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Traveling for Holidays-Open Gifts Before or After?

jasminelorraine20jasminelorraine20 member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Over the weekend SO and I put together DS's play kitchen and ordered the pots/pans (they should be arriving this week). We have a couple of gifts for him under the tree, but that his is biggest one. We will be spending the 20th-29th at my parents house in another state and I'm curious if it's better to present his kitchen and open gifts at home before we leave, or wait until after we come back home? FWIW, I'm super excited about DS seeing his kitchen and would prefer to let him play with it before we leave, but I don't want to "ruin the holiday" if that makes sense. Advice?
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Re: Traveling for Holidays-Open Gifts Before or After?

  • jasminelorraine20jasminelorraine20 member
    uconnhuskie007 said:
    I don't think it makes any real difference - If you want him to use it and play with it before the holiday then give it to him.  I think you're over thinking it.  I'm sure he'll love the kitchen.  He will be getting gifts while you're away?  Might as well let him use the kitchen without other distractions.

    He will get gifts from his grandparents while we're away, yes. Now that you mention distractions, I think we will give it to him before. Thanks!
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  • ELF4321ELF4321 member
    We're doing a faux Christmas morning at home this weekend so we get to enjoy it as a family and so DD gets to play with the toys we're giving her for the week before we leave. It seems like doing it after we get back would just be a let-down since the thrill of Christmas morning will be over by then.


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  • jasminelorraine20jasminelorraine20 member
    ELF4321 said:
    We're doing a faux Christmas morning at home this weekend so we get to enjoy it as a family and so DD gets to play with the toys we're giving her for the week before we leave. It seems like doing it after we get back would just be a let-down since the thrill of Christmas morning will be over by then.

    This sounds like a great idea! We'll do the same this weekend too. Thanks!
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  • JENandJEHJENandJEH member
    We have always been away from home over Christmas and do our own little Christmas celebration the weekend before we leave town.  That way the kids get to play with their new things for a week before we leave.  

    Also, as young as your DS is, it's just a normal day to him that he'll get presents...he isn't going to understand that he magic, so to speak, this year so you can really do it however you want.  As he gets older, you may have to get more creative with how/why you do presents early.

    FWIW, last year, Santa surprised DS1 by doing one of his practice runs to our house the week before Christmas since he knew we would be at grandma's house on Christmas eve.  We left a note for DS from Santa and Mrs. Claus sent cookies to DS for allowing Santa to use his house as a practice run.  He thought that was the coolest thing ever (he was 4) and has already asked if we think Santa will do that again.  
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  • maryxc1maryxc1 member
    We always travel to both sides of the family over Christmas and do our own little family Christmas when we get home. It always seems like an after-the-fact letdown because we are tired from traveling and have already done gift exchanges twice since we do both sides of the family. This year I want to do it before we leave, kind of a faux Christmas morning where we set all morning aside for family time.
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