Tell me about Christmas Eve boxes

[MeltedButter]

So this is the first year in doing Xmas Eve boxes for my 5 and 1 year old. I've got the boxes and the fillers.

I'm wondering when they open them? First thing or in the evening?
Who do I say they are from? Can't be Santa so from me and husband or from elf on the shelf maybe?

On Xmas Eve my 1 year will be in nursery but finish early at 3. Husband will be at work but will also finish early. So my 5 year old and I have got a breakfast with Santa. Just mentioning that incase you think it makes a difference to when we do Xmas Eve boxes.

Thanks

We go out somewhere xmas eve afternoon to tire the dc out - a playground, swimming or crazy golf these days, used to be soft play when they were little. The hamper had magically appeared on their return.

The point of our hamper is to make sure xmas eve goes smoothly. So there will be an activity to keep the dc busy while dp and I prep veg, something for the bath and new pjs to encourage the dc to get ready for bed.

We usually have a busy morning doing last minute baking, making salt dough footprints (do it every year to see how much they’ve grown!!) and then do Christmas Eve boxes in the afternoon - Christmas pjs, a new cup, then one DC gets hot chocolate mix, one gets the marshmallows, and one gets the Christmas film in their box. Everyone gets movie snacks in their box and then we snuggle up and enjoy the film

I did it for the first time with a 1 year old last year. I brought it out at about 3/4ish. Any later would have been a bit of a rush I think. When you get back from nursery would be ideal. It'll be getting dark and christmas eve will start properly. You could always get the 5 year old a baking kit/ activity book or something to keep them occupied during the day. Maybe the elf could bring that as a parting gift?

Personally, we have a family box so it doesn't arrive magically. It's just part of our Christmas Eve and mostly contains the "tools" we need, so Santa plate, stockings, reindeer food etc. Then a DVD of the Snowman and a book. I don't put craft sets in it or anything. If you want to do that maybe give them it in the morning?

Later in the afternoon either before or after dinner depending on what is in them.
For me early dinner at 4.30/5 then Christmas eve box would have hot choc, popcorn, reindeer dust, book and possibly jammies if buying that year so all stuff for winding down and heading towards bedtime.

Some people have colouring books or crafts for children to do while they get some prep done so earlier in the day.

Christmas eve box is from us, but elf would also work if you prefer.

So many lovely ideas. Yes I like the idea of it keeping them occupied. I've got the 5 year old some crafty things so don't want to get it out too late. Sucha good point about pajamas making them want to sleep!

I love the idea about putting a bit of the film snacks in each, I'll do that when the littlest is a bit older.

We do a start of the season box. I keep christmas cups, plates, blankets, rubix cube, craft bits, christmas books, dancing reindeer etc and bring them out on the 1st (today). New slippers and pjs were added as was a new advent calendar of jokes oh and some coins. It's just so we get more use out of stuff before putting it away again.

Xmas eve 'boxes' (werent originally boxes) where started in the 1940s as books mainly and often PJs and are given before bed.

Now its common to include other things like toiletries and snack for before bed too, just for the wind-down before xmas really.

They are exactly 'from' anyone, it was originally a government initiative to encourage reading in children as paper was fairly easily available during WW2 while most other xmas foods/traditions where rationed/alter due to war and blitz.

We do ours a bit differently.

Ours come in the morning. Christmas Eve is a full on family day, no personal screens. We have new pj's we put straight on, then spend the day doing activities the box provided, games, crafts, pass the parcel, gingerbread house making or Christmas cookies. Finishing with festive movie and hot chocolate and bed. This year the box includes a piñata, decorations to paint, hot chocolate bombs, need a board game too.

We distract ours for 10 mins - go looking for something in the garden or something like that and put the boxes under the tree at 4 ish so they’ve got something to keep them occupied until bath time.

Ours arrive Christmas eve morning too. As if by magic

It usually just has new pj's and slipper socks in. The santa plate and stocking. And then a Christmas mug and hot chocolate stirrer. A "nice list badge" which I get from etsy. Magical reindeer food (bird seed, no glitter). Our copy of "twas the night before Christmas" and a nativity story. And jingle bells.

It's all pretty much recycled year in year out except for new pj's and is sentimental (the stocking was mine!)

I’ve done them with PJs, hot chocolate and maybe marshmallows in the past

They’re with exh this year, so they had Xmas pyjamas today, although not actually that Christmassy- DD’s are just red tartan type ones, and Ds’s a bluish tartan with Hogwarts on.

We did mid-afternoon when the kids were little. Slightly later now they're teens.

Originally the idea was to keep them busy for the evening and stop them being over-excited.

We included:
New pjs
New toothbrushes/toothpaste
Some snacks
A game
A film
Things for Xmas eve - reindeer 'food', plate for Santa's drink/mince pie, magic key, etc.

We would put pj's on, play the game, do all the Xmas eve stuff, then settle down with film & snacks - when it's finished then you brush teeth and go to bed.

The elves produce a Christmas Eve hamper in our house. It magically appears on Christmas Eve morning and the elves get tucked into the hamper before bedtime on Christmas Eve to hitch a ride back to the North Pole with Father Christmas.

Wow I had no idea it had a history. I thought it was a new thing like in the last few years. I never had them growing up, I'm in my 30's. I don't remember my friends having them either.

Ours come out about 4pm, after our Christmas lights safari (ie family walk round neighbourhood oohing and aahing at everyone’s Christmas lights). The box has new pyjamas for everyone which are warm but not Christmas themed, to extend the wear time, a bath bomb for the kids, hot chocolate sachets, popcorn and a cheap Christmas themed dvd we get second hand. We then watch the film together with popcorn and hot chocolate before they have a bath and get into the pyjamas. For us it’s part of setting the mood and winding down before bed.

We usually open ours late afternoon, early evening, my DC are a little older (10&9) and don't go to bed until 11pm on Christmas eve (absolutely pointless putting them in bed before then😂) so they'll have plenty of time to muck about with whatever is in the box.

I give my children theirs on Christmas Eve morning, it keeps them busy whilst I’m doing some last minute jobs. It contains an Christmas themed activity book, small toy, biscuits or sweeties and socks.