Christmas morning is a ton of fun, but you can make it truly magical. We have all sorts of ideas to fill the holiday morning with wonder and fun, making it a special day you'll remember forever.
Catch Santa on Video
You can create great fun for your kids by using your security camera or your cellphone to create a video capture of Santa putting gifts under the tree. Announce to your kids your intentions or allow them to discover the footage when they wake in the morning.
Leave Notes From Santa
It's always a fun time when your children receive a note from Santa. Leave it on top of the emptied plate of cookies they left out for Santa. Print the letter out on parchment paper.
Create Elf Footprints
Santa doesn't do it by himself; he has help from elves! On Christmas Eve, sprinkle some flour around the tree before the kids go to bed to help them "catch" Santa. Then surprise your kids with lots of tiny elf footprints around the Christmas tree and on top of the table. There are two ways to do this:
- Use baby or toddler shoes to make the footprints.
- If you want to make bare footprints, use the side of your fist to make an impression and then make toes using your fingers, lifting cleanly off the flour to avoid smudges.
Create a Gift Trail
Use the elf footprints to lead your kids or significant other to elf gifts (make sure these are small gifts). Have the footprints stop so they are side by side, and place a small present each time the elves stop. Alternatively, use reindeer or sleigh bells that increase in size. The larger bells should be placed near the hidden gift. After the gifts are collected and opened, provide each child with a red ribbon so they can string the bells together and place them on the tree, mantel, or even add to their stocking.
Tie Gifts to Balloons
This fun Christmas morning surprise is sure to delight young, old, and everyone in between! Tie long streamers onto large holiday balloons and attach a lightweight gift, such as candies, a lightweight personalized Christmas tree ornament, or even gift cards and homemade Christmas coupons.
Have a House-to-House Gift Hunt
You can give your family a special, exciting Christmas morning when you create a gift hunt. Teens will love this activity!
- Place four or five gifts at various family members' or friends' homes.
- Arm your teenagers (or those going on the hunt) with gifts to give homeowners they visit, such as homemade cookies, candy, or other goodies.
- Give your kids the first clue, which they should be able to figure out fairly quickly, such as, "It all began with them," for a grandparents' home.
- The next clue is given to them after they collect the gift and give their plate of cookies, etc.
- Set a time limit so your kids don't get distracted and overstay at one stop.
- Make a rule that they can't open the gifts until they return home and that once they've collected all the gifts, they'll receive another when they return home with them unopened.
Make Pancakes in Christmas Shapes
Make pancakes in Christmas shapes. Use metal cookie cutters. Spray with a cooking oil to avoid sticking. Place on the griddle and pour pancake mix into the center of the cookie cutter. Once the pancake is ready to turn over, remove the cookie cutter with a pair of tongs. Spray with cooking oil and repeat.
Host a Progressive Christmas Breakfast
You and your friends can have a fun Christmas morning with a progressive Christmas breakfast. Plan ahead for what each stop will serve, such as a bacon dish, an egg dish, hash brown casserole, and biscuits. Have everyone end up at your home. It's the perfect option for couples and singles who don't have other plans.
Play Guess the Gift
Each person must try to guess what is inside each gift they want to open. Each miss costs them something from their Christmas stocking. At the end of opening presents, those who lost something from their stocking have the opportunity to win it back by naming a gift someone else received.
Play Name That Christmas Tune
Save a gift for each friend or family member and place it on the breakfast table. Use a playlist to play the first five notes of a Christmas song. Start at one end of the table. Ask the first person to name the song or carol. If they fail, they can't open their gift. Continue around the table until everyone has opened their table gift.
Find Santa's Bag
Leave a note from Santa about an elf stealing his bag and asking your kids to look for it. If they find it, they can have whatever is inside. Leave clues in various places, leading them from one clue to the next to where the bag is hidden with a gift for each of them. Depending on the age of your children, you can make this as complicated or as easy as you desire.
Make Christmas Morning Extra Special
There are several ways you can make Christmas morning extra special. It only takes a little imagination and planning to reap the rewards of a truly magical Christmas.
