December 1st Box Ideas: How We Kick Off the Christmas Season

Do your kids get to Christmas Day and are pretty much over all the Christmas-themed items like mine are? A few years ago, I started the December 1st box tradition, and it's been a family favorite ever since!

Why My Family Loves This Christmas Tradition

Some of my favorite childhood memories stem from Christmas traditions, and I hope to pass that same joy and excitement on to my kids. This gift box is no exception.

Once you start a tradition, your kids look forward to it every year. So make sure it's something you love to do too! Looking back, I would have skipped Elf on the Shelf and just set up this box instead.

It's such a fun and easy way to kick off the Christmas season. Plus, it's filled with festive goodies your family can enjoy all month long, like new Christmas pajamas, holiday movies, puzzles, games, books, and sweet treats. Instead of saving all the Christmas fun for the 25th, you get to soak it up the whole season.

How the December 1st Box Works

As always, I recommend doing what works for your family! Here are a few things to keep in mind, based on what we do.

Pick the date you want to start celebrating. A little confession: Our box doesn't show up on December 1st anymore. I love Christmas so much that in our house, the season officially starts on Black Friday. We get our tree that day, put it up, and fully decorate the house. So instead of waiting a few more days, I usually give the box on Black Friday now. Call it a December 1st-ish box.

Keep it simple with just one box. Some families I know make a box for each family member, but I think it's more fun when everything in ours is meant to be shared. That doesn't mean I won't toss in three separate bath bombs. 🤣

Remember the reason for the season. The point of a December 1st box is to spread a little joy, bring some Christmas spirit into the house, and encourage family time together, whether that's watching movies, puzzling, reading books, or doing crafts.

It's ok to repeat items every year. You don't have to buy brand-new stuff every season. One of the reasons this box is such a hit is because it includes old favorites and ongoing traditions. It's sentimental as much as it is exciting!

Don't forget to adapt it as your kids get older. When my kids were little, their box for December 1st included stuffies, toys, and other things they've now outgrown. Before you put the box away for the season, take a quick inventory of what might need to be removed and replaced next year. You can also make a note in your phone and then check it in November to see if anything needs to be swapped.

What to Put in a December 1st Box

Between this holiday box, stocking stuffers, and actual presents under the tree, Christmas can get expensive! But it doesn't have to be that way. I keep this box relatively simple and include annual favorites and new fun finds.

Advent Calendars
Games
Books
Crafts & Activities
Toys
Puzzles
Hair Bows & Headbands
Bath Products
Pajamas
Sweet Treats

December 1st Box FAQs

What is a December 1st box?

It's a box (or basket) filled with holiday goodies to help you and your family kick off the Christmas season. Think new pajamas, holiday movies, puzzles, games, books, and sweet treats your family can enjoy together all month long, not just on Christmas Day.

Should each kid get their own box on December 1st?

That's up to you! I will say it's easier (and more fun) to do one box with seasonal activities and treats they can share. My kids are close in age, so I like to put together a Christmas box that works for all of them, plus a few individual extras like bath bombs.

How is a December 1st box different from a Christmas Eve box?

A Christmas Eve box is opened the night before Christmas and usually holds a few things for that one night, like pajamas, a movie, and cocoa. A December 1st box comes at the start of the season and is meant to be used all month, so it's a little bigger and full of things for families to do together before the big day.

What age is a Christmas-themed box for?

Any age! When my kids were little, our box was full of Christmas lovies, stuffed animals, bows, and our felt Christmas tree. Now that I have tweens and a teen, it's more about new PJs, puzzles, games, Christmas movies, and holiday self-care goodies. The items change as your kids grow, but the excitement doesn't.

When do you give a December 1st box?

This isn't as obvious as it sounds! Traditionally, it's given on December 1st (some families give it the night before). In our house, Christmas starts on Black Friday when we put up the tree, so that's usually when our box comes out too. Pick whatever day feels like the official start of the season for your family.

How much should you spend on a December 1st box?

It doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive! Nostalgia is a big part of Christmas traditions, so most of what's in ours gets reused year after year, like favorite books, movies, games, and puzzles. I only add a few new things each season to keep it exciting. And of course, I've swapped out some items over the years as my kids have gotten older.

What do you put in a Christmas-themed box for teens?

My tweens and teen love self-care, so I add Christmas-themed beauty goodies, festive pimple patches, body wash, and a cozy blanket (they have their favorite that gets pulled out year after year). They still love new Christmas PJs, favorite Christmas puzzles or card games, and movie nights with older picks like The Holiday. Hot cocoa fixings, like snowman marshmallows and peppermint spoons, are always a hit too.