Keeping the magic alive for your older kids
When it comes to Christmas, one tradition has taken the festive period by storm: giving and receiving a Christmas Eve box.
The great thing about Christmas Eve boxes is that they can be purchased or made to suit any age group. So, if you have a teen or tween who is at the age where the festive magic is disappearing slightly, it is a lovely tradition to start or continue with.
A Christmas Eve box is a box or basket filled with goodies to create excitement for the big day. You can add a few small token items or lots of different things. They can be individually created for each person, or you can create one big Christmas Eve box for the whole family.
If you do the “Elf on the Shelf,” they can deliver it on Christmas Eve, or you can leave it out in the morning or the evening, depending on when you want the children or your family to discover it. This is a great surprise for them to look forward to when you’re transitioning from the Santa phase.
So, what can you prepare for your tween-appropriate Christmas Eve box? We’ll share ideas that have worked for us when preparing Christmas Eve boxes for tweens.
Typical Ideas to Add to Your Christmas Eve Box
We’ll go into more ideas and examples below!
- Pajamas
- Snuggly socks
- Hot chocolate kits
- Sweets/Chocolates
- Family Games
- Christmas Books
- Christmas Movies/DVDs
- Gifts for Santa and his Reindeers
The perfect spot to start your search for Christmas Eve Box ideas is the Etsy Holiday Hub! If you are looking for anything holiday-related and personalized, you’ll find plenty of inspiration on Etsy.
Disclosures: We participate in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs, including Etsy, which earn us a commission if a qualifying purchase is made.
Christmas Boxes (Ready to Fill)
Personalized Wooden Christmas Eve Box
This Christmas Eve box is handmade from wood and personalized with a name. It is a perfect option if you are looking for something you can reuse each year that will last your little ones throughout their childhood.
More Etsy personalized wooden box ideas:
Treat Box & Prefilled Box Ideas
This is a great option if you want something a little smaller or as an addition that you can fill with chocolates or sweets. Made from cardboard and personalized, it is a budget-friendly alternative to a heavier wooden crate that is easy to store.
More Etsy personalized sweet treat ideas:
These cardboard boxes can be delivered to you pre-filled, which takes a lot of the last-minute running around work away!
Christmas Eve Box Fillers
Now that we know what to present our special gift in, what items can you fill your box with that will appeal to an older child?
Reindeer Food
One of the most important parts of preparing for Christmas Eve is ensuring your overnight guests are well-fed. Children of all ages can still enjoy this magic by leaving out some reindeer food. These are pre-filled, or you can look at options where you create your own then stick a label on it.
More Etsy personalized ideas:
Santas Treats
Don’t forget something for Santa, too. Another handy Christmas item well worth the investment to use for several years to come is a tray to serve Santa his treats.
More Etsy personalized treat tray ideas:
Santa Stop Here!
Make sure Santa knows where he needs to stop! Door hangers can be an idea where your home doesn’t have a chimney. Make no mistakes; Santa will still deliver whatever type of home you have.
More Etsy personalized sign ideas:
Kids Versus Parents Card Game
You might like to add a game that the whole family can play. This festive bundle contains 12 fun, easy-to-learn, simple-to-play party games to get everyone in the Christmas spirit!
More game ideas:
Hot Chocolate Mug
A collectible to cherish, gifting a hot chocolate mug from the North Pole is a brilliant idea for your Christmas Eve box, personalized with a name to treasure.
Hot Chocolate Spoons & Kits
You can’t beat a hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, and this is the perfect option to consider. These homemade chocolate spoons need warm milk added for a beautiful chocolate treat for Christmas Eve.
More Etsy personalized hot cocoa ideas:
Personalized Chocolates
A sweet treat with your child’s own name on it will continue to make them feel special even into their tween years.
More Etsy personalized ideas:
Gingerbread Decorating Kit
![Gingerbread Cookie Kit [Set of 8] Cookie decorating kit: 2...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZzlfczA1L.jpg)
This is a great option if you want to add something your children can do unsupervised. A gingerbread decorating kit can be a fun activity and a tasty treat as well.
Christmas Pajamas
If you want to add pajamas to the Christmas Eve box, matching ones can be a great way to unite the family on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Socks
Getting comfortable on Christmas Eve is all part of the un, and some cozy socks could be a great addition to your tween’s Christmas Eve box.
Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Tween Girls
Some more specifics that might work well with a preteen girl include:
Christmas Eve Box Ideas or Boys
Here are some more ideas for your growing boys that should bring a smile to their face:
We hope this has given you lots of ideas when thinking about Christmas Eve boxes for tweens. It’s a wonderful family tradition that you can start at any time and make it something special and unique for your family.
Found This Tween Gift Guide Helpful?
In case you’re still on the hunt for some last-minute gifts for loved ones, you may also be interested in:
We’ve also come up with these ideas for the best last-minute stocking stuffers for boys and stocking stuffers for girls (all under $20).
