Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve

Sometimes Santa just doesn't have the time to arrange the presents nicely and fill the stockings to look perfect. When that happens, he recruits parents and sometimes older children to help him on Christmas Eve! Here's a guide for newly recruited Santa's Helpers!

Before Christmas Eve

 * 1) Your parents or the parents of a child you're staying with will probably give you a certain job. Here's a short description of the most common ones.
 * 2) *Job 1-The Santa Jr. The job is usually to actually arrange the gifts and presents.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 1Bullet1.jpg|center]]
 * 3) *Job 2-The Sandman/woman. The job is to get the kids to sleep A.S.A.P.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 1Bullet2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *Job 3-The Night guard Elf. The job is simple, keep watch of kids room, and make sure they don't come out and look, even though the kids are most likely(and should be) asleep. This is often paired with Job 2.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 1Bullet3.jpg|center]]
 * 5) *Job 4- Stocking Stuffer. The job is to fill the stockings. Often this is paired with Job 1.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 1Bullet4.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Job 5-The Gabber. The job is to keep the kids in bed and keep them from finding out you're helping Santa this year. This is often paired with Jobs 2 and 3.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 1Bullet5.jpg|center]]
 * 7) If you are going to have to have a job to do on Christmas Eve, try to find out as far beforehand as possible. This will give you time to prepare.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 8) If you do have time to prepare, this is what you should do, depending on your job:
 * 9) *Job 1: No preparation necessary[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 3Bullet1.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *Job 2: Get the kids to bed at least a few times beforehand. This way when Christmas Eve comes you know their bedtime routines and what to expect, and it won't seem as strange to them if it's you putting them to bed instead of their mom or dad.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 3Bullet2.jpg|center]]
 * 11) *Job 3: No preparation necessary.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 3Bullet3.jpg|center]]
 * 12) *Job 4: No preparation necessary.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 3Bullet4.jpg|center]]
 * 13) *Job 5: Think up any questions the kids might ask and how you will answer them. If one of the kids says to you "If all the reindeer get sick on Christmas Eve, how does Santa get anywhere?" how will you answer it?[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 3Bullet5.jpg|center]]
 * 14) Get to know the kids you will be with. Are they light or deep sleepers? Do they go to bed quick or make excuses to stay up?[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 15) Make sure you know your jobs hazards and the good sides. See the Tips and Warnings for more info[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 5.jpg|center]]

Christmas Eve

 * 1) Know what time to perform your job. If you're doing Job 2, what time do the kids need to be in bed by? How long do their routines take? Though jobs 1 and 4 should only be completed once the children are in bed, what time can you expect the children to be asleep by? How soon after that do you start?[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Perform your job.
 * 3) *Job 1: Get all the presents from where Santa hid them and arrange them around the tree. Don't just clump them all in one corner, actually spread them out under the tree. If there are different types of wrapping paper, mix it up. The gifts in snowman paper don't all have to be together, and it looks better with a mix.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 7Bullet1.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *Job 2: Get the kids through their evening routine. Every family has a different one, but typically you'll need to get them a bath, have them brush their teeth and hair, use the bathroom, and tuck them into bed. You may want to or have to read them a story. Twas the Night Before Christmas is the classic Christmas Eve story, but it can be any story. See this article for advice.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 7Bullet2.jpg|center]]
 * 5) *Job 3: You will probably want to be either in the childrens' room or just outside. You can set up a chair before they're asleep so you don't have to stand. You can read by flashlight or play a handheld game with no sound, or do any quiet time passer. If the kids try to sneak out of the room or start asking questions, move to Job 5 or call the person in charge of it.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 7Bullet3.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Job 4: Gather all the stocking stuffers for the first stocking. Put something small and round, square, or soft in the toe. This could be balled up socks or scarves or doll clothes. Adjust it to fill the toe out. Add another similar shaped item to the heel of the stocking and a small handful of sweets or small toys. Put anything longer or rectangular, such as a book, in next, coming up the leg, and arrange the other items in around it. It looks nice to have something sticking out of the top, such as a candy cane or stuffed animal. Once you are done with the first stocking gather the supplies for the next.[[Image:Be a "Santa's Helper" on Christmas Eve Step 7Bullet4.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Job 5: This job sometimes carries over to Christmas morning, too. If the children ask questions about Santa or try to leave their room on Christmas Eve, have an answer. If the kids wake up and want to peek, tell them that Santa hasn't come yet, or that he's still downstairs but will take away all their presents if they try to peek.



Tips

 * Job 2- There a many free Santa trackers available. They can be an exciting reminder to the kids that Santa is nearby and they need to be asleep or he won't visit. However, they can also make children hyper with the knowledge that Santa's nearby. Use your best judgment.
 * Take part in the Christmas traditions before lights out. It will be fun for you!
 * Job 3- You may want to keep a flashlight with you, in case you decide to read or the room is too dark to tell what's going on, but don't shine it directly on the children's faces or you may wake them.

Warnings

 * Job 5- Always be prepared. Children come up with the strangest questions concerning Santa. But don't write any of your ideas down! If the children find the paper they'll have even more questions.
 * Job 4-Don't let the stockings fall off the fireplace, especially if there is a fire going. If the stockings are too heavy once they're filled, carefully lay them out in front of the fireplace.
 * Job 2-Make sure that the kids are in bed around their usual time, and definitely before 10, or they won't sleep at all!
 * Job 1-You must be extremely careful not to make a lot of noise. Be quiet as a mouse or you'll wake the children.
 * Job 3-If there are stairs, some parents have a baby or pet gate. Be careful not to trip over it. You of course need to allow the children to use the bathroom if they need it. Walk with them and wait for them to make sure they don't peek at the presents.

Things You'll Need

 * Presents
 * Stocking stuffers
 * Flashlight-Job 3
 * Effort
 * Christmas Spirit

Related wikiHows

 * Play Santa Alert
 * Write a Letter from Santa
 * Do a Secret Santa