Making a budget Xmas a bit more exciting- ideas please!

cleggie · 7 December 2011 at 6:43PM

Hi all.

I am after some advice.
I have 2 children who are 11 and 7. i have explained to them that this year isnt going to be as lavish as it has been in previous years (in terms of numbers of presents) and they seem fine with it.

However, because the number of presents is going to be less, i am a bit worried that the actual present opening on Xmas day is going to take about 5 mins, and that'll be it.

What do you do on Xmas morning to eek it out a bit, but still making it fun?

In previous years it would take them about 30 mins to open their stockings, then another few hours to open the rest of their presents. This year it will be a considerably smaller stocking, and pile!

So, how can i make the actual present opening experience last longer, without giving strict rules and therefore ruining it?

spendingmad · 7 December 2011 at 6:54PM

wrap everything in miles of sellotape, boxes within boxes within boxes, a treasure hunt for the pressies, instead of a selection box individually wrap each choccie bar! .....I will keep thinking!

caeler · 7 December 2011 at 7:05PM

No opening presents at the same time? So everybody watches whilst one opens a gift, then its the next persons turn. That could delay proceedings? Alternatively you could open one or two, then play a family game? You could wait until after lunch before present time? (Appreciate with kiddies it may be harder to wait). If you have other family who intend buying for your children, you could ask them to hold on to their gifts until you see them, therefore spreading out the gift giving? And finally maybe family gift which is wrapped as a pass the parcel and make a game of unwrapping. Wrap sweeties between each layer - plenty of fun!

Just_Like_Honey · 7 December 2011 at 7:45PM

Every year when opening presents, my sister and I choose a present each from under the tree to give to mum and dad, and once they've opened it we choose one for each other, and continue like that. It takes a while and everyone gets to see what each person has

Wrap everything individually, no matter how small, or if you have lots of very small presents put them into a gift bag and say that they can open that first.

You could do a small treasure hunt for christmas morning? When they go to bed on christmas eve hide little things like chocolate coins, candy canes or christmas crackers around the house with the last ones in the branches of the christmas tree.

You could also keep a present back for each of them and wait until after they've opened everything else. It will feel like an extra surprise because they won't be expecting anything else.

cleggie · 7 December 2011 at 8:59PM

Thanks guys.
I LOVE the idea of a treasure hunt! i reckon the kids (and I!) would love having to hunt for the pressies!

katiecoodle · 7 December 2011 at 9:09PM

My granny used to get us a main present, then we'd have presents to open at certain times of the day - one at the table, one while the queens speech was on, one after church etc....they weren't expensive things, a bubble bath, or a colouring book & were designed to eek the magic out for us all, and keep us entertained & excited throughout the day.
One thing we do is that we invite various neighbours & friends to arrive at certain parts of the day - its something to look forward to & helps to keep the kids from getting bored.

scaredy_cat · 7 December 2011 at 9:42PM

also, what about taking them to a local church service in the morning and open your presents after. you could make a special breakfast first, something like pancakes with blueberries ot other fruit, then go to the service, come home to hot choc and mince pies and open the presents.

mumtosix · 7 December 2011 at 9:54PM

In our house, the children usually get up early (of course!!) and open their stocking pressies, we have a leisurely morning have breakfast, play games (there's always a game or cards in the stocking!) They tend to play with their stocking items. We go for a walk, then after lunch & clearing up we open our main presents about 3ish. Our 3rd eldest usually hands the pressies out, which can take ages. We've always done this so our children do not mind waiting to open their presents. I do love the idea of a treasure hunt though .. I might do that too this year.;)

jamgirl · 7 December 2011 at 10:02PM

i wrap everything no matter how small. no two things ever get wrapped together. some of the pressies are essentials such as socks and pants. we also have a nice brekkie ...... this yr they have asked for pan au chocolat and strawberries.
santa normally leaves the pressies in their own piles but this year all pressies will be left under the tree so it's not so obvious that the piles are smaller!

cleggie · 7 December 2011 at 10:31PM

Thanks guys.
Maybe i'll let them have their stockings, then make them wait till after breakfast to open the rest.

HelenDaveKids · 7 December 2011 at 10:37PM

We also take it in turns, waiting till that persons finished. I also wrap everything seperately. I save anything they need up before christmas, so even a new school top or socks gets wrapped.

Making a budget Xmas a bit more exciting- ideas please!

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