Kids always want to do what adults do, and so it is with celebrating New Year's Eve. Someone long ago figured out, though, that letting youngsters stay up until midnight made for a cranky tot the next day and so came up with a clever solution: hold an alternate celebration for children at 12 p.m. instead of 12 a.m.

Noontime New Year's festivities have become a happy tradition — a tradition that continues on Saturday.

The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut will holds its annual "Countdown to Noon" at the East Lyme Community Center, where the festivities are presented by the museum and East Lyme Parks & Rec. There are all sorts of things for youngsters to do, with "StarLab," "Crazy Science" and "Let's Get Building."

In the same building complex, the East Lyme Public Library will host a session of stories, songs and dances from 10 to 11:15 a.m.

The Public Library of New London offers its own "Countdown to Noon" from 11 a.m. to noon, with stories, crafts. resolutions and the noontime revelry.

The Groton Public Library serves up music and crafts starting at 11 a.m., and a balloon drop at the appointed time.

Countdown to Noon — 10 a.m.-2 p.m., East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road; $9, $7 museum members; discount for advance registration; (860) 691-1111.

New Year's Eve Day Celebration — 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Groton Public Library, Route 117; free; (860) 441-6750.

Countdown to Noon — 10:30-11:15 a.m., East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road; free; (860) 739-6926.

Countdown to Noon — 11 a.m.-noon, Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St.; free; (860) 447-1411.