
On Christmas Eve morning, we pick names for a family gift exchange. The gifts are opened that evening. We have three rules for our gift exchange:
1. You have to make something special for the person whose name you draw
2. You can't sneak off to the store to purchase anything (this one doesn't pose a problem for our family, because our oldest child is only 5)
3. You have to keep your gift and the name of your recipient a secret until gifts are exchanged
We do this in one day because our kids are young and it's difficult for them to a keep secret for too long. Okay, it's difficult for me, too. :)
My kids thoroughly enjoyed this last year. My husband and I made sure we offered help to the little ones. They were bursting with excitement when it came time to exchange gifts. And, after working very hard to make a gift and to keep a secret all day long, they were much more interested in giving than receiving.
4 comments:
I don't have any children yet--but that is such an excellent idea for me to stick in the memory bank:) Such a net way of teaching them to enjoy giving!
Merry Christmas!
hmmmm....think I meant to say "neat"
:)
Your family, and your ideas, constantly amaze me! I just want to know how you do it! My kids are not much difference in age than your kids - 4 in March, just turned 3 today, and 2 in January - and I can't seem to keep my sanity some days. I just want to know your secret!!
What a wonderful tradition! Sounds like so much fun.
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