Christmas eve box help needed

[cjt110]

So I want to do a christmas eve box for my son who will be 16m at Christmas. What can I put in it... So far on my list I have pjs... Thats it. lol

Any suggestions are more than welcome - I am a novice in the children's christmas department!

(To complicate a little he is also dairy free)

[lunar1]

A lovely copy of 'twas the night before Christmas. You can read it every year.

[drinkyourmilk]

I would just do PJ'S and a story book. I think some people add a Christmas film too, and hot chocolate etc for older ones. I'm not one for Christmas eve pressies, but I can see how it will make a nice tradition

[FattyNinjaOwl]

Reindeer food! (Porridge oats and glitter)
Sprinkle it outside before bed for the reindeer, and in the morning its usually gone thanks to the weather so they think the reindeer have eaten it. He may be too little to get that though.
And how about printing out a letter from Santa? You can do this yourself, just add some pics and type up a letter. You can save it for when he's older.
A story
Pjs (which you have)
A nice snuggly blanket to wrap up in while you have your story.

[Heavenscent86]

I think my elf is bringing pyjamas and a story book on Christmas Eve. As I'm on a tight budget and she will get more than enough on Christmas Day anyway I suspect that will be it.

[cjt110]

PJs and a story book sounds good to me :) Thanks all.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

Lush do Christmas bath bombs, or some other sort of Christmas bubble bath that you could get in the pound shop ect.

[randomcatname]

I always thought this was a crazy idea but this year I'm going for it, especially as the day itself tends to pass in a blur. It will be lovely to have something just the four of us. I'll aim to give it late afternoon and pop a film and books in, as well as something yummy to eat. Reindeer food to sprinkle in the garden. Last year I made a fake reindeer poo (wet sand & glitter) for ds to discover but I forgot to put it out.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Is this yet another American 'tradition' heading our way? I've never heard of it before

[cjt110]

I definitely want to do something, Im getting excited about doing it now and it's a good while away yet!

Evans Im not sure of the origin but a friend of mine does it for her little girl and I think it's lovely.

[Donge13]

I'm 42 and we always got gifts in Christmas Eve, it was always pjs, a book, Christmas film and a chocolate Santa, as we got older we also got bubble bath and slippers. Mum said it was so we all looked half decent on Christmas morning photos, it was called a present from the Christmas tree by my mum, I carried the tradition on, and my girls have always loved it. We still do it now even though they are 18 and 23

[FattyNinjaOwl]

We always got to open one present on Christmas eve too. Usually pjs and a book etc so its not new, just called something different.

[FlopIsMyParentingGuru]

We treat it as a plot-to-get-them-into-bed box.
So new pyjamas (but not Christmassy ones as they have a limited life span) their usual Christmas book (pirates' night before Christmas which I can wholeheartedly recommend as it's inspired!) bubble bath (to share as there are two DC) and for DS a sachet of hot chocolate.

[Doughnutsandflapjacks33]

We have always done;
Book
Pj's
Popcorn and movie/dvd
Bubble bath (or now mine are older they get a lush bath bomb )

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

I've just looked on Amazon, and they have lots of CE 'kits' on there! I've honestly never heard of it before.

Is it a Scandinavian thing maybe? Like Elf on a Shelf (which I'd also never heard of before last year).

I suppose I did similar in previous years, like get a Christmas story to read for Christmas Eve and we all still watch a Christmas film or two, but have just never heard of a Christmas Eve Box.

I learn so much on here!

[cjt110]

Im thinking pjs, some nice say ginger biccys for him, a book (Twas the night before Christmas is £2 in the Works) and also maybe a Reindeer teddy or similar.

I also want to get him a Santa plate which is for every year. I dont know whether to get just a santa plate from a shop or get a personalised one. WWYD? [santa]

[Donge13]

We had Santa cereal bowls for Christmas breakfast as children. I still have mine

[Iwasbornin1993]

My DPs have done this every year for myself and my siblings and have extended it to my OH and SIL too despite us all being in our early/mid 20's now . It's a fun family tradition and we are planning to carry it on when we have our own DC, just as DB and SIL have done with DN the last two years. We get Christmas PJs (or onesies the last few years), slippers, chocolates, popcorn, hot chocolate and marshmallows with a new mug, and a Christmas film for us all to watch together. Have fun making yours, OP!

[cjt110]

Its tricky when your LO is only 16m and has a dairy allergy

[Strokethefurrywall]

I do it here in the Caribbean, doesn't seem to be another "American" tradition though

I do PJs, Twas the night before Christmas story, Hot chocolate, reindeer food and our santa key to hang on the door because we don't have a chimney. Oh, and mini bottles of baileys for DH and I.

I can't remember what else, I'm sure there was more chocolate though but that was the main stuff.

It's a lot of fun, just add to it as the years go, next year I'll do a Christmas movie like Mickeys Christmas thingy once the kids develop a concentration span better than a goldfish...

[Strokethefurrywall]

Oh, and a new toothbrush for some reason. Presumably I thought it was a good idea to get all the sugar off their teeth after the chocolate...

[kiwidreamer]

Flop thanks for the 'Pirate night before Xmas' recommendation ive ordered it from Amazon for this years Xmas book, have got all the traditional ones that we bring out 1/12 but was lacking inspiration this year :)

[randomcatname]

I've just ordered Pirate Night too, thanks for the suggestion!

[Aftershock15]

Mine always get a Christmas tree decoration, Christmas story book and pyjamas. Might have to start a new thread asking where to get Christmas themed pyjamas that fit from 10-16 year olds. They have always had matching and like the tradition of the cheesy photo sitting in the same pose!

[FlopIsMyParentingGuru]

Oh kiwi I'm sure you'll love it. It follows the pattern of the poem brilliantly but completely differently at the same time.
The only trouble we had with it was the puzzles reception teachers when DS was convinced that seahorses pulled the sleigh!

[DilysMoon]

I've done it for a good few years and include:

New pj's
Reindeer food
Small chocolate santa or similar
Sachet of hot chocolate and marshmallows
New toothbrush

Usually just in a shiny gift bag but have ordered personalised xmas eve bags from amazon this year figure they'll get many years use.

Baby dd (1) will get pj's, small choc, new toothbrush.