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Original poster

Dilemma: should our 3-year-old open all his presents at once?

25 replies

Rupster · 19/12/2019 10:31

Our 3-year-old son loves opening his presents, but he wants to play with whatever present he's just opened.

Should we make him open all his presents first before he starts playing with them, or is it better to just let him play with what he opens and then he can open his other presents later?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 19/12/2019 10:32

Let him open them and play with them. If you don't get to all of them in one day, no problem.

Strangerthingshere · 19/12/2019 10:34

Let him lead, christmas is such a big day for children, all the presents and excitement can be overwhelming. I'd say go with the flow and let him do whatever he is happy doing

Chottie · 19/12/2019 10:37

Just be guided by your child. Let him take as much time as he wants to open and discover each present. Christmas Day should be a day of not being hurried, take the time and enjoy watching him open his presents.

Merry Christmas!

Redwinestillfine · 19/12/2019 10:40

We pace ours so they last all day. No fun in opening everything before breakfast!

MsChatterbox · 19/12/2019 10:42

I think most parents dream of their kids wanting to play with their presents and not saying OK thanks next! Definitely encourage this.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 19/12/2019 10:44

Let him lead - it once took DS three days to open all his gifts (and he didn't have millions) because he wanted to play with them all as he went. Sure, what's the harm?

ScatteredMama82 · 19/12/2019 10:47

My kids both open them slowly, playing with each thing. I think it's lovely and shows they appreciate the presents. I hate seeing kids ripping things open frantically, chucking the gift aside and moving on to the next one. Don't rush him, what's the hurry? We always have some left to open on Boxing Day!

leghairdontcare · 19/12/2019 10:48

He's 3, it's Christmas, let him do what he wants. There's no right way to do it. When my son was that age he ended up with loads, got really overwhelmed and practically passed out on the sofa. We still enjoyed the day though. Xmas Grin

Sandsnake · 19/12/2019 11:00

Definitely be guided by him. We had this with DS at three last year. He wanted to play with and appreciate everything and so presents ended up going on all day (and some the next). I was actually very happy that he was properly enjoying everything. However, if his fourth birthday last month is anything to go on I don’t expect the same thing this year...

HemlockStarglimmer · 19/12/2019 11:34

Absolutely not. I remember the tears when our daughter was that age and she wanted to do the same Her father kept insisting she get on with the next gift.
Please let him go at his own pace.

drspouse · 19/12/2019 11:40

We learned our lesson from Christmas Day at this age and now (5 and 7) we open a few presents each day.

Bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 19/12/2019 12:52

My dds both have differrnt ways they prefer. Dd1 loves the excitement if opening the presents so had a frenzied time opening then looks at/plays with. Dd2 prefers to open one and play, even to the extent one year where she would take things and tidy them before opening the next. We do santa presents and tree presents separate and relatives are coming with presents later in the day so will spread it out. I just let dds do as they want on the day.

SingaporeSlinky · 19/12/2019 13:02

When mine were about 1 and 2 they wanted to play with things as they opened them, and stupidly, I would push it into a pile and hurry them to open the rest. I think because I wanted to get everything opened before we had to start thinking about getting lunch started, and before they’d get tired or overwhelmed. I should have just let them lead it, there’s no rush, I could have still watched them open more later.
As they get older, you get mad at them for just putting everything aside into a pile, and moving on to the next, because you want them to appreciate each gift.
So I’d say let them lead. If they love what they’ve opened and want to play with it, that’s great.

stridesy · 19/12/2019 14:20

I think it depends what it is and the order you give it in. My daughter has just turned 3 and while we helped take stuff out the box she could unwrap the next. Stuff like play doh, games,puzzles ect can wait to be taken out. Go by their lead to some extent.

Lovemusic33 · 19/12/2019 15:46

Depends if your going anywhere Xmas day. If we are at home we try and stagger them out through the day. Now the dc’s are older we do stockings when we wake up, we then have a posh breakfast, then open half the presents under the tree, have a break and then open others throughout the day. I hate ripping everything open at once as it’s all over pretty quickly, we have done this when we are going to relatives as in a hurry.

Muddlingalongalone · 19/12/2019 15:49

Let him do what he wants.
I have a 5 year old who opens plays & an 8 year old who opens opens opens.

KenDodd · 19/12/2019 15:51

This would be a dream come true for many parents. Slowly, slowly and the presents can last all day.

gonewiththerain · 19/12/2019 15:55

Mine wanted to play with each toy as he unwrapped it last year (18 months) so I quietly removed the unwrapped and just gave him one or two a day until news years day. He really only opened his stocking on Christmas Day

Emmacb82 · 19/12/2019 16:03

We normally spread the presents out. Father Christmas brings the stocking so our 3 year old will want to open that first thing, then we will have breakfast and then start opening some of the other things. Last year he got fed up of opening things and just wanted to play so we are guided by him and if he wants to save some for later that’s absolutely fine!

Blitzen2 · 19/12/2019 16:04

Let him decide. Put all the presents out and just let him go for it. Don’t start restricting presents.

Original poster
Rupster · 19/12/2019 16:37

Thanks for all the replies. I've always done it the other way round, but this year will be different!

OP posts:
Christmastreejoy · 19/12/2019 17:49

At that age we did it as a bit of a treasure hunt and they played with them as they found them

Maryann1975 · 19/12/2019 20:35

My mum did my head in about this when dd was this kind of age. I was happy for her to open a present, play with it and then open the next one when she was ready. My parents thought she needed to open everything so we could ‘clear away all the mess’. I was really frustrated and it ruined the morning a bit for me.

The next year, we spoke about it in advance and I made a point of saying if dd wanted to open presents slowly, that was fine. Typically, she ripped the paper off everything and it was completely done in 10 minutes!

Stompythedinosaur · 19/12/2019 21:34

Another vote for letting him play.

I think it would make the day a bit flat if the dc opened all the presents first thing in the morning. I encourage my dc to space them out.

stoplickingthetelly · 19/12/2019 21:36

We stagger the presents through the day a bit. The dc like to play with them. So I’m happy to do it this way.

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