You can absolutely “fake” the ball drop early for kids with safe, fun options that still feel special. Here are easy ways to do it at home plus how to use real Times Square streams earlier in the evening.

Fast answer: what to do

  • Stream a kids’ New Year’s countdown video (many are 1–5 minutes long) and treat that as “midnight,” then do a family countdown and bedtime.
  • Use the official Times Square livestream and celebrate at whatever hour you choose (e.g., play last year’s midnight just before 8 p.m.).
  • Add your own “ball” or balloon drop in the living room so it feels like a real event.

Kid‑friendly countdown options

  • YouTube has short, high‑energy kids’ countdowns made specifically for early bedtimes; examples include 30‑second “ball drop” or hammer‑drop style videos for toddlers and preschoolers.
  • Many of these videos use bright visuals, simple numbers, and upbeat music so young kids can follow along without waiting through long TV specials.

How to use them

  1. Pick a “bedtime midnight” (for example, 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.).
  2. Start the kids’ countdown video a few minutes before that time, dim the lights, and gather everyone.
  1. Shout the countdown, then do hugs, sparkling juice, and photos—then straight to PJs and sleep.

Using the real Times Square ball early

  • The Times Square ball drop is streamed as a long, commercial‑free webcast starting in the early evening, so you can have it playing in the background before bedtime.
  • Since the stream is online, you can rewind or use last year’s archived midnight moment and “pretend” it’s happening right now for a kid‑friendly version.

Simple schedule idea

  1. Turn on the Times Square webcast during dinner to set the mood.
  1. When it’s your chosen “midnight,” switch to a saved or replayed clip of the countdown and ball drop.
  1. Celebrate for 5–10 minutes, then transition to bedtime routine.

DIY early “ball drop” at home

  • Families often hang balloons or a lightweight DIY “ball” (foil‑covered ball, paper lantern, or balloon cluster) from the ceiling and lower it on a string during the countdown.
  • A quick hack shared by parents is to tape up a trash bag or sheet filled with balloons and pull a string to release them as the countdown hits zero.

Easy step‑by‑step

  1. Fill balloons and place them in a trash bag or light plastic sheet taped to the ceiling.
  1. Attach a pull‑string or piece of tape you can quickly rip down.
  1. Play a kids’ countdown video, then pull the string right at “Happy New Year!” so balloons “drop.”

Extra tips for tired kids

  • Choose a calm, shorter video for toddlers to avoid overstimulation right before bed.
  • Keep expectations simple: one countdown, a toast with juice, maybe a quick dance song, and then lights low.

TL;DR: Search for kids’ New Year countdown videos, pair them with a DIY balloon drop, and treat your chosen time as “midnight” so kids enjoy the ball drop magic without staying up late.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.