**Tired Parents Embrace Early New Year Count Down from U.S. Timekeepers**
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released an early New Year countdown video for families with children.
- Streaming platforms have popularized early countdowns to help parents celebrate with kids before midnight.
- Interest spiked as the video features “Professor Second,” a time-themed character tied to NIST’s role as America’s official timekeeper.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The search term “count down” is trending nationwide after the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released an early New Year’s Eve countdown video targeted at families looking for a kid-friendly way to ring in the new year. As 2025 approaches, the agency—traditionally known for keeping official U.S. time—joined the holiday celebration trend with its humorous and educational mascot, Professor Second.
Professor Second Joins Growing Trend of Early Countdowns
On December 29, 2025, NIST published a blog post and video introducing “Professor Second,” a character designed to help young children and weary parents count down to the new year well before midnight. The video was made available on YouTube and the official NIST website, responding to growing parental demand for flexible celebration options that don’t disrupt children’s sleep schedules.
This initiative mirrors similar efforts by platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and YouTube Kids, which have released early countdowns featuring familiar characters such as King Julien and Big Bird. These videos allow families to simulate the countdown earlier in the evening, complete with music, toasts, and goodnight hugs—hours before the actual strike of midnight.
Why Now: Meeting Parents Where They Are
As streaming platforms continue to dominate children’s entertainment, on-demand countdowns have become a holiday staple for modern families. Parents, especially with young children, often struggle to keep kids awake—or manage them when they stay up late. Recognizing this cultural shift, NIST leveraged its role as keeper of atomic clocks to put an educational twist on the tradition.
By blending entertainment with STEM education, NIST also fulfills part of its mission to increase public engagement with science and technology. Professor Second, in particular, helps convey the importance of timekeeping in a whimsical and relatable format for children.
What This Means for Future Family Celebrations
As the popularity of early countdowns continues to climb, more organizations may begin offering family-friendly, educational alternatives to holiday events. NIST’s entry could signal a new wave of partnerships between public agencies and entertainment platforms, especially around national observances. Expect more interactive media that incorporates science, timing, and child-safe content during high-profile celebrations in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is “count down” trending?
A: NIST’s new early New Year’s Eve countdown video, featuring Professor Second, has drawn attention from family audiences and media outlets.
Q: What happens next?
A: Parents can stream the video throughout New Year’s Eve to celebrate early with their children. The video remains publicly available on YouTube.
#NewYearsEve
