What to Put in a Christmas Eve Box: 25 Ideas Kids Will Love

A Christmas Eve box is one of the nicest little traditions you can start. It's a small box of treats opened on the night of 24 December, and it turns the longest evening of the year into part of the celebration. It also helps excited children settle down before the big day.

If you're wondering what to put inside, here are 25 ideas, grouped so you can mix and match whatever your budget.

Start with the box itself

A sturdy box you can use again every year makes the tradition feel special. Our personalised wooden Christmas Eve boxes have a hinged lid and a metal clasp, with their name printed on the lid. At 15 × 10 × 5 cm they're a keepsake size, perfect for smaller treats, with bigger items like pyjamas wrapped alongside.

Something cosy to wear

1. Christmas pyjamas. The most popular Christmas Eve gift of all. Go for matching family pyjamas so everyone's ready for the Christmas morning photo.
2. Fluffy slippers. Christmas slippers keep toes warm on a chilly Christmas morning.
3. Festive socks. Cheap, cheerful and always worn.
4. A dressing gown or onesie for older children who've outgrown matching sets (or say they have).
5. A matching outfit for the dog. Several of our pyjama designs come in dog sizes too.

A little bit of Santa magic

6. Santa's Magic Key. Hang it outside on Christmas Eve so Santa can get in, even without a chimney. Read how the Magic Key tradition works.
7. A Letter from Santa. Our Letter from Santa card comes with a bright red envelope to write their name on.
8. Nice List certificates. Proof they made it! Our pack of 6 Nice List certificates has space for their name, the date and Santa's signature.
9. Reindeer food. Oats and a few sprinkles to scatter on the lawn (skip the glitter, it's bad for wildlife).
10. A carrot for Rudolph and a note telling them where to leave it.
11. A mince pie plate for Santa's snack, so they can check it's been eaten in the morning.

Something to do together

12. A Christmas book to read at bedtime.
13. A festive film to watch on the sofa.
14. A Christmas jigsaw for the whole family.
15. A card game or small board game.
16. Colouring or activity books with festive pages.
17. A craft kit to make a decoration for next year's tree.
18. A letter-writing set so they can send a thank-you note to Santa. Our vintage writing set includes paper, envelopes and seals.

Treats

19. Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.
20. A chocolate Santa or reindeer.
21. Popcorn for the film.
22. Gingerbread biscuits to share (and leave one for Santa).
23. A Christmas mug for the hot chocolate, which they can use every year.

A keepsake to keep forever

24. A personalised decoration to hang on the tree, like our personalised baubles and ornaments.
25. A personalised stocking to hang up before bed. Our embroidered name stockings are made to come out every year.

Christmas Eve box ideas by age

Babies and toddlers: a first-Christmas outfit, a soft book and a keepsake decoration. Keep it simple, as the box is mostly for the photos (and for you).

Ages 3 to 7: this is peak magic. Pyjamas, a Magic Key, a Letter from Santa, reindeer food and a bedtime story.

Ages 8 and up: pyjamas or slippers, a film and snacks, a game to play together and a Nice List certificate (they'll pretend not to care, then keep it).

Want it done for you?

Our Christmas Eve Starter Set includes a personalised wooden box, Santa's Magic Key, a Letter from Santa and 6 Nice List certificates. Bought separately they come to £40.46, so you save over £5. Add pyjamas and a film and you're done.

When to order

UK delivery takes 5 to 7 days from ordering. Order by 15 December for UK delivery before Christmas. Delivery is free on UK orders over £50, and you can buy any 3 items to save 10%, any 4 to save 15% or any 5 to save 20%, applied automatically in your basket.