25 Best Family Christmas Eve Box Ideas

If you’re looking for family Christmas Eve box ideas, these are the ones we’ve loved most over the years.

Filling a box with cozy pajamas, treats, and a few fun surprises has become one of our favorite Christmas traditions.

It’s an easy way to slow down, spend time together, and make Christmas Eve feel just as special as the big day.

Personalized wooden Christmas Eve box for Lydia with festive North Pole stamps and family-friendly holiday fillers like bath bombs, reindeer antler game, matching pajamas, and Christmas cookie cutters.

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Christmas Eve Box Fillers For the Whole Family

These Christmas Eve box stuffers work for all ages, fun, cozy, and perfect for making the night feel extra special.

Personalized wooden Christmas Eve box

We started using a personalized wooden box a few years ago, and now it’s part of the tradition. I love that it’s sturdy enough to reuse each year—ours even has a little wear on the corners now, which makes it feel nostalgic. Choose a design that fits your style, and fill it with whatever suits your family best, from matching pajamas to snacks and small games.

Personalized kids Christmas Eve Box

These boxes are especially great if you have more than one child. We used to do one big family box, but individual ones made it feel more magical for our son, he loved seeing his name printed right on it. The magnetic closure is a nice touch too; it keeps everything tidy and feels a bit more polished.

Personalized wooden crate box

If you prefer a more rustic or handmade look, the wooden crate style is a lovely alternative. We used one of these when we were doing a more minimalist Christmas, it was perfect for filling with just a few thoughtful items: a book, slippers, and a treat or two. It’s easy to store flat, and you can decorate it yourself if you want to get crafty.

Personalized Christmas Eve Box

This one reminds me of the kind of keepsake you pass down. The natural pine and engraved details make it feel extra special, especially when you add your child’s name and a little holiday message. We used it the year we did a “cozy night in” theme, think bath bombs, socks, and a bedtime book.

How to Catch an Elf

This book has been a hit in our house, it’s silly, colorful, and just the right length for a Christmas Eve read. We’ve read it so many times my son knows it by heart, but he still laughs at the elf’s sneaky tricks. It’s especially fun if your kids are into rhymes or love spotting little details in the illustrations.

The Christmas Pig

If you're looking for something a bit longer or more heartfelt, this is a great choice. We read it together over two nights when my son was around 8, and he was completely hooked. It’s one of those stories that mixes adventure with emotion, perfect for slightly older kids who are ready for something more than a picture book.

LEGO Wintertime Polar Bears

We added this LEGO set to our Christmas Eve box last year and ended up building it together Christmas morning. It’s small enough to fit in the box but detailed enough to be interesting, even for older kids. Plus, the polar bears and little tree make a sweet winter scene to leave out during the holidays.

Santas Nice List Certificate

This was such a fun surprise one year, I printed the certificate, rolled it with a red ribbon, and tucked it inside the box. My son’s eyes lit up when he saw he made the Nice List. You can personalize it to make it feel official, and it’s a simple, free addition that adds a lot of magic.

All I Want for Christmas is R2 Jigsaw Puzzle

This one’s perfect for quiet Christmas Eve downtime, especially if you have older kids or Star Wars fans in the house. We started it as a family that night and finished it during the lazy days between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s a great way to unplug and do something together.

Nice List Medal

We paired this with the Nice List certificate one year and it was such a fun combo. My son wore the medal all evening and even showed it off to the grandparents on a video call. It’s a small thing, but it makes kids feel proud, and adds a little extra excitement to the Christmas Eve routine.

A Merry Christmas Cookbook

This one’s great if your family likes to bake or cook together. We included it the year we made gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark, and it gave us a few new ideas to try. It’s fun to pick one or two recipes on Christmas Eve, then use the rest over winter break.

Make your Own Snow Globes

This was such a hit during one particularly cold Christmas, we had everything ready to go in the box, and the kids made their own little globes while we played music and drank cocoa. It’s a bit messier, but totally worth it if you want a hands-on activity that doubles as a keepsake.

Santa Slippers

These were a favorite when my son was little, super soft, and they made him giggle every time he looked down at his feet. If you have a toddler in the house, slippers like these are not only cute, but they keep toes warm while they’re running around in Christmas pajamas.

Christmas Slipper Socks

We’ve included these in our family box several times, especially when we do matching PJs. The grip soles make them great for hardwood floors, and the festive patterns always make everyone smile. They're a simple, cozy filler that’s always appreciated.

Christmas Bubble Bath Bomb

We added these bath bombs to the box one year and now they’re a staple. The fizzing alone is fun, but the hidden toy inside makes it feel like a mini gift. It’s a great way to help kids wind down before bed, especially after a sugar-filled day, plus the bathroom smells like peppermint for hours.

Personalized Snowman Face Mug

We included one of these with each person’s name one year and filled them with cocoa packets and candy canes. Now we bring them out every December. They make hot chocolate feel a little more special and are perfect if you're doing a snowman or cocoa-themed box. Bonus: they photograph really well for memory-making.

This can be used with our free snowman soup printable

Family Matching Christmas Pajamas

These are always the first thing we pull out of the box. Even if you skip the rest, matching pajamas set the mood for the night. We usually put them on right away, take a few silly pictures, and then settle in for a movie or puzzle. They’ve become one of the most fun, and cozy, parts of the whole tradition.

Plush Velvet Personalized Santa Hat

We gave these out one year instead of the usual paper crowns, and they were such a hit. The velvet feels soft and a little fancier than the typical felt ones, and having names on them meant no mix-ups. We still bring them out every year to wear while opening presents.

Christmas Cookie Cutter Set

This is a fun one to include if you plan on baking Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. We’ve used ours to cut out cookies shaped like stars and trees, then decorated them while listening to holiday music. Tuck in a small bag of sprinkles or write a note with your favorite recipe for a thoughtful touch.

Christmas Blanket

We added a festive blanket to the box a couple of years ago, and now it basically lives on our couch through January. It’s great for cuddling up during a movie or reading a book together. Ours has reindeer and snowflakes, but any soft, cozy throw will do the trick, and it makes the box feel extra comforting.

Inflatable Reindeer Antler Toss Game

This one brings the chaos, in the best way. We pulled it out after dinner and ended up laughing for an hour as we tried to toss the rings on each other’s heads. It’s totally silly, doesn’t take much space, and gets everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, off the couch and involved.

Light Up Christmas Bulb Necklace

These are great for kids who love to play dress-up or just want something festive to wear while they open presents. We’ve used them for Christmas Eve photos too, they light up in fun colors and add a bit of sparkle to the evening. Just make sure to check the batteries if they’re older stock.

Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman

This quirky card game ended up being way more fun than we expected. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and turned into a surprise hit at our family game night. Great for mixed ages and perfect to include in a Christmas Eve box for some after-dinner laughs.

Santa’s Magic Key

We’ve had a version of this since our son was little and it’s such a sweet tradition. We hang it on the doorknob on Christmas Eve “so Santa can get in,” since we don’t have a chimney. It’s one of those tiny touches that adds magic to the night, especially for younger kids who ask how Santa gets inside.

Christmas Fun Mad Lib

This is our go-to for a quick laugh before bedtime. We usually read it out loud as a family and let everyone take turns shouting out the words, it’s silly, a little chaotic, and always ends in giggles. It’s also a sneaky way to fit in a little language practice without feeling like school.

More Christmas Gift Ideas You Might Like

If you’re still gathering ideas for holiday gifts and traditions, here are some more favorites that work well alongside your Christmas Eve box:

Best teenage boy advent calendar – Great for tweens and teens who love a daily surprise.
Best advent calendars for teen girls – Fun, age-appropriate countdowns for older kids.
Best advent calendars for kids – Classic and creative options for all ages.
Advent calendar ideas for everyone in the family – Group-friendly picks that make the countdown part of your daily routine.
Best family advent calendars – Perfect if you prefer one shared experience each day.
Best Christmas board games – Great additions to your Christmas Eve box or family game night.
Best Christmas presents for boys – From stocking stuffers to big gifts, sorted by age.
Stocking stuffers for boys – Small, practical, and fun ideas they’ll actually like.

Last Updated on 25 July 2025 by Clare Brown

Christmas Eve Box Fillers For the Whole Family

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