Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of Christmas Eve box fillers with my son, from the usual pajamas and books to games, activities, and a few more unusual surprises.
Some have become traditions we bring back every year, while others have changed as he’s gotten older. I’ve found that a mix of something cozy, something fun, and something to do works best.
If you’re wondering what to put in yours this year, these are the ideas that have been the biggest hits in our house.
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What to Put in a Christmas Eve Box
You don’t need to fill a Christmas Eve box with lots of presents. I usually choose a few things we can enjoy that evening, with a mix of something cozy, something fun, and something to do together.
Pajamas, a Christmas book, festive socks, hot chocolate, a small game or puzzle, and a Christmas activity are all easy choices. For younger kids, you could also add a Santa key, reindeer food, or a Nice List certificate.
The best fillers are things your child will actually use on Christmas Eve rather than extra gifts that could simply wait until Christmas morning.
Our Favorite Christmas Eve Box Ideas
After more than a decade of making these boxes, I’ve learned which ideas are fun in theory and which ones actually get used.
These are the fillers that have been the biggest hits in our house, from cozy favorites and books to games, activities, and personalized gifts.
Family Christmas Pajamas Matching Sets
New Christmas pajamas are probably the most traditional thing we’ve put in a Christmas Eve box. We change into them after dinner and wear them for our Christmas Eve movie, then keep them on for Christmas morning. Matching sets are especially fun if you’re making boxes for the whole family.
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Christmas Blanket
One year I added a holiday blanket covered in snowflakes, and somehow it became “the Christmas Eve blanket.” My son still pulls it out for Christmas movies every December. It doesn’t need to be expensive; anything soft and cozy works.
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Personalized Snowman Face Mug
We added one of these when my son was really into making “snowman soup,” basically hot chocolate loaded with marshmallows and candy canes. Having his own Christmas mug made it feel even more special, and unlike many small fillers, it’s something you can bring out again every year.This works perfectly with our free snowman soup printable
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Plush Velvet Personalized Santa Hat
My son went through a phase where he loved pretending to be Santa, handing out presents, checking the chimney, the whole thing. A Santa hat with his name on it made the game even better, and he continued pulling it out every Christmas for years afterward.
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Family Christmas Shirts
If you already do Christmas pajamas every year, a personalized Christmas shirt is a fun alternative. You can wear them on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or for family photos, and adding everyone’s names makes them feel a little more special than another festive T-shirt.
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How to Catch an Elf
This has been a favorite in our house for years. My son always loved the ridiculous traps the kids come up with to catch Santa’s helpers. It’s short, funny, and just the right kind of book to read together before bed on Christmas Eve.
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The Christmas Pig
For older kids who have moved beyond picture books, The Christmas Pig is a lovely choice. It’s a longer Christmas Eve adventure with much more of an emotional story behind it. My son connected with this one more when he was around 8.
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Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman
This little festive board game is ideal for a Christmas Eve box because it doesn't take up much room and you can start playing straight away. We brought it out after dinner one year and ended up playing several rounds. It’s quick, silly, and an easy way to get everyone away from screens for a while.
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Santa Claus Go Fish
Go Fish is easy enough for younger kids to join in, and this Christmas version makes a familiar game feel a bit more special for December. I like including games that can actually be played that evening rather than adding another toy that will be forgotten once the Christmas presents arrive.
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LEGO Christmas Penguin
This little LEGO set was a total win in our house. It was small enough for the box but kept my son busy while we were getting dinner ready. If your child loves LEGO, a small Christmas build gives them something fun to do without taking over the entire evening.This is the perfect addition to any Lego lovers Christmas Eve box.
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All I Want for Christmas is R2-500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
This was an obvious choice for my Star Wars-loving son. He worked on it between dinner and bedtime, so it gave us something calm to do while we waited for Christmas morning. A puzzle based on your child’s current obsession is an easy filler to personalize without actually having it custom made.
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A Merry Christmas Cookbook
We added a Christmas cookbook the year we decided to spend part of Christmas Eve cooking together. We chose a couple of easy recipes and made them side by side. It works especially well for kids who already enjoy helping in the kitchen.
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Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
Cookie cutters are worth adding if baking is already part of your Christmas Eve plans. We’ve used Christmas sets for gingerbread and sugar cookies, although decorating cookies we baked earlier is definitely the easier option when everyone is already excited!
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Christmas Inflatable Reindeer Antler Toss Game
I bought this on a whim and it ended up being one of those games where the adults joined in too. It takes hardly any time to set up and gets everyone moving, which is particularly useful when the kids have far too much Christmas Eve energy.Have fun with these as you use our free reindeer scavenger hunt clues too!
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Make your Own Snow Globes
I chose this one year because I wanted something crafty without creating a huge mess. It kept my son occupied for a while and gave us something he had made himself to display afterward. A good choice if your child prefers making things to playing games.Or use our free snow globe handprint art for some free fun!
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Light Up Christmas Bulb Necklace
This is a completely silly little filler, which is probably why my son liked it so much. He wore his all evening and even hung it from his bed afterward. It’s inexpensive, festive, and easy to squeeze into a box that already feels rather full.
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Christmas Glasses
Another small filler that’s more about having fun than giving a proper present. Put the Christmas glasses on for family photos, dinner, or your Christmas Eve movie. They’re particularly useful if you’re making several boxes and want an inexpensive extra for each child.
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Santa Slippers
These were a surprise hit. I originally added them because my son had outgrown his old slippers, but he ended up wearing them all winter. I like fillers like this because they still feel Christmassy when they're opened but are actually useful afterward.
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Slipper Socks
If your child never keeps slippers on, slipper socks are a good alternative. My son went through years of preferring socks around the house, so the cozy Christmas versions worked much better for him. I’d look for ones with grips underneath, especially for younger kids.
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Christmas Bubble Bath Bombs
A Christmas bath bomb is a nice one to save until the end of the evening. We included a peppermint-scented one one year, and bath time helped signal that all the excitement was finally winding down and bedtime was approaching.
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Cookies for Santa Plate
We introduced a special Santa plate when my son was old enough to set out the cookies himself. It became part of our Christmas Eve routine: he chose the treats, arranged everything carefully and added a note for Santa. It’s one of those fillers you can bring back year after year.You can also add our free reindeer food printable so Rudolph can find your house!
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Santa’s Magic Key
This was particularly useful when we lived somewhere without a chimney and my son started asking exactly how Santa was supposed to get inside! Leaving Santa a special key gave us an easy answer and became another little part of our Christmas Eve routine.
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Santas Nice List Certificate
This was a huge hit when my son was younger. I rolled the certificate up like a scroll and tied it with ribbon before putting it in his box. He was incredibly proud of it, and it’s an inexpensive way to make the box feel more personal.
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Personalized Ornament
We started adding a new ornament each year, usually dated or connected to something my son was interested in at the time. Looking back at them now is one of my favorite parts of decorating the tree. This is one Christmas Eve box filler that becomes more meaningful as the years go by.
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Nice List Medal
If your child is really into the Santa side of Christmas, a Nice List medal is a fun alternative to the certificate. My son proudly wore his for the rest of Christmas Eve and even took it to his grandparents’ house the next day. This one is definitely best for the younger years.
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Choosing a Christmas Eve Box
Once you’ve decided what to put inside, you’ll need something to hold everything. You definitely don’t need to buy a special box; we’ve used simple options as well as personalized boxes that can be brought out again every Christmas.
A few ideas that work well:
- A shoe box wrapped in Christmas paper
- A festive gift bag
- A personalized wooden Christmas box (like the one we use, pictured below)
- A custom crate
- A keepsake gift box with your child’s name
More Christmas Gift Ideas
If you’re making boxes for everyone, have a look at our family Christmas Eve box ideas and Christmas Eve box ideas for adults for more age-appropriate fillers.
Our stocking stuffers under $20 are also worth checking, as many of the smaller gifts work just as well in a Christmas Eve box.
For bigger Christmas presents, I’ve rounded up over 600 gift ideas for boys, including toys, books, games, LEGO, and gifts for different interests.
Do you make Christmas Eve boxes? Let me know what you put in yours in the comments.
Last Updated on 17 September 2026 by Clare Brown
