10 ideas for what to put in a Christmas Eve box

Christmas Eve gingerbread men cakes

 

Whether this is the first year you are planning to create a Christmas Eve box or you’re an old hand, the question remains – what should you put in it?

No doubt you’ll want to choose things that will add to the festive, family atmosphere and create special memories for the kids. But we all know that there are also a million and one little jobs that need to be done on Christmas Eve, so adding in some entertainments or distractions is a great idea too.

Here’s our run down of 10 ideas for what to put in the box:

A book 

You didn’t think we could create this list and not have this as number one, did you?! If you’re after a keepsake book that the whole family can enjoy, you might like to check out these ideas. We’ve also shared a roundup of our favourite Christmas books for different ages, which can be read aloud or enjoyed independently by older readers, here.

 

An activity book

Whether it’s puzzles or colouring that they’re particularly keen on, why not pop an activity pack into the box which they can enjoy independently, giving you a chance to wrap a few last minute gifts or relax with a mulled wine. Wordery have a fantastic selection.

We’re obviously biased but we think our gift sets and past packs are a fantastic combination of these first two. Delivered to you in a compact A5 bundle they’re easy to wrap and provide hours of entertainment. 

 

A game

BrainBox Christmas game

We’re big board game fans and love to add to our collection at Christmas. Obviously, the game you add doesn’t have to be festive-themed but if that’s your bag we love the look of BrainBox Christmas. It’s marketed as an advent game where you can play one card per day, but we think it would be just as much fun saved for Christmas Eve!

 

Pyjamas

What better treat than to snuggle up in new pyjamas! You’ll find Christmas PJs everywhere at this time of year but if you’re looking to support a small business why not check out these beauties:

Three sets of kids' pyjamas from small UK businesses

Sweet treats

We think some hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies would make a lovely addition to any Christmas Eve box. We’ve shared an easy recipe for making Polish gingerbread here and you can find more of our ideas for Christmas Eve food and drink here.

A mug

Why not let them enjoy that hot chocolate in a brand-new Christmas mug? We love the colourful mugs from Eleanor Bowmer (1) but for something a bit more traditional you might want to check out Lisa Angel (2) and these lovely enamel mugs from Hendog Designs (3).  

Three kids' Christmas mugs from small UK businesses

 

Father Christmas goodies

They can show the world, and the big man himself, that they believe in the magic of Christmas with this lovely enamel pin from Clara and Macy (1).

missive from Father Christmas (via Polar Post) could be a magical addition to the Christmas Eve box. You may also want to check out their personalised letter options (2).

The children may also enjoy hanging this plaque reminding Father Christmas to make a stop at their house, handmade by Flat 102 (3).

Finally, round off the day by leaving out this beautiful, handmade Christmas Eve plate from White Rain Designs with a few treats for Father Christmas and his reindeer (4). 

Father Christmas goodies for kids for Christmas Eve

A Parrot Street Book Club pack or gift set would also make a great addition to any Christmas Eve box. Find out everything you need to know about our gifting options this Christmas over on our dedicated Christmas gifting page. You might also be interested in our round-up of the best new Christmas books for kids.


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