DECATUR - Having played games, watched a movie and devoured cupcakes, nearly three dozen children got an early start Friday in celebrating the New Year.

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When asked if they had made a New Year's resolution, many of them didn't quite understand the concept. They only knew another year was coming.

"Jump Start the New Year" at the Decatur Indoor Sports Center offered children ages 5 to 11 a full day of activities Friday.

The boys and girls did an arts and crafts project: They took yarns of green, purple, pink and blue ribbon and wove it through holes in paper plates along with bells for a noisemaker to use on New Year's Eve.

Jalen Riley, 10, said he wasn't too sure about all the excitement behind celebrating New Year's Eve. He was just planning to stay up all night with a friend and play games on his PlayStation 2.

Drew Claussen, 9, said he planned to spend the night at a friend's house on New Year's Eve and play Star Wars and Halo games on an Xbox.

Carlie Claussen, 12, was indifferent about celebrating New Year's Eve. She plans to go to baby-sit her younger brother and uncle's girlfriend's children as the adults attend a party.

Her friend, Kati Ramsey, 12, planned to help out. The girls said they recently started a baby-sitting club.

"I usually charge for how long I have to baby-sit and how bad the kids are," Carlie said with a smile.

The girls still enjoyed themselves at the DISC along with the other children - from playing games, basketball, tennis to strapping on a belt and hoisting themselves onto the climbing wall.

Disney's movie "How to Eat Fried Worms," turned out to be a big hit, too.

Jaime Davis, recreation supervisor for the Decatur Park District, said the annual event provides children with fun things to do while their parents are working.

"A lot of times we do some of the same things and also change a few things. But it's the kids that change; we get in a group of new faces every year," Davis said.

It was the sixth annual Jump Start event.

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@ herald-review.com or 421-7963.