Do you let your kids open one / any present before bed?

[slipperypenguin]

We have a bit of a tradition where we let them open their presents from their siblings and one uncle. It's something they have done every year and is the only present they open before going to bed before Santa comes! Does anyone else do similair?

I was bounced into this today by my DH announcing that it would happen. Very annoying as I bought all the presents! Luckily my brother came over and brought something for DD, so she opened that and everyone was happy. I do think it spoils it a bit, though.

We do the Xmas eve boxes that everyone on mn absolutely hates, so my DD’s got a pair of pyjamas, bath bomb and packet of sweets. I’d be pissed off if my dp announced that the dc could open one of their proper presents that I’d organised and bought for Xmas day

My children always opened 1 present before bed time . In their 20s now and we’re talking about it today. Great memories.

It doesn’t spoil it! My mum used to do this with me, it’s one of my favourite memories of childhood christmases. I don’t remember what presents I got but that excitement of opening that one sneaky present on Christmas Eve I do remember.

Nope!

We let DD open one as relatives who we won't see for a while were over and asked whether they could see her opening her gift. She was delighted, especially as it was something she has wanted for ages (and she probably appreciated it more, opening it separately)

No, this seems so odd to me. New pyjamas and chocolate in the Christmas Eve box but that’s it. No proper presents until Christmas. It would be different if relatives were visiting and giving their gifts. I can see how that would happen, but not ones that could be given on Christmas Day.

I think the logic is to curb the excitement just a tiny bit and also because sometimes it gets lost in amongst opening presents from Santa and everyone else so it makes it a little more special.

Definitely not. Part of the excitement is the build up imo, the anticipation. I remember as a child that feeling of such excitement you thought you'd burst and personally I think that would be diluted by opening a gift before the big day.

We do Christmas Eve books but that’s it.

We never have. We've avoided the Christmas Eve box as thoroughly as we've avoided the elf thing.

But this year we did the Jólabókaflóðið and it was quite lovely! I'd definitely do it again next year!

Ours usually open one on Christmas Eve once we're back from church. They're teenagers now but for years the Christmas Eve gift has been a pair of pyjamas - not Christmas ones but ones to replace an outgrown pair or those that have shrunk in the wash.

My daughter gets to opened 1 present before bed

We always did growing up. Christmas Eve Gran came to stay and we were allowed to open her present. I think it helped calm us down and Gran got to see us open it without the Christmas present frenzy. (Grew up in the 70s and we didn’t have much)

No.
But we do a treasure hunt that results in a small gift for each person.

And I have let a tradition from my in-laws be part of our Christmas - the table present...
It makes me overthink every year. And I still do it.

No, we put milk out for Santa, baby Jesus in the crib then a chocolate of the tree { first of the year ). Presents go under the tree when they are in bed.