When/how to give present

[IcePalace]

We are getting a swing and slide for DD (3.5) for xmas, the plan was to build it and use the side door for a few days so she wouldn't see it. We now have to spend Xmas with family a few hours away as they can't travel to us due to accessibility and space in our house.

I'm ok with this and like spending Xmas there but I don't know how to do the present. She will know the present is from us and not Santa so will still get small presents + family gifts on Xmas, but if we do it before Xmas it feels a bit rubbish/anti climatic/ here's a present but we are going away type thing, but I don't think we would get away with building it and getting out of the house & packing up car etc without having to use main door and her seeing it (weird shaped house/garden). Not sure if I should just do it as early Xmas present.

Looking for ideas or 'just do it early' sentiment to work out what to do! Thanks

I would build it, and leave it as a surprise for her to find when she comes home. You could just say that Santa left it for her on Christmas Day.

But OP has already said it isn't coming from Santa (rightly so for a present that size!)

I would just do it early, we do presents early/after Christmas depending on when we see friends and family, helps spread it out and doesn't all need to be on 1 day which is overwhelming for little kids

@Youcancallmeirrelevant thanks, yes while she does get presents from Santa as it's a big present we thought it should come from us! We got a tiny bit of money from a work bonus and using it for the present. She will still get Santa presents on the day. I think early is the answer, as you say it makes it less overwhelming anyway

Early with time for her to play on it before you go away.

I would do it early too. We;re abroad where it's more traditional for kids to have pressies for St Nicolas on 6th December. We often were away for Xmas so used to do the BIG thing (anything bulky or needing assembly) then and then other stuff on Xmas Day. Dd never cared about this.

IME at 3 they don't really remember or process who got them what, because it is all obliterated in the excitement of a mass amount of presents just existing in general, and they are too little to question the logic of Santa, so my vote is for don't overthink it - do whatever works best for logistics and present it as "This is a very exciting and fun thing and it's related to Christmas. Yay!"

If she loves it will she cry and whine when removed from it to go to family for Christmas Day?

if so it could be better to just build it when you get back?

Or build it prior but don’t let on. You could always say it was from you and “what a lovely surprise Santa has built it while we were away” when you get home.