Before the kids head off to brush their teeth on Christmas Eve, leave a basket by the tree with a handwritten tag that says Open together on Christmas Eve. Tuck in a blanket from the couch, a Christmas book they know by heart, and enough cocoa for everyone. Save a little room at the front for the surprise they get to pick.
Fold three little surprises
Cut three slips of paper, write one activity inside each, and fold them in half. Draw a star on the outside so even the littlest reader knows what to reach for. Here are three ideas you can copy tonight.
- Christmas lights lookout. Turn off the lamps and gather at the window. Who can spot a house with all white lights? What about a tree with three different colors? If the street is dark, play indoors and look for reflections of your tree lights instead.
- Mystery ornament. Secretly choose an ornament on your tree. Give everyone three clues to guess which one you picked. Whoever finds it gets the next turn.
- The very mixed-up Christmas story. Open your Christmas book and let the kids rename the main character. Read the whole story with its very silly new name and see how long you can keep a straight face.
Give everyone a job
One child unties the ribbon, another unfolds a star, and someone else gets to read it aloud or pick a grown-up to help. Once the cocoa is ready, spread the blanket across everyone’s knees and play whatever the star says.
If you’d like one keepsake for the basket, a personalized family name blanket can come out every December.
Before you put the basket away, turn the gift tag over and write down the moment you want to remember. 2026 — Dad had to read the whole book about a reindeer named Meatball. Tuck the tag into the storybook. Next Christmas, that little note might be the first thing everyone looks for.
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