Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids

When my sisters and I were younger, we would spend hours scouring the entire house in an attempt to find the Christmas presents we knew were hidden somewhere. Over the years, my parents got quite adept at hiding Christmas presents where we couldn't find them, and now I've taken their advice and applied it to my own family. Hiding Christmas presents from your kids might seem like an impossible task, but if you approach it from the point of view of children, you'll have better luck.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Never Use the Same Place Twice

Every year, my wife and I find a new place to hide our Christmas presents for the kids. We never use the same place twice because our children are quite clever. And since you never know if your kids actually did find the presents and simply neglected to admit it, finding a different place every year will diminish the possibility of your kids finding them two years in a row.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Disguise the Presents

Anything wrapped in red and green paper is like a beacon for your kids, so disguise the boxes and packages so that they don't look like Christmas presents. One year, my wife and I hid the Christmas presents in old moving boxes; the next, we put them in old shoe boxes in the closet. For larger items, you might consider storing them in refrigerator or large garden equipment boxes to disguise them.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Play to the Phobias

All kids are afraid of something, and this is one time that it works to your advantage. For example, if your kids are scared of the attic or basement, hide your Christmas presents there. The same goes for sheds in the backyard or even under their beds. Kids are more likely to search places where they feel comfortable, so make it as uncomfortable as possible to find the Christmas presents.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Above Their Reach

My kids are all comfortable with heights now, so this doesn't work for me anymore. If you have young children, however, who don't know how to use a ladder, hiding the Christmas presents at the top of your closet or in a hard-to-reach cabinet might be your best bet.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Have Your Parents Hide Them

If your parents or other relatives live close by, store the Christmas presents outside the home. It is quite doubtful that your children would break into a relative's home to find their presents, so this is usually safe. It might be inconvenient, however, if you don't see family members often or if they live more than twenty minutes away. You can try friend's houses if that is easier.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Keep Them at Work

Another option you have is to stow all the Christmas presents at work until you're ready to bring them home. This obviously won't work if you take time off for the last week or so before Christmas, but if you're one of those people who stays at the office until someone finally kicks you out, this is a handy alternative to a friend or relative's place.

Hiding Christmas Presents from Your Kids: Reverse Psychology

I once walked into our guest room where we'd stored the Christmas presents and found our kids in the process of pulling them out of the closet. We were astonished! So rather than giving up and getting angry, we told them that those were the presents for other family members. We said, "You wouldn't want to spoil the presents for everyone else, would you?" They agreed, and we left the presents there until Christmas.