Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids, Teens and Adults

A Christmas Eve box is a small box of treats children open on the evening of the 24th to help them wind down before the big day. It's become a much-loved tradition in lots of UK families, and the idea is simple: new pyjamas, something cosy to watch or read, and a little snack, all ready for a calm, happy evening. It doesn't have to be big or elaborate. Here are Christmas Eve box ideas for every age, plus ideas for couples and grown-ups, and how to put one together without overspending your energy in an already busy week.

What goes in a Christmas Eve box?

Category	Ideas	Why it works
Something to wear	New pyjamas, slipper socks, a dressing gown	Fresh pyjamas for Christmas morning photos
Something to watch	A Christmas film, a festive episode they love	A cosy, shared family activity
Something to read	A Christmas story or picture book	Becomes part of the bedtime routine
Something to eat	Hot chocolate sachet, marshmallows, a small treat	A special evening snack
Something for Santa	A mince pie or biscuit, a carrot for the reindeer	Children prepare the Santa plate together
Something to do	A colouring sheet, a small craft, a jigsaw	Keeps excited hands busy

You don't need every category. Three or four well-chosen things feel special, and the box itself can be reused year after year.

Christmas Eve box ideas for babies and toddlers

• Festive sleepsuit or pyjamas
• A touch-and-feel Christmas board book
• A soft toy, such as a reindeer or snowman
• A bath toy or bubble bath for a calming Christmas Eve bath
• A first Christmas bauble with the date, for the tree
• A sensory toy with crinkly or jingly sounds

For a baby's first Christmas, the box is really for you. Keep it simple and add something you'll treasure later, like a bauble or a little photo frame.

Ideas for preschool children

• Christmas pyjamas and slipper socks
• A Christmas picture book to read in bed
• Reindeer food to sprinkle outside (oats and edible glitter make a wildlife-friendly version)
• A plate and cup to leave out for Santa
• Festive stickers or a colouring book with chunky crayons
• A small torch for spotting Santa's sleigh from the window

Ideas for school-age children

• Pyjamas and a cosy blanket
• A Christmas film to watch together
• A chapter book or annual to start reading
• Hot chocolate kit with marshmallows
• A small festive craft, such as a decoration to make and hang
• A card game or small puzzle to play as a family
• A letter from Santa or an elf, written by you

Ideas for tweens and teens

Older children can still love a Christmas Eve box, as long as it doesn't feel babyish. Grown-up pyjamas or loungewear, fluffy socks, a face mask or skincare treat, a book by an author they like, snacks for a film night, a new phone case, a small gadget or a voucher for an app or game they use all go down well. Let them pick the film, and the box becomes a reason to spend the evening together rather than in separate rooms.

Christmas Eve boxes for couples and adults

• Matching or coordinated pyjamas
• A bottle of something festive or a nice hot drink
• Chocolates or a cheese and crackers selection
• A film for after the children are in bed
• Candles and a cosy throw
• A crossword, jigsaw or two-player game
• A handwritten note

Fresh bedding: the Christmas Eve favourite

Lots of families add fresh festive bedding to the night, so children climb into bed in new pyjamas and Christmas sheets. It's a small thing that makes the night feel magical. My guide to Christmas bedding covers fabrics and designs that suit kids' rooms.

How to make a Christmas Eve box

1. Choose the box. A sturdy shoebox wrapped in paper, a wooden crate with their name on, or a gift bag all work. A reusable box can come out every year.
2. Decide on three to five items. Fewer, better things feel more special than a box stuffed with filler.
3. Wrap or layer the items so opening it feels like an event.
4. Add a personal touch: a note from Santa, an elf or you.
5. Decide when to open it. Some families do it after tea, others at bath time.
6. Clear up the packaging together, ready for the morning.

A family Christmas Eve box

Instead of one box per child, some families make one big box for everyone to open together. It works well with a wide age gap or when you'd rather keep things small. Fill it with a film everyone can agree on, a big bag of popcorn, hot chocolate for all, a family board game, a Christmas story for the youngest and matching pyjamas or socks for the whole household, pets included if you like a photo. Opening it together keeps the focus on the evening rather than on who got what.

Keeping it simple

A Christmas Eve box shouldn't become another pressure in a busy week. Many of the best items are things you'd buy anyway, like pyjamas or a hot chocolate, simply saved for the 24th. Shop for it alongside the main presents, keep a box ready in the cupboard from early December, and reuse the box each year. If a sibling or grandparent wants to get involved, the Christmas Eve box is a lovely, small thing to hand over to them.

Christmas Eve box ideas that aren't things

• A voucher for a family walk to see the lights
• A ticket for a Christmas Eve film at the cinema
• An invitation to bake cookies for Santa
• A family quiz about the year
• A candle to light together

Experiences can sit alongside a couple of small gifts, and they often become the parts of the evening children remember most.

Make it part of your traditions

A Christmas Eve box works best as part of a wider rhythm of family moments through December. My guide to family Christmas traditions has ideas from decorating day to Boxing Day, and if you're still deciding on the main presents, my Christmas toys for kids guide sorts gift ideas by age.

Christmas Eve box mistakes to avoid

• Overfilling it, so the main presents feel less special the next morning.
• Adding sugary treats too close to bedtime if your children struggle to settle.
• Buying pyjamas in the exact size, when the next size up gives them room to grow.
• Forgetting batteries for anything that needs them.
• Making it so big that siblings compare boxes. Keep them similar in size, even if the contents differ.

Parents and family bloggers with fresh ideas for the festive season can find out about sharing your parenting ideas with my readers.

Make Christmas Eve gifts or kids' products? See how to get your brand featured in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

What do you put in a Christmas Eve box?

Popular choices are new pyjamas, a Christmas film or book, a hot chocolate kit, a treat for Santa and reindeer food, and a small activity like colouring or a jigsaw.

When do you open a Christmas Eve box?

Most families open it on the evening of 24 December, after tea or at bath time, so children can settle with their pyjamas, film and story.

Are Christmas Eve boxes a UK tradition?

They've become especially popular in the UK and Ireland, though families in many countries do something similar.

What can adults have in a Christmas Eve box?

Pyjamas, chocolates, a festive drink, a film, candles, a cosy throw and a puzzle or game for two.

How do I keep a Christmas Eve box simple?

Choose three to five things you'd buy anyway, like pyjamas and a book, save them for the 24th and reuse the same box every year.