Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Kids (Including a Last-Minute E-Book)
In short: A Christmas Eve box is a small box kids open on the evening of December 24 – usually new pajamas, a Christmas book, hot chocolate, a cozy activity and a little treat. It calms the "is it Christmas yet?" excitement and makes bedtime easier. A personalized book where your child is the hero is a perfect Christmas Eve read – and if you're late, the e-book ($12.99) needs no shipping at all.
The idea is simple: one box, opened after dinner on Christmas Eve, with everything for a cozy evening. No big toys – those are for the morning. Just things that make the evening calm and special.
What goes in a Christmas Eve box?
- New pajamas – Christmas print, or matching for the whole family.
- A Christmas book – read together before bed.
- Hot chocolate and marshmallows – in their own mug.
- A quiet activity – a coloring sheet, a small puzzle, a Christmas movie.
- A "key" for Santa – if you don't have a chimney.
- Reindeer food – oats and sprinkles to scatter outside.
- Cozy socks or slippers.
- A small treat – a cookie or candy cane.
- A note from Santa or the elves – "Go to sleep early!"
The book: your child as the hero of Christmas Eve
A Christmas Eve read is extra magical when the child is the hero. In Lights Up the Night, the Great Star has gone dark – and only your child can make it shine again, with Pip the silver fox, across rainbow bridges and up a crystal tower. It ends with a calm "goodnight, brave one" – just right for the night before Christmas.
Lights Up the Night
♥ Builds confidenceAges 3–7
The Empty Soup
♥ Tries new foodsAges 3–7
The Very Big Carrot
♥ Loves trying new foodsAges 3–7Your child is illustrated from one photo, with their name on every page. Add a dedication: "Merry Christmas, our brave little star – love, Mom and Dad." Paperback $34.90, hardcover $44.90, e-book $12.99. Free US shipping.
Ordering late? The e-book fits in the box
Printed books are made to order and usually take about 2–3 weeks; for Christmas, we recommend ordering by November 30. If the box is tomorrow, choose the e-book ($12.99): it's sent by email as a download link and needs no shipping. Save a picture of the cover, print it, put it in the box – and read the whole book together on a tablet. See our Christmas order deadlines.
Christmas Eve box ideas by age
| Age | Ideas |
|---|---|
| 3–4 | Pajamas, board book or personalized book, bath crayons, a small plush |
| 5–7 | Pajamas, personalized book, a Christmas puzzle, a movie ticket "for tonight", hot chocolate mix |
More: stocking stuffers and last-minute gifts · personalized Christmas book
Questions parents ask
What is a Christmas Eve box?
A small box children open on the evening of December 24, with cozy things for the night: pajamas, a book, hot chocolate, a quiet activity and a small treat.
What book should I put in a Christmas Eve box?
A calm bedtime story. A personalized book where your child is the hero – like Fablewish's Lights Up the Night – makes the evening extra special.
Can I still get a personalized book for Christmas Eve if I order late?
Choose the e-book ($12.99). It's sent by email as a download link and needs no shipping. Printed books should be ordered by November 30.