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Do you want to know how to make Christmas morning magical? The magic of Christmas comes from the little things and traditions that you undertake as a family.
These easy ideas are suitable for all ages and will help to create memories that will last a lifetime.
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The lead up to Christmas is always hectic. There are presents to buy, food to prepare, parties to attend. The list goes on.
The kids have been counting down the days all month. You have exhausted all your quick Elf on the shelf ideas and you are secretly pleased that he has made his way back to the North Pole.
And finally it’s Christmas morning.
If you have little ones at home there will naturally be an element of excitement in the home. But you may be looking for extra ways for how to make Christmas morning magical.
The magic of Christmas doesn’t just disappear once all the presents have been opened.
The things that make Christmas morning magical are the little things that are special for you and your family. Little traditions, certain smells and sounds. These will all help contribute to magical childhood memories.
Use the ideas below to help create some extra special festive moments in your home. These are the things that the kids will remember as they grow older, and special memories last a lifetime.
How To Surprise The Kids On Christmas Morning
The obvious surprise is to have Santa fill the stockings that were left out on Christmas eve, but what about some other ways to make Christmas morning even more magical.
There are some simple things that you can do that will easily create an extra buzz of excitement.
1. Santa Footprints
Have you ever thought about leaving snowy Santa’s footprints for the kids to find?
If you have floor boards you could place the footprints in the home, but if you don’t want the mess inside (which I totally get), then simply leave them outside leading up the drive to the front door or near a chimney.
My kids rush outside every year to see Santa’s footprints and they have never once questioned why the footprints don’t come inside the home.
2. Eat Santa’s Treats
Did the kids leave out treats for Santa on Christmas eve?
Don’t forget to eat them or put the away. Ensure that you leave at least a few crumbs!
The kids will be pretty disappointed if they see that Santa left the treats, but they will be buzzing with excitement once they see Santa enjoyed all the goodies that they selected for him.
3. Leave a Note From Santa
Each year my kids leave out treats for Santa on Christmas eve, but they also wrap a gift for him. It’s normally a box of mince pies that magically makes its way to our dinner table the next day!
The kids wrap the present, write him a note and leave it out with his treats for the evening.
The next morning there is ALWAYS a Christmas card left on the table from Santa himself thanking the kids for the gift.
The kids absolutely LOVE their extra surprise from Santa and it’s the thing they run to check before they even go for their presents. It literally means the world to them.
If you are worried that the kids will recognise your hand writing, ask a friend or neighbor to write it for you.
But ensure that this is the person that you ask every year from here on, because the kids keep Santa’s cards year after year and they WILL be checking the handwriting!
4. Track Santa
Just because Santa has visited your home, it doesn’t mean that his work is done.
Santa has the entire world to drop presents off to and the kids will love seeing where he is in the world and how many presents he has delivered.
Use a tracking site like NORAD to see exactly what Santa has been doing. Keep checking in on it regularly to update his progress.
5. Show The Kids Santa In YOUR Home
Do the kids need some extra convincing that Santa is real?
Use Capture The Magic to sow Santa IN YOUR HOUSE on Christmas eve.
Simply upload a picture taken in your home. It could be of the fireplace, the Christmas tree or even the kids bedroom. Add one of the pictures of Santa to the original image and then tell the kids it was captured on the webcam.
6. Have Treats Available That Everyone Can Tuck Into
One of the things that kids absolutely love is having their favorite treats available that they can help themselves to whenever they want.
You could have bowls of nuts and fruit, but also crisps, lollies and chocolates. Kids would love having the control to be able to help themselves, especially when its early morning.
Chocolate before 9am? Well it is Christmas isn’t it!
There are a lot of charcuterie board ideas that you can use, that will enable you to quickly prepare food and then leave and forget it!
Make Christmas Morning Magical With Gift Surprises
7. Open Santa’s Stocking Gifts
Did the kids leave out a stocking or sack for Santa to fill on Christmas eve? Christmas morning is the perfect time for the kids to dive into these to see what he has left them.
The excitement will well and truly be felt in the air.
Whether you choose to leave these under the tree or by the kids beds is definitely a personal choice, but either way will have the same reaction from the kids.
The magic of Christmas will well and truly be felt.
8. Delay Opening Presents From Under The Tree
Everyone does gift opening differently on Christmas morning, but have you ever thought about delaying the gifts under the tree until later in the day?
Our family have always had a tradition of opening presents from Santa first thing in the morning and then we wait for the other gifts.
The other gifts could stay under the tree until everyone has had a shower, or the family have been to church, or until after Christmas lunch.
The kids have already opened a stocking or sack from Santa so they have enough to keep them going for a while.
Plus it keeps the suspense going for a bit longer. Suspense creates magic!
9. Create A Christmas Treasure Hunt
Kids love treasure hunts and Christmas morning is a perfect time to go on one.
The treasure trail doesn’t have to be a trail of presents, it could simply be finding some candy canes or chocolate coins.
The fun is in the exploring, not necessarily finding expensive gifts. You will be surprised at how something so simple can create so much joy for the kids.
Magical Family Events For Christmas Morning
10. Christmas Breakfast
Making Christmas morning magical could be as simple as sitting down to a fun Christmas breakfast together as a family. This could be full of all the kids favorite foods.
Choose foods that you wouldn’t normally have for breakfast so the event is something extra magical for the kids.
As well as a Christmas breakfast you might choose to have other special foods.
There are a lot of Christmas recipes that the whole family will enjoy, which can be served in the morning or throughout the day.
11. Sing Christmas Carols
Do you love singing as a family? Christmas morning is the perfect time to sing some Christmas carols.
Either put on some Christmas music to sing, have a sing around a piano or guitar or have a carol concert playing on tv.
The music will fill the air with festive cheer.
12. Watch a Festive Movie
If everyone feels just a little bit exhausted from an early morning start, it could be the perfect time to sit and watch a festive movie.
This could be something that you sit and focus on or simply have playing in the background.
13. Christmas Photo Booth
A great way to have a laugh is to create a Christmas photo booth.
Create the photo booth after the kids have gone to bed on Christmas eve so it is a surprise for them in the morning.
Set up a backdrop and have some fun Christmas props.
Simply have some fun capturing lots of exciting and happy memories.
Christmas is a time to spend with those we love. Yes getting presents is very exciting, but the magic of Christmas is more than presents.
The magic can be found in the time spent with others, the little traditions that are formed and the memories that are made.
Need some more Christmas ideas? Check out these easy magical Christmas ideas the whole family can enjoy. You will find more printables, simple recipes, decorations and more.
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