Christmas Morning Survival Kit

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As parents, we spend weeks planning the perfect Christmas morning, and then somehow still end up hunting for scissors while the kids are practically bouncing off the walls trying to get into one of those very well packaged gifts that are like breaking into Fort Knox!

There were also plenty of years we didn’t have enough batteries to go around and we were taking them out of something else just to get a new toy up and operational.

That is what led me to create this Christmas morning survival kit. Just imagine, having all the things you need right next to you as the kids begin tearing into presents.

Pair that with a little breakfast planning and a short night before checklist, and you can spend the morning actually enjoying your family instead of running around looking for a screwdriver.

Bonus, you might even have a few extra minutes to get yourself ready for Christmas morning, knowing there will be lots of pictures. I mean, do you really want to be in the family photos with your hair going in seven different directions? Is that just me?!

Oh yeah, a Christmas morning survival kit makes a great gift as well!

What To Put In Your Christmas Morning Survival Kit

Set this box aside a few days before Christmas so it’s ready to grab first thing Christmas morning.

• Large garbage bags for wrapping paper cleanup
• Batteries in several sizes (many parents slip batteries in with the toy before wrapping it)
• A good wire cutter or wire snips for those impossible plastic packages
• Sturdy scissors, not the flimsy kind
• A small screwdriver set, both flathead and Phillips
• A notepad and pen for tracking who gave which gift, so thank you notes are easy later
• Tape, in case wrapping paper needs a quick patch job
• An extra phone charger or portable battery pack for photos and video
• A spare camera memory card if you still use a separate camera
• A small first aid kit or at least some bandages, just in case
• Tylenol or your pain reliever of choice, for parents who were up too late the night before
• Coffee, hot chocolate, or whatever gets you moving
• Christmas music playing in the background to keep the mood festive, CD or playlist

This also makes a fun gift for another family. Just be sure they open it before Christmas morning so it’s ready when they need it.

Make Ahead Breakfasts For Christmas Morning

A breakfast that’s mostly done before the kids wake up is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Assemble any of these on Christmas Eve, then bake or slow cook them while everyone opens presents.

• Overnight breakfast casserole with eggs, sausage, and cheese, assembled the night before and baked in the morning
• Overnight baked French toast casserole, soaked in the fridge overnight and popped in the oven
• Crockpot breakfast strata, started before bed so it’s ready and warm by morning
• Cinnamon roll bake, using store bought or homemade rolls prepped the night before
• Make ahead breakfast burritos, wrapped individually and reheated as needed
• Overnight oats or a baked oatmeal casserole for a lighter option

Quick Breakfasts When There’s No Time To Cook

Some years the morning moves too fast for anything in the oven. These options need almost no prep.

• A festive fruit and pastry tray set out the night before
• Cinnamon rolls from a can, ready in under 20 minutes
• Yogurt parfaits with granola and berries, assembled in minutes
• A simple charcuterie style breakfast board with muffins, cheese, and fruit
• Cereal and hot cocoa, sometimes the classic answer is still the best one

Christmas Eve Checklist

Keep this list handy so nothing gets forgotten in the last minute rush of Christmas Eve.

Family time before bed

• Read a favorite Christmas story together
• Watch a Christmas movie as a family
• Read the story of Jesus’s birth
• Leave out cookies and milk for Santa

After the kids are asleep

• Prepare and hang the stockings
• Eat the cookies left out for Santa
• Get breakfast ready or finish prepping it for the morning
• Make sure your Christmas morning survival kit is somewhere handy
• Do a quick evening reset, straightening up the main living areas so morning photos look nice

Christmas morning

• Finish preparing or reheating breakfast
• Grab a couple of garbage bags for wrapping paper as gifts are opened
• Slow down and have fun, this is what all the planning was for

More Christmas Fun

• Christmas Charades for the Whole Family
• Free Printable Christmas Danger Word Game
• Christmas Headbands Game
• Fun Family Christmas Pajamas

A Few More Things Worth Adding

A couple of small additions can make the morning even smoother. Keep a roll of wrapping paper and a gift bag or two tucked away in case something needs last minute wrapping. If you have a baby or toddler, set out their Christmas outfit the night before so you’re not searching for it in the morning. And if you like to document the day, charge your camera or phone the night before so you’re not scrambling to find an outlet while everyone is already tearing into presents.

A little preparation on Christmas Eve goes a long way toward a calmer, more enjoyable Christmas morning. Once the essentials are handled, you can put the checklist down, sit back, and actually be present for the magic you worked so hard to create.