bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 6, 2017 5:07:44 GMT
My kids are both older (11 and 8). While Santa shows up, and they still get excited for stockings Christmas morning has become more low key than when they were younger. Last year, after we opened presents DD remarked about the let down that happens when all the gifts are open.
There are only 5 of us, myself, DH the kids and my mom. They each only get 3 gifts from us, (plus stockings) and mom saves her stuff for that evening when we troop over there for dinner. We have out of town family that will send them stuff to be opened in the morning. The Bottom line is they don't open much on Christmas morning and I'm looking for ways to make it more fun to open what they do have.
They both want expensive electronics this year, and I was thinking of sending them on a scavenger hunt around the house with clues. While they're off chasing clues, I'd pull the gifts out of the closet and stick them under the tree to be "found" at the end of the clue trail. Just the 2 big gifts, we'd do it at the end of opening presents.
Part of me says they'd love it and part of me says it's mean. I'm not sure why I think it's mean per say, but as a therapist would say I'm going to acknowledge that feeling.
What do you guys think?
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Nov 6, 2017 5:09:57 GMT
I dont understand what is mean about it. Unless part of the scavenger hunt involves chores. That would be mean.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Nov 6, 2017 5:10:52 GMT
I've done scavenger hunts for Christmas gifts in the past, with both DD and my mom, and it was always a success. Not sure where you are getting the feeling that it could be mean? I'd say go for it and have fun.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 6, 2017 5:14:16 GMT
My sons do scavenger hunts for gifts they give each other and they were 20 and 22 last Christmas. They are so funny about it and it prolongs the gift opening.
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Post by finally~a~mama on Nov 6, 2017 5:17:07 GMT
My 8 year old would probably think it was really fun!
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 6, 2017 5:24:46 GMT
Yeah, I have no idea why my first instinct would be it was mean. But it was there, and I've learned to say ok what's this about before totally dismissing it. My hope is to extend the gift opening a bit and make it more fun for them. Now I have to start thinking of clues.
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Post by bwife on Nov 6, 2017 6:07:18 GMT
This doesnt sounds mean at all. Not any different than kids hunting for their easter baskets. and lots of people do that. ( we dont, but I know lots that do) We did do an Egg scavenger hunt when my kids were about your kids ages. They really had fun with it. They had clues in plastic eggs to lead them to an egg with $ in it. I bet you kids have lots of fun looking following the clues to that last great gift. And if you are looking to make the gift giving part longer, Wrap what is in their stockings. Might be more exciting that jut dumping it out on the floor. My kids are 15, 18 and 21 and Santa still visits here. They get a few gifts & stocking from Santa and the rest from us. Some times Santa wraps the gifts and some times not. Just depends on how much time he has or how tired he is when he finally makes it to our house.  |
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AmeliaBloomer
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Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Nov 6, 2017 9:54:01 GMT
My husband has been devising clues for present hunts since the Santa debunking. He sends our kids all over the house...out to the (cold, unattached) garage...into the cars...
My early-twenties kids still enthusiastically participate. Even though their tastes now run to cash and gift cards, they would be majorly bummed without the hunt for them.
Nope, not mean. Preserves the sense of fun that Santa used to provide.
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Post by houston249 on Nov 6, 2017 11:50:03 GMT
I would be extremely let down if the end goal was under the tree. The scavenger hunt would feel like busy work vs finding a treasure. Maybe I am missig something? Are these hunts suppose to end at the tree?
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Nov 6, 2017 12:18:23 GMT
How on earth could that be mean? I have done this with my kids every year for years. They will be 15 and 19 this year. I send them around with a clue and then they have to find the next clue. I do 12 clues then the present. My kids love it.
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Post by jenjie on Nov 6, 2017 12:47:47 GMT
We did a treasure hunt when we gave them an air hockey table we had set up in the basement. They enjoyed the hunt.
I️ did a lame guessing game giving ds his Hamilton tickets last year. It prolongs the fun and shows that you’ve put some thought into it.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:31:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 13:09:49 GMT
I think it will be fun and we'll do it too!
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Post by just PEAchy on Nov 6, 2017 13:12:32 GMT
I've been doing this with my kids since they were very young. The scavenger hunt is on Christmas Eve and the gift is their new pajamas. They love it! I almost stopped a couple years ago when they all became teens and they had a fit, they definitely still wanted their scavenger hunt!
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Nov 6, 2017 13:33:03 GMT
I don't have any thoughts on a scavenger hunt, but I do think that the "let down" and how to deal with it is something to be learned. We extend the gifting part by only one person opening at a time - and that includes stockings. We also stop for breakfast. But still - when the gifting is over, there is the rest of the day to deal with.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:31:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 13:43:55 GMT
I don't have any thoughts on a scavenger hunt, but I do think that the "let down" and how to deal with it is something to be learned. We extend the gifting part by only one person opening at a time - and that includes stockings. We also stop for breakfast. But still - when the gifting is over, there is the rest of the day to deal with. We've been extending ours out over the course of the day too and my family enjoys it. We start with the boys exchanging the gifts they got for each other in the morning and end with their stockings in the late afternoon. We usually have fondue for dinner and follow up with Bingo games (with prizes like gift cards, ear buds, beloved treats), then last thing is a Christmas movie (sometimes the boys head upstairs, sometimes they curl up in their favorite spots and watch too). I love the idea of incorporating a treasure hunt and the Christmas Eve pajama gift sounds fun! |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:31:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2017 13:45:10 GMT
I've been doing this with my kids since they were very young. The scavenger hunt is on Christmas Eve and the gift is their new pajamas. They love it! I almost stopped a couple years ago when they all became teens and they had a fit, they definitely still wanted their scavenger hunt! This will be so much fun! Thanks for the idea! |
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 6, 2017 14:08:44 GMT
Preserves the sense of fun that Santa used to provide. Love this thought, and you're right. We tend to break up the day into morning, breakfast, stockings, presents and later in the afternoon-dinner and presents at grandma's house. In the beginning it was to make it easier on my then well into her 90's grandmother and my young kids. Of course I filled that time with naps (for everyone). Sadly DH and I are the only ones who want to nap anymore. |
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MZF
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Post by MZF on Nov 6, 2017 14:35:52 GMT
Sounds like fun, not mean at all
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Post by cbet on Nov 6, 2017 14:43:23 GMT
We did this with my son one year - I'm thinking he was probably 13-14ish. He was only getting one gift that year - a fancy-schmancy computer monitor that he really wanted. He used to love watching Supermarket Sweep when he was younger, so I wrote up clues that all rhymed like the clues on that show and wrapped the first one. We chased him all over the darn house and he loved it.
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milocat
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Post by milocat on Nov 6, 2017 15:06:28 GMT
Sounds like a good way to drag it out. We've always had the kids open one gift at a time and watch each other vs a big free for all. That helps a bit. But yes with one big electronic and a stocking it's over pretty fast.
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Nov 6, 2017 15:11:09 GMT
My dd is 20 and in the Navy. She will be home for Christmas this year and it's just us. I am getting stressed that it will be boring for her and she will never want to come home again. I love the idea of a scavenger hunt.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 6, 2017 15:29:27 GMT
I don’t think it’s mean, but I wouldn’t end under the tree because that would be too easy. We’ve done Easter egg hunts with DD since she was old enough to understand the concept, and she loves it. In past years I’ve filled Advent ornaments (a set of fillable numbered metal ornaments for the tree) and she has loved that too. I’m not sure what we’re going to do this year for her because she’s showing no interest in toys whatsoever which I think is kind of sad since she’s only 7. Last year at this time she had a laundry list of things she liked on her Christmas list, this year nothing so far and I’m getting a little scared.
The last two years Santa really came through with some pretty expensive “hot” and hard to find toys that she really-really-really wanted and then NEVER played with (I’m looking at YOU, Hatchimal and Zoomer Kitty!), so in a way I’d be kind of glad if all Santa had to hunt for was a new case for DH’s current (one year old) iPad Air2 and some Roblox gift cards for her, LOL. If we do that though the iPad would really be the only gift from us other than some clothes she needs anyway and Christmas morning would be over pretty quick, so maybe a treasure hunt is the answer for us too.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 6, 2017 15:41:17 GMT
Sounds like a good way to drag it out. We've always had the kids open one gift at a time and watch each other vs a big free for all. That helps a bit. But yes with one big electronic and a stocking it's over pretty fast. Ugggh, MIL used to do it that way and it was downright painful. And that was before there were any grandkids involved! She would have someone pass out all the gifts to each person and we would go around the room opening one.at.a.time.  The problem was everyone had a big stack of gifts but all of it was mail order junk nobody asked for or wanted, clothes that were the wrong size, free calendars from places she donated money to, etc. It took forever and it was so not fun. Since we were all adults we would have rather gotten one big electronic and called it a day! |
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 6, 2017 16:03:12 GMT
Ugggh, MIL used to do it that way and it was downright painful I love doing it that way, but my mom feels like you do that it's painful. I don't get it as there are only 5 of us and it doesn't take all that long as we don't have much. I like watching everyone's reaction to what they get but I'm the shopper who runs all over creation trying to make it work within a limited budget. The payoff for me is in watching them unwrap it. Then again, we don't do the mail order junk so I can see why it would be painful from that point of view. |
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Post by mommaho on Nov 6, 2017 16:23:29 GMT
We make them work for it and our girls are 29, 31 and 32! Their DHs, SO and children think it is hilarious!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 6, 2017 16:44:52 GMT
Ugggh, MIL used to do it that way and it was downright painful I love doing it that way, but my mom feels like you do that it's painful. I don't get it as there are only 5 of us and it doesn't take all that long as we don't have much. I like watching everyone's reaction to what they get but I'm the shopper who runs all over creation trying to make it work within a limited budget. The payoff for me is in watching them unwrap it. Then again, we don't do the mail order junk so I can see why it would be painful from that point of view. It’s not nearly as bad if there’s even a remote chance that you’re going to like what’s inside the gift. I can’t imagine it felt too good to my MIL to watch us stifle yet another grimace or eye roll when we opened up clothes in the wrong size AGAIN with no gift receipt and no hope to return or exchange, or the oddball mail order stuff that we would literally not even take out of the car when we got home and drop off at Goodwill the week after Christmas. She meant well, but she was awful at selecting thoughtful, appropriate gifts. I really don’t miss that part of Christmas. At all. I also don’t like it when people let a bunch of kids loose to rip open everything with total abandon all at once so nobody knows who gave what (I’m an old fashioned holdout who believes that thank you notes should be sent for all gifts, so I do like to know what people gave to my kid). I clearly don’t know what the answer is. |
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 6, 2017 17:24:59 GMT
crazy4scraps I get it. One of the reasons I don't want the free for all is the fact that I need to know who gave what. With 2 kids and no one else paying attention drives me bonkers. DH does it to me every time we've had a kid birthday party. I'm off to the side yelling who gave you that? and he's like it's fine. NO it's NOT fine, you send a thank you note.
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Post by hop2 on Nov 6, 2017 17:51:06 GMT
I think it’s fine. I’d wrap up the first clue to open. Also maybe put small things to find along the hunt. Candy cane. Lip balm whatever with each clue. If you can tie the small item in with the clue even better. Or even maybe hide ‘advantages’ so if they find that they get first piece of dessert or whatever later on.
I think it sounds fun
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Post by malibou on Nov 6, 2017 18:14:32 GMT
I only have one kid and no family near, as well as we were the parents that stuck to the 4 presents thing of something you want, something you need, something to play with, something to read, and Santa brought one present. We also convinced our parents to keep it to one simple gift. His stocking had all kinds of goofy little things some wrapped, most weren't. When he woke he could grab his stocking and go to town with unwrapping, eating candy, playing, eating candy, showing us each item, eating candy. That usually had us unwrapping by 11:00. He would unwrap all of his gifts except for his big gift. That came in an envelope hiding in the tree. Let the hunt begin!!
Eta: He is 17. It still plays out the same every year.
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uksue
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Post by uksue on Nov 6, 2017 18:20:09 GMT
My kids loved/love the present opening, but it's only a small part of the day for us and we've always tried to impress that.They really love the big traditional meal we have approx 2.30 with crackers and lots of corny jokes and laughter.
The hunt sounds great to me though .
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The problem was everyone had a big stack of gifts but all of it was mail order junk nobody asked for or wanted, clothes that were the wrong size, free calendars from places she donated money to, etc. It took forever and it was so not fun. Since we were all adults we would have rather gotten one big electronic and called it a day!
