Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids They’ll Actually Use
I swear, every year I tell myself I’m going to keep Christmas simple, and then December rolls around and suddenly I’m finding 15 more things I want to do with my kids.
And Christmas Eve boxes? They’re one of those traditions I absolutely love.
If you’ve spent any time on Pinterest around Christmas, you’ve probably seen those adorable boxes filled with matching pajamas, Christmas books, snacks, and little surprises.
But here’s the thing. I don’t want to spend a bunch of money filling a box with random little toys that my kids are going to forget about as soon as Christmas morning rolls around.
I’d rather put together a Christmas Eve box filled with things they’ll actually use that night.
Think about it. You could have everything you need for an entire night of Christmas fun packed into one box.
Cozy pajamas, fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, a Christmas movie, gingerbread cookies to decorate, a few activities, and a bedtime story before Santa comes.
Basically, you’re putting together a whole Christmas Eve night instead of just another box of presents.
And that’s exactly what I had in mind when I made my Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids Amazon Idea List.
I wanted everything to have a purpose. Something to wear, something to watch, something to eat, something to make, and something to read before bed.
I even included two Christmas movies on Prime Video so you can have your movie night picked out ahead of time.
Of course, you don’t have to buy everything on my list. You might already have Christmas pajamas, a favorite holiday book, or a blanket your kids love.
But if you’re wondering what to put in a Christmas Eve box for kids, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite ideas to help you plan a fun, festive night without buying a bunch of unnecessary stuff.
Shop My Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids on Amazon
Start With a Christmas Eve Box
First things first, you need something to put everything in.
I included a cute green gift box on my Amazon list because I love the idea of having one special box that comes out every Christmas Eve.
You can fill it with all the little things your kids will use throughout the night, then put it away and reuse it the following year.
But you definitely don’t have to buy a fancy Christmas Eve box.
A basket, gift bag, or even a cardboard box wrapped in Christmas paper works perfectly fine.
If you have multiple kids, you can make individual boxes or put together one big family Christmas Eve box.
Honestly, I think the family box idea is really cute because everyone gets to open it together and see what fun things are planned for the evening.
And you won’t have to buy duplicates of everything.
Get Cozy in Christmas Pajamas
I feel like Christmas pajamas are practically a requirement for Christmas Eve.
There’s just something about having everyone in their cozy pajamas, watching Christmas movies, and getting excited about the next morning.
I added a cute red Santa pajama set to my Amazon list because it’s festive without being something kids can only wear for one night.
And if you’re already planning to buy Christmas pajamas, why not make them part of the Christmas Eve box?
Your kids can open their box, change into their pajamas, and be ready for the rest of the night.
You don’t need matching pajamas for the whole family unless that’s something you enjoy doing.
And if your kids already have Christmas pajamas from last year that still fit, use those!
The fun part is getting cozy together, not buying a new outfit just because it’s December.
Add Some Fun Christmas Socks
Along with pajamas, I included a pair of festive reindeer socks.
I thought these were adorable, and they’re something kids can actually wear while they’re running around the house getting ready for Christmas.
Plus, if your kids are anything like mine, they’re constantly losing socks anyway.
You could pair the socks with their Christmas pajamas or just let them wear them during movie night.
It’s a simple little addition that makes the box feel more festive without needing another toy.
Make Hot Chocolate for Christmas Movie Night
Now that everyone’s in their pajamas, it’s time for hot chocolate.
I included Swiss Miss hot chocolate on my Amazon list because it’s easy, and you don’t have to spend time making anything from scratch.
Just heat up some milk or water, mix it together, and you’re good to go.
If you want to make it a little more exciting, you can add mini marshmallows, whipped cream, or a candy cane.
You could even set up a little hot chocolate station and let your kids choose their own toppings.
But honestly, a regular mug of hot chocolate is plenty.
The whole idea is to make Christmas Eve feel fun without giving yourself a million extra things to do.
And if your kids aren’t big hot chocolate fans, just swap it for whatever drink they enjoy.
Pick a Christmas Movie on Prime Video
This might be one of my favorite parts of the Christmas Eve box idea.
Instead of spending half the night trying to decide what movie to watch, you can already have a couple of Christmas movies picked out.
I included two Christmas movie options on my Amazon Idea List:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
This is such a classic Christmas movie, especially for younger kids.
It’s one of those movies that just feels like Christmas, and I love the idea of making it part of a yearly Christmas Eve tradition.
I also included The Grinch because it’s another fun movie to watch with kids during the holidays.
And if your kids love the Grinch, they’ll probably be pretty excited about the little Grinch stuffed animal I included in the list too.
Both movie selections are listed on Prime Video, although rental, purchase, and subscription availability can change.
You don’t have to watch both movies, either.
Let your kids choose one, grab their blankets and hot chocolate, and settle in for a cozy Christmas movie night.
You could even make little paper movie tickets and tuck them into the Christmas Eve box.
I think kids would love that.
Decorate Gingerbread Cookies Together
If you want an activity that feels festive but doesn’t involve a bunch of preparation, a gingerbread cookie decorating kit is such a cute idea.
I added a gingerbread cookie kit to my Amazon list because everything is already put together.
You don’t have to make dough, bake cookies from scratch, or run around trying to find different decorating supplies.
Just open the kit and let the kids have fun decorating.
You could do this before your Christmas movie or while everyone’s hanging out in the kitchen.
And if your family leaves cookies out for Santa, you can save a few decorated cookies for later that night.
Just be prepared for frosting and sprinkles to end up absolutely everywhere.
Because somehow, no matter how carefully you set everything up, decorating cookies with kids always turns into a mess.
But that’s part of the fun.
Include a Christmas Coloring Book and Crayons
I think it’s a good idea to have at least one quiet activity in your Christmas Eve box.
Especially if you’re trying to finish up dinner, clean the kitchen, or get a few things ready for Christmas morning.
I included a Christmas coloring book and a pack of Crayola crayons on my Amazon list.
They’re simple, but they’re something kids can actually sit down and enjoy.
And the coloring book doesn’t have to be finished on Christmas Eve.
They can keep using it throughout Christmas break.
If you already have plenty of crayons at home, you can absolutely skip buying more.
You could even print a few Christmas coloring pages instead of purchasing a coloring book.
The goal is just to have something fun and easy for your kids to do during the evening.
Add a Cozy Christmas Blanket
There’s something about curling up under a cozy blanket with a Christmas movie that makes the whole night feel extra special.
I included a Christmas blanket on my Amazon list because I thought it would be perfect for movie night.
Your kids can use it while watching their movie, reading their Christmas book, or even sleeping on Christmas Eve.
And unlike some of the little Christmas toys you see in gift boxes, a blanket is something they’ll keep using.
You could also make it a tradition to bring out the same special Christmas blanket every December.
That way, you don’t have to buy a new one every year.
And if you already have plenty of blankets at home, just use those.
You can still make a cozy movie night without buying anything extra.
Read a Christmas Book Before Bed
After all the excitement of Christmas Eve, I love the idea of ending the night with a Christmas bedtime story.
It’s a good way to get everyone settled down before bed.
Although let’s be real, getting kids to actually fall asleep on Christmas Eve is a whole different challenge.
I included The Gingerbread Man on my Amazon list because I thought it would be such a cute addition, especially since I also included a gingerbread cookie decorating kit.
Your kids can spend part of Christmas Eve decorating their gingerbread cookies, then get cozy in their pajamas and read The Gingerbread Man before bed.
I love when little activities like that go together because it makes the whole evening feel planned out without having to do anything complicated.
And you definitely don’t need to buy a new Christmas book every year.
You could make it a tradition to read the same book every Christmas Eve. Just pack it away with your Christmas decorations and bring it back out the following December.
I think there’s something really sweet about having a Christmas book your kids look forward to reading every year.
It’s such a cute way to wrap up Christmas Eve, especially after spending the evening decorating cookies together.
Add a Special Christmas Ornament
I also included a personalized Christmas ornament on my Amazon list.
I love the idea of giving each child an ornament that represents that Christmas.
It could have their name on it, the year, or something special that reminds them of that time in their life.
You could let them hang it on the tree after opening their Christmas Eve box.
Then, every year when you’re decorating, you can pull out those ornaments and remember how little they were.
And honestly, those are the decorations I think end up meaning the most.
You don’t have to spend a lot on an ornament, either.
You could even make one together and include that as another Christmas Eve activity.
Include a Little Christmas Cuddle Buddy
I added an adorable Grinch plush to my Amazon list because I thought it would be such a cute addition, especially if your kids are planning to watch The Grinch.
They can cuddle with it during movie night or bring it to bed afterward.
But I would only include a stuffed animal if your child actually enjoys them.
If your house is already overflowing with stuffed animals that nobody touches, there’s no reason to add another one.
That’s the whole point of this Christmas Eve box.
Everything inside should be something your kids will actually enjoy or use.
Not just something that makes the box look full.
Have a Christmas Eve Game Night
If you want to add one more fun activity to your Christmas Eve box, I definitely recommend including a few Christmas games.
This is especially fun if you have older kids or want something the whole family can do together.
You could play Christmas trivia, Christmas charades, or a silly guessing game.
And you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of board games.
I actually have a Christmas Game Bundle with 10 printable Christmas games, including Christmas Trivia, Emoji Pictionary, Riddles, Scattergories, and more.
You can print whichever games work best for your family, tuck them into the box, and pull them out when everyone’s ready to play.
Some games are better for older kids or for younger kids playing with help from an adult.
I love printable games for things like this because you can save them and use them again next year.
And if you’re already planning a Christmas Eve movie night, you could play a game or two while everyone’s waiting for the hot chocolate to be ready.
Grab My Printable Christmas Game Bundle Here
How to Put Together a Christmas Eve Box for Kids
Now that you’ve got some ideas, let’s talk about actually putting everything together.
Because I think this is where people sometimes make Christmas Eve boxes more complicated than they need to be.
You don’t need to include every single item I’ve mentioned.
Think about what you want your Christmas Eve to look like.
Do you want a cozy movie night? A little cookie decorating? A family game night? A bedtime story?
Then pick the things that go with those activities.
For example, here’s how I’d put together a Christmas Eve box for a fun family night.
Something to wear: Christmas pajamas and festive socks.
Something to drink: Hot chocolate.
Something to watch: A Christmas movie on Prime Video.
Something to make: A gingerbread cookie decorating kit.
Something to do: A Christmas coloring book or printable game.
Something cozy: A Christmas blanket or stuffed animal.
Something to read: A Christmas bedtime story.
See how everything has a purpose?
Instead of opening a box full of random gifts, your kids are opening a box that tells them exactly what kind of fun they’re about to have.
And I think that’s what makes this tradition so cute.
If you want to see the items I picked out, I put everything together in one Amazon Idea List so you don’t have to search for each thing separately.
Shop My Christmas Eve Box Favorites on Amazon
When Should Kids Open Their Christmas Eve Box?
Personally, I think Christmas Eve boxes are best opened in the afternoon or early evening.
And here’s why.
If you’re filling the box with everything needed for a fun Christmas Eve night, you want your kids to actually have time to enjoy it.
Imagine giving them their box right before bedtime and then having to tell them they can’t decorate cookies, watch their movie, or play their games because it’s too late.
That doesn’t sound fun for anybody.
I’d rather have the kids open their box when we’re ready to start our Christmas Eve activities.
They can change into their pajamas, decorate their cookies, make hot chocolate, and settle in for a movie.
Then, once everyone’s winding down, we can read a Christmas book and get ready for bed.
You could even turn it into a little Christmas Eve schedule.
Nothing strict, just a general plan so you’re not trying to squeeze everything into the last hour before bedtime.
And if your family has other Christmas Eve plans, you can always open the box earlier in the day.
There’s no right or wrong time.
Make Your Christmas Eve Box a Tradition Your Kids Look Forward To
I think Christmas Eve boxes are such a fun tradition, especially when you fill them with things your kids can actually use that night.
You don’t have to spend a fortune, buy a bunch of random little toys, or make everything look like a picture-perfect Pinterest setup.
Just think about what your kids would enjoy doing together on Christmas Eve.
Maybe it’s decorating gingerbread cookies while Christmas music plays in the kitchen.
Maybe it’s everyone piled on the couch in their pajamas watching The Grinch.
Or maybe it’s reading the same Christmas book you’ve read every Christmas Eve for the last five years.
Whatever it is, you can put together a box that makes those activities easy and fun.
And if you’d rather shop everything in one place, I put together an Amazon Idea List with the Christmas Eve box items I picked out, including pajamas, cozy socks, hot chocolate, activities, books, and movie night ideas.
Shop My Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids
I hope this gives you some fun ideas for putting together a Christmas Eve box your kids will actually be excited to open and use.
And hopefully, it makes planning Christmas Eve a little easier for you, too.
Because the last thing any of us needs on Christmas Eve is another 20 things added to our to-do list.
