new year’s eve bingo bonanza

Every New Year’s Eve that we join forces with a few other families, we make Bingo our go-to game for the kids.

And the kids—and parents–love it.

But it’s not just any Bingo game. We’re not just busting out the ole Bingo roller and Bingo cards and calling it a day.

Noooooo way.

It’s a Bingo Bonanza—marathon Bingo played!

And the kids not only have no idea about how much the game helps them to recognize and name numbers and letters (hey, even B-I-N-G-O counts in my book!), but they’re also learning patience, taking turns, and practicing respectable game-playing skills.

Here’s the skinny. . .

New Year’s Eve Bingo Bonanza:

We seriously come prepared for New Year’s Bingo Bonanza.

Sure, we make our obligatory stop at the state store for the parents and make appetizers and sweets, but Bingo Bonanza is where the real fun begins.

Each family brings tiny wrapped gifts as Bingo prizes.

We don’t make a special trip to the store for prizes. This isn’t anything super fancy.

We wrap what we have around the house.

And the kids love it. Because everything is awesome when it’s wrapped up all pretty with a fancy ribbon and bow.

Items we find and wrap:

Superballs
Sunglasses
Socks
Candy canes
Stickers
Bracelets
Granola bars
Matchbox cars
Markers
Packs of crayons
Tiny notebooks

You name it, we wrap it.

Some are fun gifts—prizey prizes—and others are more joke gifts. But that’s what makes it really fun—wining on Bingo and taking a risk, grabbing any of the prizes on the table.

And we also mix up the Bingo games.

We play:

- Four Corners: one square on each corner covered
- Straight Bingo: a line of five in any direction
- Letters: ‘L’, ‘T’, ‘X’ or ‘O’
- Blackout: full board covered
- Small Square or Double Small Square: a 2×2 square covered

What if the kids are really young?

If the kids are young, then an adult or two will hang out and facilitate the game, but if there are older kids who are responsible enough to manage things, then we let those kids take the lead.

It’s awesome to see how no matter the age, kids love a good, ole-fashioned game of Bingo every so often. And then they see the big box of prizes unveiled, they’re even more excited.