What are you putting in your kids Christmas Eve boxes?

[Winterfellismyhome]

Hello!

I have DS (4) and DD (who will be 11 months) so far i have matching pjs for them. Im thinking a book each and maybe a Disney Christmas teddy? Dont want to go OTT. Any inspiration appreciated :)

Why do people comment if they don't do them? Nearly everyone these days has a Christmas Eve Box. Your kids are missing out!!

This is funny as I've always but in a passion fruit J20 not sure why they don't really drink it and dd10 said she still wants one this year. Funny tradition I've made 😂😂

I've never done a box. I never had one as a child. It's just something we never did and when I heard about it about 7 years ago I said no way on earth will we be doing this. Just too much to think about.

I'm not a total Scrooge though. We have some hot chocolate, which the DCs then add squirty cream, chocolate syrup and marshmallows to.

We watch the King's College Carol Concert if we can and throw reindeer dust out the front door (porridge basically, which I hate clearing up).

I clicked on this just to see the comments moaning about people doing Christmas Eve boxes. Wasn’t disappointed.

Pyjamas
Bedding
Book
Bath bomb
Chocolate bomb or hot chocolate mix
Tooth brush
Colouring book/Stickers

Basically anything to keep them occupied until bath time, and anything that makes them excited to do bath & bed early so I can have an evening’s peace whilst I drink port & lemon, eat chocolates and watch DH assemble all the DIY toys he insists the kids need!

When I was a child we always got new pyjamas on Xmas eve (not matching). In fact my mum still appears on Xmas eve with my new pjs! So I do the same for my dc. They each have a (reusable) box with new pjs in, slippers (not this year though because their ones from last year still fit) and socks. Also some chocolates to watch a film with. Used to be a dvd but we don’t really do dvds these days now so we watch a Christmas film on Netflix or sky. So basically nightwear which they need anyway and chocolates. Sometimes the Xmas pjs match, sometimes they don’t. They have matching navy blue Xmas onesies this year. Prob the last year ds10 will accept matching with his sister age 7.

I basically had the same things as a kid (new pjs, bedding & book), with a placatory gift (book or video) and special hot chocolate and bath pearls/bubble bath. It makes the night even more special. The only difference is that it wasn’t placed neatly into a box.

I do new PJ's so they have new matching ones for nice photos opening stockings the next day and a book, been getting the Guinea Pig festive stories, they are very cute.

They open this, then wear the new PJ's to set out things for Father Christmas and the reindeer.

My mum gave me and siblings new pyjamas on Christmas Eve and this was a tradition I continued with DD. Not Christmas themed ones just nice ones that could be worn anytime.

Letter from the north pole
lollies
hot chocolate stirrers
a book
bag of marshmallows (for hot choc)
tub of treats to share
board game for us all to play

I give Christmas pjs with advent calendars on 1st so they wear them most of the month

I have DC of similar age, don’t do Xmas eve boxes but I started a tradition of giving them jointly a few Xmas themed books that we can enjoy together as a bedtime story - last year polar express this year jolly Xmas postman and a couple of others. Also put carrot and mince pie out for Rudolph and Santa!

This year I'll have 4yo, 3yo and 1 month old. We do a family box every year. The elf leaves it when he goes back to the North pole. Always has Night Before Christmas which we read as their bedtime story, hot chocolate mix and marshmallows, their stockings and the Santa plate ready to put out, reindeer food that we normally make earlier in the month, some popcorn/ snacks to eat while we watch a Christmas movie. We also go out for late lunch/early dinner on Christmas Eve every year so it normally has some sort of colouring or activity set to take with us to keep them entertained during the meal. I normally pick these up the previous January in the sale

Most of the stuff is reused every year apart from the snacks, and we'd buy those anyway so it doesn't cost us any extra. I like the idea of a bath bomb or glowsticks for the bath so might add that in

I love the Christmas Eve box. It's stuff we already have, sentimental and reused, but packaged up in a magical tradition.

We have always had new PJs on Christmas Eve (and I'm 36!) This year I've got DS and I matching ones, this will really tickle him. And matching slippers.
Then, we have the Santa plate.
The stocking ready to hang on the bedroom door (DS uses my old one!)
Some paper/an envelope to write a note for Santa to leave with the mince pie and carrot. Usually a reiteration of the wish list (I've kept these from previous years.)
The copy of twas the night before Christmas.
A copy of the Christmas story.
The reindeer food, this is bird seed in an old sprinkles container.

I don't usually put chocolate or sweets in. The elf (not a naughty one) generally brings bits and pieces of craft stuff, jazzy bath stuff over the course of the month.

I buy roll out gingerbread and we do that first thing and then decorate them, we leave one of these out for Santa. We have a sack (which is a red pillowcase) which we put a handprint on each year.

Church in the afternoon. I love it.

Pyjamas for each child
Hot chocolate for the older 3
Cinema tickets to see elf
A bag if their favourite chocolates & sweets each
Reindeer food - bag each
Christmas books
Bath bomb each (not the baby)

PJs, bath bomb and book

believe it or not most parent do spend time with their kids while they are in the bath... you know to prevent drowning (or the little buggers flooding the bathroom) so in no way is giving them a £1 bathbomb or new bubble bath while you do that OTT lol.

A bath is both a nessecity AND a tradition when getting something to go in with.

Nothing! The whole concept is OTT imho

Christmas Eve is lovely without more stuff, spending time together, maybe watch a film, hot chocolate, the anticipation of Christmas Day - and presents.

No. Nearly everyone doesn't.

More stuff doesn't guarantee more happiness.

And this year more than ever many families are cutting back.

DS gets new pjs and a chocolate Santa, plus ‘reindeer food’ (bird seed). This year I’m also giving him one of those hot chocolate stirrer things and possibly some marshmallows. I used to put an Xmas film in too but these days we don’t really use DVDs as we have various subscriptions (Netflix, Disney etc). No toys as he’ll get enough the next day! I don’t want to dilute the magic of Xmas day.

I think the people that don't are so blinkered with rage you dont see just how common it is.

Also what is the 'more stuff' your babbling about?

Its litrally nessecities they would get anyway and some peoples add reusables too... everyone no matter how poor has to feed, wash, brush the teeth of and clothe their children and someone having a plate and book they use EVERY YEAR is not 'more stuff' or any more OTT than having a xmas tree.

My DD will only be 6 months at Christmas, but we want to start some little traditions so we have got her a wooden Christmas Eve box which I have filled with...

Christmas Pjs
Hot chocolate cone with marshmallows (I will eat this year!)
Reindeer food
Plate for santa
A little wooden tag that is personalised and says XXXX believes with a red ribbon and gold bell (nod to Polar express)
A wooden stick with bells on to jingle on Christmas Eve (£1.99 from Home Bargains)
T'was the Night Before Christmas

When she is old enough I might add a festive bath bomb or face mask and some movie night sweets/chocolate.

Some people I know put toys in...I hate the idea of this as I feel they should be kept for Xmas day.

This thread was exactly as I expected, just why bother being horrible if you don't do them that's fine but why piss on someone else's chips.

Honestly some people just resent anyone doing anything that's not exactly the same way they do things

Mine have
Xmas pjs
Fluffy Xmas socks
Xmas Percy pigs
Mug cake kit
Reindeer food
Bath bombs
Face masks

The elf leaves them when he goes back to the North Pole.

oh I never considered a Mug Cake... thats a good idea.

Mine are adults now (20 and 23)
We used to do the CEH to get them settled after the Christmas Eve walk. DH would get them outside and I would "just go and check the back door is locked" and put the boxes by the fireplace .

Now we do Dec 1st Bags so they get longer to use them. It's all things they use anyway:

Large bag re-used each year
Bathrobe (every 2nd year)
Pyjamas for DD -wunter not Christmas ones
Longwear for DS ( TShirts/jogger bottoms)
Socks (a years worth for DS)
Pants/underwear
Some toiletries
Chocolate Advent ( Hotel Chocolat this year)
Mug for DD
Might be a vodka / Sminoff Ice

Used to add an annual and a hot chocolate sachet with a small pack of biscuits

It's not tat , it's not going to spoil them.
It's things they need and use

They don't get a 'stocking' but their Christmas presnts are small (though £) so they go in their tapestry stockings .