Christmas Eve Box

[VashtaNerada]

Started a Christmas Eve box when the DC were little and it was easy! They were shockingly excited by new toothbrushes and new socks which is really not cutting it any more now they’re older (12 & 8). I used to include hot chocolate and naice biscuits but over lockdown this became a daily treat so isn’t special any more. We stream everything so even a Christmas DVD doesn’t really work any more. Any ideas for slightly older DC? They will notice if I don’t make one this year entitled bastards

We have always had a Christmas Eve delivery "from the elves" and now my DDs are 12 and 16 they STILL love them. I put a set of pyjamas, some Christmas socks and some Lush bath bombs plus a ittle box of chocolates and a Christmas mug.

New pjs , smellie set , favourite sweets , joke present ?

My DS now has the Beano Christmas Special instead of a storybook

New Pjs, family board game, cosy bed socks.

Mine are getting pyjamas, slippers, mug, hot watter bottle and a ticket to watch the polar express, some magic snow, a mug to colour in and a christmas bouncy ball. Also ordered them a cake box each as a treat to have with the movie. You could include some age appropriate activities? Fill your own bauble or decorate some ginger bread men/ build a gingerbread house? A jigsaw/puzzle to compete together?

Mine are only tiny but they just have new pyjamas and a bath bomb - they use them straight away and then we watch a Christmas film with snacks together. We have things like hot chocolate anyway and we’ll be baking something nice for Santa on Christmas Eve, so we’ll be having some of whatever that is too! No need to overcomplicate! I like the idea of new toothbrush too, tempted by that one!

Oh and one thing I always throw in too - I have little bags for reindeer food (bird seed) and they take that outside and throw it out as a treat for Santa’s buddies

I think it’s really worth persevering with new toothbrushes and socks as they will become eyerollingly ironic through the teenage years when the cost of little trendy things soars!

Thanks for the lovely ideas everyone! The only thing I’m definitely avoiding is the reindeer food as we live near a river and I’m pretty sure it’ll attract rats

Hooverer Yes! Mine are 12 and 16 and I wish I'd started out with toothbrushes and socks! Now they're used to getting blinking Lush bathbombs etc!

I also advise anyone with small children to say "Father Christmas only fills the stocking...Mummy and Daddy buy the big gifts"

That way you can say no when they ask for a pony and inform you that they've been good all year so Father Christmas will bring it!

Dd always gets new pjs and slippers. Hot chocolate stirrers and marshmallows, bath bomb, chocolate coins, the book twas the night before Christmas

We always put pyjamas, bed socks, a book or comic in (she's really into the Beano so we've got her the Christmas special) & a dvd. And sometimes some chocolate. She gets itbon Christmas eve morning, so has time to watch the film, eat the sweets etc over the day. Beano for bedtime. Pretty much the same every year.

I’ve created an Amazon prime voucher so my son can buy a film rather than me buying a dvd. I’ve put some marshmallows, skewers and a burner in so we can toast marshmallows. I’ve also gone for a stir in hot chocolate (one on a stick) as it’s more of a treat than the normal hot chocolate.
Then there’s the PJs, a book, bath bombs and chocolate

pyjamas, socks, toothbrush, toothpaste and a Christmas themed book.
very basic but our tradition

Mine had so many Christmas story books, so this year I've got the horrible histories Christmas book and a Christmas riddle book for the elder two. I also got some Christmas themed slime (reindeer Poop) and slap bands as well as the usual pj's, socks etc

Our Christmas Eve box is left by the elves and filled with things for a family movie night - pj's, cosy socks, chocolate, popcorn, hot chocolate bombs, a bottle of wine for mummy and daddy and then maybe a colouring book and a gimicky Christmas torch/wand.