Gift Presentation Strategies for Christmas Morning

With the holiday season here, I have been discussing gift-giving strategy with other parents. I’ve been surprised at the different concepts used. Below you’ll find some of the leading theories in the field.

• To Wrap or Not To Wrap – There are different schools of thought here, but the best strategy may be to ride the fence. Assembling and displaying a few key gifts will make a big impact when your child comes down the stairs, and give them an opportunity to play right away. In combination with displayed gifts, do try leaving a few gifts wrapped. You don’t want to rob your little one of all that paper-tearing excitement.
• De-Package, Then Wrap – The frustrations associated with modern toy packaging are well documented, and should not be ignored when planning your Christmas morning show. Most toys can be stripped of packaging, put together, powered up, and wrapped up without a problem. Not only does this make the toy immediately playable, but it also gives you a head start on throwing away packaging and storing manuals.
• The “I Think There’s One More” Present – As demonstrated in “A Christmas Story“, saving a highly-desired gift until the end can add some much needed drama on Christmas morning. Simply place the gift around the corner or hidden in the tree, and pull the old, “Do I see one more over there?” routine. Sit back, and let the happiness ensue.
• From Santa or Mom & Dad – This one seems to be a personal preference, so just get your facts straight. The primary objective here is to ensure presents that come from Santa were actually on the list sent emailed to the North Pole. If your son asked Santa for Batman, Santa wouldn’t bring him Spiderman – that’s just cruel.
• Save the Best for Last – I know this seems like common sense, but try to increase the desirability of each gift as the morning goes on. Socks first, Xbox 360 last.

I hope these strategies can be of some help, but just remember the most important part of gift giving – actually doing the shopping. So, lay off the blogs and go buy some stuff before it’s too late!