Are your kids overly curious? Does this make you afraid that they will find the gifts you bought them for Christmas? Maybe they snoop intentionally and don't stop until the gifts are found. If any of these scenarios apply to your child, worry no more! It takes some thought to hide the gifts, but it's pretty easy to make sure your kids don't see their presents until the big day.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Hiding Your Child's Gifts
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Hiding the gifts. If your kids are afraid of the dark or scared of bugs, they will probably avoid searching places like an attic. It may even be impossible for them to get up there. Hide the gifts in a garbage bag to keep them from getting dust on them. [1] X Research source
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Hide the gifts out in the open. Not exactly out in the open, though. Put the gifts in large cardboard boxes in your attic/basement/wherever you choose to hide presents. Put boring labels on them like "Algebra Study Guides" so kids are none the wiser about the box's actual contents!Advertisement
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Hide the gifts in the trunk of your car. If your kids cannot see the trunk from where they usually sit in your car, you should be fine hiding gifts in here. Just make sure they are in some ordinary, opaque container so that you can ensure the safety of the gifts!
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Hide the gifts in your underwear drawer. Unless they are extremely determined to find their gifts this year, your children will not like going through their parent's underwear drawer! [2] X Research source
- Similarly, you could hide the gifts in a cardboard box covered with dirty clothes in your closet. It works just as well [3] X Research source .
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Hide the gifts in self-storage. You may not have to do any of the other methods in the article if you choose to hide the gifts in self-storage. With security monitoring 24/7 and a passcode-controlled lock, there is no way your kids will be able to snoop here. Just make sure they don't get your passcode.Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Search-Proofing the Gifts
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Put the gifts in large cardboard boxes filled with packing peanuts or bubble wrap. That way, they can't shake the box to figure out what is inside. You could also put more boxes in the big box, surrounding the actual present.
- You could also do this with bagged presents.
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Double-wrap the large boxes that the gifts are in. For the most adventurous snoopers who try to open the gifts before they are supposed to, you must make it more difficult so that they eventually give up or get caught. Use a sturdier wrapping paper, and make sure to wrap the entire box.
- For bagged presents, put them in lots of bags, and put duct tape over the top, so it's obvious if the gift is tampered with.
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Put lots of bows and ribbons on each present. Even the most determined present-peekers know not to mess with bows and ribbons. They can easily be damaged beyond repair, and it's almost impossible to put them back as they were. Since this is a huge deterrent, you will better put 2-4 ribbons on each present.
- You can still put ribbons and bows on bags! Just place them on the duct-taped area on the top, as said in the previous step.
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Put a small security camera hidden in one of the bows and ribbons. This is a definite way to help your case because if one child decides to explore the area, they will be caught almost instantly.Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Establishing Snooping Rules
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Explain that all standard house rules still apply during the Christmas season. Just because it is a holiday season doesn't mean your kids should forget all the rules set in place.
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Add some special regulations for snooping. Explain that snooping is not allowed at any time and that the presents should only be looked at and opened on Christmas morning.
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Make sure your children know the consequences of snooping. If your kids still poke even after the rule is in place, tell them that the next time they are caught, they will lose every gift they saw. Find what gifts they saw using the security cameras you installed on the gifts.
- Be firm when taking away gifts. Don't feel bad. If they only get 2 gifts on Christmas, that is their fault. However, if they are good and don't snoop anymore, give some of their gifts back later.
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Explain the rules for Christmas morning. Say that everybody should stay in their bedroom until the designated gift-opening time (7:00, preferably) and that anyone who disobeys the rule forfeits a present.
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Avoid leaving gifts under the tree. To avoid your kids getting tempted to take a peek at the gifts, don't leave them sitting under the tree. They could potentially open them when you aren't looking. Instead, wait until Christmas Eve night to place gifts underneath the tree.Advertisement
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Tips
- You could also put security cameras around your house instead of the gifts.Thanks
- If your kids are indeed masters at searching, the best option is to hide the gifts In self-storage, given they don't have the password.Thanks
- If you suspect your kids are peeking at their gifts and that they have been doing so for more than one Christmas, your best bet may be to give them the lesson that snooping is no fun for anyone, and it ruins the surprise.
- To do this, use some of the methods in this article to catch them peeking, such as setting up cameras. One or two incidents should be good once you have collected clear evidence of them peeking at their gifts, the gifts somewhere prominent, like the closet or the basement. Most kids know to look there, and it will almost be too easy for them to find them if they choose to continue looking. Keep using foolproof ways to catch them, but put them in the new spot this time. As soon as you have seen them, present the video evidence.
Thanks
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Warnings
- Don't be too harsh with punishments for disobeying rules. This may lead your kids to resent you and never enjoy Christmas with you again.Thanks
- Some kids get a thrill out of snooping. Sometimes, it may just be okay to let them enjoy the instant gratification, and to have them be disappointed later.Thanks
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References
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