When Is the Best Time to Give Christmas Presents to Children?
The timing of giving Christmas presents to children is a topic of much debate, with many families adhering to traditional customs while others break from convention. The typical and perhaps most widely recognized time is on Christmas Eve or the morning of Christmas Day. However, spreading the excitement earlier by giving gifts before Christmas Eve can be perfectly acceptable too—especially if it aligns with your family's unique holiday customs.
Traditions Vary from Family to Family
In my family, for example, we prefer to give gifts on Christmas Eve, particularly for games like Family Edition Cards Against Cards or similar items. The evening of December 24th, after a special dinner, provides a fitting occasion for giving presents, which adds to the overall magic of the holiday.
Common Approaches to Gift Giving
Christmas Eve
Many families build excitement for Christmas Day by giving presents on Christmas Eve. This can involve a special dinner, followed by a festive gathering where children are able to open their gifts.
Christmas Morning
A classic tradition is to open gifts in the morning of December 25th, allowing children to wake up to presents under the tree. For younger children, this can be a magical experience.
Advent Season
Some families prefer to give small gifts or treats throughout the Advent season, leading up to Christmas. This can include activities like an Advent calendar with daily surprises.
Before Christmas
It's perfectly fine to give gifts in the weeks leading up to Christmas, especially if it fits your family's tradition or is related to a specific event like a birthday or a holiday party. Some parents might also opt to give gifts early to avoid the holiday rush or to let children enjoy their presents for a longer period.
Customizing Gift Giving to Your Family
Ultimately, the timing of gift-giving should reflect your family's customs and what feels right for you and your children. Some families, like my own, had a unique routine that involved creating gift bags for a younger group of boys. These gift bags often included a couple of Hot Wheels cars, a few pieces of candy, fake tattoos, and dollar store toys like little bouncy balls, plastic snakes, or army guys.
These items provided an engaging activity during the evening before Christmas, keeping the kids occupied long enough for a grand gift-opening event. Craft stores like Hobby Lobby sell lunch bag-size bags in Christmas themes, making it easy to create these gift bags. However, as the children got older, they moved away from such simple presents and towards more personal connections like using their phones.
The key takeaway is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to gift-giving during the Christmas season. The most important thing is to find a method that brings joy and happiness to your family during this special time of year.