How to do this present?

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

Dh and I are giving the children a climbing frame for Christmas. Its a complete surprise. They will be thrilled. I can barely hold dh back from telling them - i think he's more excited than they will be!

It's arrived. It has to be assembled. So, do we...

1. Give it to them unassembled and put it together on Christmas day? (Family project)
   
2. Tell them on Christmas eve and assemble it then so it's ready for Christmas day?
   
3. Somehow put it together without them knowing so it appears like magic on Christmas morning (this is my favourite option but it's impossible to work out how to achieve)
   
4. Other option i haven't thought of.

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

Ps - its summer here. We're not going to be slushing about in the snow!

[Whinesalot]

How old are they?

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

All between 4 and 12.

[MissBax]

What time will they go to bed Christmas eve? And how long will it take to assemble?

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

with Christmas eve excitement ... asleep by 9.30?? Hopefully? Possibly later though. 10?

No idea how long to put together! Hoping under an hour? Its quite a beast!

[MissBax]

I'd probably try and do it that evening without them knowing - when I was about 9/10 my parents managed to sneak a pool table into my bedroom Christmas eve! God knows how, I must have been a deep sleeper - but it was so exciting!

[Letmesleepalready]

Have you got a garage or shed where you could start assembling it before hand and hide things behind a sheet so that you have less to assemble on the action night?

[Letmesleepalready]

Actual *

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

I agree. It is more fun that way.
I have visions of dh and i stumbling about in the dark for hours hissing furiously at each other.

[sashh]

Assemble in a neighbour's garden then bring it round in the night.

Or at least part assemble it.

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

Semi assembling not a bad plan.

One year Father Christmas did a magical redecoration of dd's room including changing the bedding as she slept!!

[MissBax]

Well in that case you sound well versed in this! I like the idea of assembling in neighbours garden (if then able to transfer to yours) :)

[Whinesalot]

It could take hours and what happens if they don't sleep with excitement?
But yes they are the right age to appreciate it already assembled.

Can you pre assemble parts of it and keep it at a neighbours if you've got nowhere to hide it at home?

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

All our neighbours have young children so assembling a climbing frame that disappears on Christmas day not ideal

Maybe under the house...

[StellaHeyStella]

From personal experience op I would definitely not recommend putting it up Christmas Eve after the dc have gone to bed. We bought a playhouse for our dd one year and thought we'd pop it up in about 20 mins or so after she'd gone to bed. Three an a half bloody hours later after much blood, sweat, tears and plenty of arguments the damn thing was assembled. Then we had a drink.
I have no perfect solution to offer op.

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

Oh dear Stella. Now I'm worried!

[Youcantscaremeihavechildren]

We did this with a swing...put wrapping paper over all the windows on xmas eve during the day, told them we had strict instructions not to look or the elves would disappear...preconstructed most bits and then last of it on xmas eve. They got the swing etc in a box to open. But dd was 6 and ds 2.. so quite gullible!
We also one year constructed a whole bed in her room and moved hher from her old one into it, still asleep do she woke up in it on xmas morning....that was a mission! Lots of swearing...the elves were very sweary...

[MaverickSnoopy]

I think that it needs to be built for Christmas day. I think otherwise it won't have the same excitement. Also, what if it takes hours, then that's Christmas day dominated by it.

We have a rule in our house. No building presents on Christmas eve or the night before a birthday. 1) in case the item has missing pieces and 2) I'm case it takes hours. These rules have been carefully established over years of many many fights the night before!

That being said, I think Christmas eve is your only choice. When we have our DD a trampoline we built it a week before and stored it in neighbours garage. It worked very well. Could you build sections of it in advance and store them somewhere but not put them together? Maybe start by looking at the instructions and working out what you're up against and if you can build in stages? Then you can put it all together after the kids have gone to bed on Christmas eve. I would also suggest wearing them out of Christmas eve to encourage earlier/good sleep...perhaps swimming/long walks etc.

[anothernetter]

My parents did this for me when I was little. I think I remember my dad putting it together early on Christmas morning. My bedroom window looked out onto the garden. I was so excited your children will love it!

[ProseccoMamam]

As long as their bedrooms aren't facing the garden/you can block their windows temporarily, you should put it up on Christmas Eve. Go over the instructions a couple of times first to avoid any arguments, and buy a huge massive bow to put on top! You could even leave a note from santa himself apologising about not being able to bring their present inside, but the elves helped leave it in the garden and santa hopes they don't mind.

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Check all the pieces before Christmas Eve! We had to chase our delivery driver all round the county as he delivered bits of ours to two different places. We only had one day (day! It took nearly all of it...) earmarked to assemble it.
Lovely idea anyway. Fantastic! Hope it’s a success.

[parrotonmyshoulder]

You and DH must dress up in elf costumes to assemble, just in case anyone does look out of the window.

[NapQueen]

Can granny and grandad take the dcs out christnas eve afternoon?

You and dh build it. Make sure all curtains are drawn to the garden before they come home.

[Singadream]

We did this one year in uk though so dark early. I took kids out for the afternoon and dh took afternoon off and assembled playhouse in garden. He is still moaning about how cold it was and what hard work it was two years later!! Then we went for a Christmas treat at an ice cream parlour and he came to join us. Went home and it was dark so all curtains shut etc. And then they saw it in Garden as if by magic Xmas morning. They were 5 & 3 Though and we are in UK

[CremeFresh]

I remember the horror of putting together a play-mobile pirate ship on Christmas Eve - won't take 10 minutes said DH . It took hours !

I would try and assemble most of it a few days before hand but it needs to be there Christmas morning for a fab surprise.