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Christmas

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Original poster

How do you open presents on Christmas morning?

121 replies

pinkfluffybunny · 06/12/2022 10:19

We have 4 children. Christmas morning is a blur of wrapping paper and excitement and joy.

However, I obviously miss some of my children opening special presents which I know they will love and their reactions to them, as I am watching others opening theirs.

I had a thought of one child opening their presents, and then the next child, but that wouldn't be much fun for my other children who would no doubt be itching to open their own presents.

How do you all do it? Do I just have to accept that I will miss some children's reactions, and be content with knowing they will love whatever they receive? After all, it's not about me.....

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 06/12/2022 12:22

When I was growing up we did one present at a time but alternating between people so nobody had to wait very long. There were 3 of us and not a giant present pile so it never took long. We didn't alternate strictly because the number of presents might not be equal so that wouldn't seem fair. We would take it in turns to choose one from under the tree, see who it was for and give it to them to open. Sometimes if somebody had been without a present for a while, we'd hunt for a present for that one person.

This method is quite nice because it means the fun is in the mystery - sometimes we chose based on I've been squishing that for days trying to guess it, sometimes on the "what could that be?!" feeling, sometimes because it was our own present we had chosen for the recipient, sometimes completely at random. It also is nice and slow and I like that. Plus if there are clearly identical presents for children (etc) you can unwrap them all at once and not ruin the surprise for anybody.

DH wants to divide them all up into piles by person, but I really don't like this, it feels rushed and pressured to me. When we've had Christmas with a large family group you have to do it like that otherwise it would go on all day, but it's my least favourite thing about big Christmases (which I otherwise love).

So we try to do my method but sometimes it's a bit chaotic and DH is handing out extra presents to people before others have finished. It's OK. I would still prefer a slower approach but we have two little ones (4 and 1) as well as a teenager and the little ones don't really understand watching others unwrap or waiting, they just want to get into the toys. So my main request is just that we go AT their pace rather than rushing them - if they want to investigate the new toy instead of getting to the next present, that's fine. I remember when DS2 was 1, it took about 3 days to open all of his presents Grin then last year he had opened his by about 9am.

Because we live far from family, there are only really 2 main events to the day, which is opening presents and having Christmas lunch. We might go on a Christmas Day walk, especially if there is snow, but mainly those are the two events of the day. So it makes sense to slow down the present frenzy a bit, although I suppose they like having the day to play with their gifts.

YuliaJollyberry · 06/12/2022 12:25

During the magical years there were small sacks left in the dining room to be opened in a frenzy, whilst breakfast was gathered. Nowadays a few stray parcels are still scattered there to be collected by the recipient.

Into the lounge and whilst eating breakfast and selection boxes stockings for everyone are opened together. Then gifts under the tree, one or two from Santa, rest from family and friends selected randomly by whomever is sat nearest and passed along to recipient. We don’t wait for them to open until passing others around, It’s a much slower pace so you mostly get to see what it is and who it’s from.

We’ve tried videoing way back then, on a tripod. There’d be technical issues or the dog would knock it over, got some funny footage over the years, people move around and it missed much or only got a part shot. Technology has come a long way since. Use my phone now for short clips just prop it up and hope for the best.

Beachbabe1 · 06/12/2022 12:32

Definitely make them wait! One person opens at a time so everyone can see what they got. Otherwise like you say, you miss seeing their faces! Also prolongs it so it's not over in 10 mins!

mam0918 · 06/12/2022 12:37

we sit by the tree and go one at a time in a circle.

example: DC2 (4 so prime age), DC1 (14), DC3 (1 so a touch baffled), DH, Me then back to the start for DC2, DC1, DC3, DH, me etc... I keep the kids numbers even and me and DH just 'drop out' and watch/help when we run out of presents.

Crabwoman · 06/12/2022 12:40

Stockings opened in the morning.

Then family gifts after Christmas Dinner, handed out one at a time by my Dad.

I liked it as a kid as it was something to look forward to later in the day. And my kids love it too.

Stompythedinosaur · 06/12/2022 12:42

Stockings are a free for all.

Tree presents are handed out to be opened in "rounds", so everyone gets a gift to open at the same time (something just the dc have a gift while adults watch).

We open a few gifts at a time, have a break before opening a few more. We have quite a lot of gifts so they last through the day.

Elerandooo · 06/12/2022 12:42

This year, our son will be old enough to understand Christmas. DP and I plan to open our presents to each other on Christmas Eve while drinking wine and setting up “santas visit” for the little one. Then Christmas morning will be all about our son and him opening his presents while no doubt hold multiple phones for the grandparents to watch on FaceTime 😂

BrieAndChilli · 06/12/2022 12:49

we do stockings up in bed - they come into our room and open, they are only small things so all open at the same time.
We then go down to find 'santa' presents which again they all open at same time.
after breakfast and wash we then open all the under the tree presents, kids take it in turns to pick up a present and hand it out to the recipient. we then watch them open.

QuinkWashable · 06/12/2022 12:49

Stockings as soon as we woke up (sent back to play in our room quietly so as not to wake the other siblings and eat chocolate if it was too early!)

One an hour at one nan's house (non-child-friendly house - as much as anything that was to keep us amused.

Then at other nans, we all had to wait until after dinner, sacks would be distributed and we'd all go for it until the living room was about waist height in wrapping paper :D you'd just yell out across the room to say thankyou for anything that was particularly good.

With my kids, I largely do the one per hour thing, although I'm relaxed with the gap between, and if someone opens something that they can't play with, I can be persuaded they can open a second - but I only have 2 kids, so it's easier with my own family than when I was a child with rather more of us!

AriettyHomily · 06/12/2022 12:55

Stockings they open in their bed and then come through to us with their presents, then we go down and they take it in turns.

mondaytosunday · 06/12/2022 13:04

I have two sisters and we did take turns. One would be the elf and hand out the presents from under the tree and then we'd each open them in turn, with everyone getting to see the reaction and what they got. Unless your kids are very very young do this.

Lovemusic33 · 06/12/2022 13:05

We get up, open stocking presents and then have breakfast, tree presents are opened after breakfast. My dc are older now so it’s much less chaotic and a lot slower. They don’t get many gifts so we hand them out and open one at a time.

OneFrenchEgg · 06/12/2022 17:08

Stockings all together.
Presents after lunch - everyone who has one gets to open the present from Aunt A then everyone who has one gets to open the present from Aunt B etc - if you don't have one because she is not your godmother etc you wait.

AppleBarrel · 06/12/2022 17:16

DC open their stockings first thing, I think they do it together, but DH and I are not involved at all.

We take turns with presents under the tree to reach under and give one out.

mamatoTails · 06/12/2022 17:19

We have 5 children. Everyone has always taken it in turns to open one present at a time. So everyone can watch.
We start with stockings, then the presents under the tree. Takes a while but easy to tidy as we go too!

frozendaisy · 06/12/2022 18:00

Ours (we only have two) but they open them one at a time, we suggest an order. They play with stuff or inspect or wear.

They usually still have presents from a not huge pile to open boxing day. Basically we take it easy, don't rush there is a lot of time to fill and taking it steady it great for us.

If you can compile an order so they each are occupied for half hour or so in between you can enjoy all the presents for longer.

TeenDivided · 06/12/2022 18:04

We kind of take it in turns. And also do a few then have a break, and repeat.
DD2 would have found it too overwhelming to have a frenzy (and so would I).

TeenyTomTilly · 06/12/2022 18:06

Aggressively

Watchingpretzels · 06/12/2022 18:07

We open ours in the evening! Start at around 5pm. My Dad hands them out one by one, reading each label out. It takes hours but it's great.

TooHotToRamble · 06/12/2022 18:08

One at a time! Everyone just opening everything leads to gift fatigue, and no appreciation for the gift/thanks to the gifter. Also as you say you miss seeing them open them which is the best bit!!!

We used to get the children to hand them out. Do one at a time so no-ones waiting for too long.

You can also stop if/when fatigue is starting to set in and open some later in the day.

TooHotToRamble · 06/12/2022 18:10

Oh and we also did stockings in bed first thing (with coffee!!!) then a break for breakfast, then main presents.

Ponderingwindow · 06/12/2022 18:11

Stockings all at once, then taking turns to open.

WhichWitchIsTheWitch · 06/12/2022 18:18

Stockings first thing (not before 8am!), usually brought into our room to open. Then everyone gets dressed, has breakfast, get the turkey on etc. Then all sit in the front room with one person under the tree handing out presents one at a time. Try and alternate between people and give multi part presents in the right order! Often have a break for a cuppa. Would hate a 10 minute shark frenzy.

Irritatingly my three always waited for uncle and aunt to arrive (at their request!) before opening their presents (apart from the stockings) even if they didn’t get up or arrive until 11am but now they have nephew he “has to” open all his as soon as he wakes up, no waiting for anyone or anything as “he’s too excited”. So they wanted to share the special but for my kids but want it just to be them for theirs….

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 06/12/2022 18:28

Whoever is youngest (but old enough to understand) is in charge of going furtling under the tree for a gift. They read the tag (or get help to read it) and pass it to the person it’s for, who unwraps it. After a short interval of admiring the gift/thanks they are sent back under the tree for another.

Nobody opens gifts at the same time as another person. The smallest one is most likely to be impatient so is kept busy. We often find that the children mostly know which boxes are theirs in advance anyway! We often take breaks when a particularly interesting gift comes up or we need a coffee refill etc.

DepIndoChridmadWidMe · 06/12/2022 18:47

Oh God, I'd hate an audience when opening presents. I'd rather not get anything.