Prepare for a Stress Free Christmas Day (for Parents)

Christmas time with kids is often fraught with anxiety, worry, and numerous challenges. You need to watch their behavior, watch what they're playing with, and stop them from over-indulging or fighting with each other when the presents and sugar highs drop off. There is one part you can get right even before Christmas begins - and that is the assembly and wrapping of their gifts. Here are some tips on what to do in the lead-up to Christmas.

Steps

 * 1) Open up your child's toy prior to wrapping it. Don't worry about the packaging and whether it will go back in the box in which it came. Check that all the parts are there and nothing is broken.
 * 2) Check, test, and assemble the toy. Take your time. Read the manual and you won't have to worry about the children handling sharp tools from your toolbox, as you can actually assemble the toy before Christmas when they are in bed! Have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and relax; the hard part - actually braving the Christmas crowds and buying the toy - is done.
 * 3) If you have decided to assemble the toy well in advance of the big day, find a suitable hiding place. Perhaps the garage, your bedroom, or a relative or neighbour's home?
 * 4) Invest in a 'Build n' Wrap' gift frame and put it together. Normally it's a simple push-fit assembly and no tools are necessary. Use the assembled toy to gauge the size you need. Attach your gift wrapping paper to the perfectly straight edges that the frame provides. Within minutes, you have a perfectly gift wrapped cube that looks great!
 * 5) Wake up to excited children. Go down and see what gifts they have got. Don't worry about the time; no doubt it's early but you'll be able to relax soon enough. Watch them rip open the gift. It's just what they wanted and they can play with it right now, because you've already assembled it! Whether your toy needed an initial mains battery charge, assembly, or was just a really difficult shape to wrap, you'll be sorted.
 * 6) Let children enjoy playing with a toy for a time. It's fun when they first get the gifts. But then to stop boredom and wandering, have them help gather up the wrapping paper and put it in the recycling bin. Also, task them with specific duties to help prepare for the Christmas meal. If they whine, tell them they can return to their toys when they have finished helping out.

Tips

 * Designate someone to be the sleep, nap, and time-out supervisor of all the kids and babies present. Better still, roster this role so that everyone gets time off babies and kids somewhere during the day.
 * Young children are often more excited about the wrapping and ripping than the contents. Make sure this part is fun and even complex for older children.
 * To make it more fun for the kids, buy a small stocking and fill it up with little gifts like stationery and gloves for them to unwrap in their bedrooms before they get up as it kills the time.

Warnings

 * Keep small food pieces out of the reach of children under five. Nuts, boiled sweets, and other hard small foods should be adult height, not child height.

Things You'll Need

 * Gift frame for difficult shapes
 * Tools to test and assemble toys
 * Hiding place

Related Tips and Steps

 * Get Your Kids to Sleep on Christmas Eve
 * Make Your Own Christmas Gifts
 * Receive Help for Your Family on Christmas
 * Be Full of Christmas Spirit
 * Have a Relaxing, Stress Free Day
 * Make Gifts for Parents' Day