I first saw a Christmas Eve box back in 2016 and at first it was a tradition I didn’t want to start, however, the more I thought about it, the more I thought the kids having something to open on Christmas was a great idea, as they always had new pyjama’s ready for the arrival of Father Christmas.
The idea of the Christmas Eve box arrived from Germany, who have a tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Now the kids get the excitement of opening some presents on Christmas Eve, before leaving out some reindeer food, a glass of milk and a mince pie for the special visitors.
10 things to add to a Christmas Eve Box for the kids
1. The Box
The box can be as simple as a shoe box wrapped in Christmas paper, but for something that you can use year in, year out, a personalised wooden box is perfect.
I can highly recommend local company applecrates.co.uk or make gorgeous personalised wooden Christmas Eve boxes.
2. Pyjamas
Christmas Eve wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without a new pair of pyjama’s to wear, after all you must look your best for Father Christmas.
Pyjamas.com have a fabulous range of pyjamas, perfect to add to a Christmas Eve box in designs from Fortnite to Disney, Dinosaurs to matching Christmas pyjamas for all the family.
3. A Christmas Story
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas story?
For little ones, the Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas is a fun story to read at bedtime, but got older children The Christmasaurus is a good, heart warming read about a little boy in a wheelchair who, on Christmas Eve, meets a lonely dinosaur in the most unexpected way, which leads them to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and build a friendship that will change them both forever.
4. A Christmas Movie
We love the film ELF as it always feels like Christmas is finally here when we watch it, but other good Christmas movies we love include the Polar Express, The Grinch and Home Alone.
If you want a new Christmas film to watch, I highly recommend the Christmas Chronicles on Netflix as it had all three kids transfixed from beginning to end. After accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh, a brother and sister pull an all-nighter to save Christmas with a savvy, straight-talking St. Nick.
You could add the film in the form of a DVD, or add a Netflix, Amazon or Now TV giftcard to the box so you have access to more TV and films for a longer period.
5. Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a Christmas Eve box staple and can be drunk during either the Christmas movie or with the bedtime story.
Make it extra special by making Hot Chocolate cones, like these made by A Strong Coffee.
6. Reindeer Food
A proper Christmas Eve box is also in need of a pouch of reindeer food to sprinkle along your walkway before midnight, so the reindeer find their way to your home easily. Just don’t forget to sweep it back up so it looks like the reindeer have visited.
Mum in the Madhouse has a great tutorial for making animal safe reindeer food on her blog.
7. Gingerbread
We were lucky enough to visit Lapland last year and fell in love with their gingerbread biscuits and they make the perfect snack to go with the hot chocolate!
8. Slippers
Put some slippers in their Christmas Eve box to keep their toes toasty – these Moccis are adorable and come in some fab wintery designs!
9. Cuddly Toy
A cuddly toy is perfect to add to the Christmas Eve box as gives them something to cuddle when they go to bed.
10. Novelty Mug
A novelty Christmas Mug is the perfect final addition, to put the hot chocolate of course!
Have you made a Christmas Eve box before – what do you add?
These are such lovely ideas. I love that you included the box in the process of gift design. That’s a nice touch.
What a lovely idea! I hadn’t thought of making a Christmas Eve box before, but I think we have just started this as a new tradition – lovely!
I have never tried to do this with my kids. I will definitely make a Christmas Eve Box for them and I am sure that it will make them happy.
I love this idea! We do something very similar but just without the box. Each year we buy jammies for each kid and a Christmas movie to watch on Christmas Eve 🙂
This is such a good idea. I have actually never heard of this before.
These are fantastic Christmas ideas. We may use some for our own blog too.
Ok, to be honest I don’t have kids. However, I find this a great option and idea and I am forwarding this to some of my friends who have kids.
Oh WOW Never heard about that tradition before but definitely will start doing this as of this year! Gorgeous idea
This is such a good idea. I don’t know why I haven’t made a Christmas Eve box for my girls before.
Xx, Nailil
thirtyminusone.com
We didn’t have a Christmas Eve box, but we did get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. It was the same principle and most often had bed clothes and maybe a book.
How fun! I have never seen this before. Those hot chocolate cones look like a complete winner!
OMGoodness this is such an awesome idea! Where were you when my babies were young LOL
I love the idea of the Christmas socks to add to the Christmas box, that way you can wear them all Christmas Day.
Some brilliant ideas! I’m currently putting together my boxes for the kids so I will bear these in mind for sure.
A Christmas Eve book sounds like a great idea. It def. give something for the kids to look forward to.
I have actually thought about doing this but I don’t want it to be costly .I think the hot chocolate and the footies are a wonderful thing to add.
I didn’t hear about a Christmas Eve Box either until now, but I think it’s a great idea! Definitely hot chocolate, a cuddly toy and a Christmas movie shouldn’t miss from it.