe not. But luckily, kids don’t have to worry about most of these New Year’s stresses, which means you and your family can create wonderful memories together this year.
Staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve is an exhausting task for everyone. Let’s be honest: not only is it way past your kids’ bedtime, but it is also past yours! In order to avoid a wildly late night and get the little ones to bed at a reasonable hour, finding a substitute New Year’s Eve countdown or ball drop is essential. With these easy-to-watch countdowns, kids can get their fill of New Year’s Eve fun while skipping Ryan Seacrest’s celebrity-filled show and the late bedtime that comes with it. Scroll down for eight New Year’s Eve countdowns for kids available on YouTube or your favorite streaming services.
1. The Everymom’s 2025 New Year’s Eve Countdown for Kids
We’re biased (😉) but this is definitely the best New Year’s Eve countdown for kids on this list. Before the clock strikes midnight, treat your littles to this 30-second countdown featuring confetti and fireworks. Simply pretend 8:59 p.m. is actually 11:59 p.m. and pop on this festive video to celebrate the new year a few hours early.
2. New Year’s Eve 2025 Countdown for Kids
With this video, kiddos can watch their very own 10-second countdown to 2025 followed by a rockin’ version of the famous New Year’s Eve song “Auld Lang Syne.”
3. Larva Island New Year’s Eve Countdown
Are your little ones fans of Netflix’s hit show Larva Island? If so, this two-minute cartoon episode ending with a countdown is for them! Though the video was originally created in 2021, the high-energy dance party countdown isn’t specific to that year, so it works to ring in 2025 as well.
4. Sesame Street New Year’s Countdown
For Sesame Street fans old and young, this sweet two-minute countdown includes all your favorite characters—from Elmo to The Count to Big Bird—as they watch the big ball drop (off Wolfgang the Seal’s nose!).
5. PBS Kids Countdown to NYE
Join DJ Walrus and his friends as they count down to 2025 in this evergreen YouTube Shorts video that’s perfect to stream on your TV or watch on a phone or iPad with littles at your NYE party.
6. Netflix New Year’s Eve Countdown
Each year, Netflix provides adorable countdowns to stream at any time so kids can ring in the new year a few hours early with all of their favorite movie and television characters. On December 31, simply search on Netflix for the new 2025 countdowns or, if your kiddos are big Skylanders Academy fans, click here to watch the Skylanders Academy: New Year’s Eve Countdown for kids.
7. Caitie’s Classroom New Year’s Eve Countdown
At 21 minutes, this countdown video is more like a NYE-themed show hosted by popular YouTuber Super Simple Play with Caitie!. Not only does Caitie explain New Year’s Eve to kids and talk about the many ways families celebrate, but she sings songs, does crafts, and engages with kids as they watch the clock near midnight. If you’re looking for longer content to entertain kids during a New Year’s Eve party, this is it!
8. Motown Magic: New Year’s Eve Countdown
In this adorable Motown Magic video, join Ben and his family and friends as they get ready for their New Year’s Eve party. Thanks to Ben’s magic paintbrush, this year’s get-together will be more magical than ever! Great Motown music is a guarantee, as is an early bedtime, making this video a 10/10 for parents and kids. Despite it first appearing on YouTube in 2021, this video isn’t year-specific and works for any NYE countdown.
Julia Poulter, Senior Managing Editor
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.