4 Key Tips for a Low-Stress Christmas Morning

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and in addition to kids jingle belling, there’ll be lots of toy unboxing, assembly marathons, and, of course… batteries! Whether you’re surprising your little ones with a ride-on car, a dollhouse with all the bells and whistles, or a robotic pet, there are a few things you’ll want to prepare to keep the magic alive on Christmas morning.

From pre-assembling big-ticket toys to having those must-have batteries at the ready, we’ve got all the tips to make your holiday run smoother than Santa’s sleigh. Read on to avoid last-minute scrambles and make this year’s gift-giving extravaganza one to remember!

If you are gifting your kids anything big, like a bike, a dollhouse, or a big playset, build them ahead of time. Your kids are going to rip open their gifts and if something is unassembled and in a big box, now you’ll have to spend your entire Christmas morning sifting through 100 pieces and reading instructions. Once toys are built and opened, be sure to replace any “try me” or demo batteries with Energizer batteries to keep the fun going!

Nowadays, so many toys require batteries, from interactive dolls and plush to things like RCs, drones, and LCD drawing tablets. You want to make absolutely sure you have batteries on hand in standard sizes like AA, AAA, C, and D, along with 2032 coin batteries. These also make great gift toppers or stocking stuffers, too. Always check if toys need batteries and consider them part of the gift. 

If you want to reduce waste and the amount of trash you have to deal with on Christmas morning, definitely consider alternatives to wrapping paper. I’ve used dish towels and baby blankets in the past, but you can also consider reusable bags, cloth wrapping paper, or opt for shiny bows and ribbon instead!

If “going green” is your thing, you can also consider Energizer’s Recharge Power Plus batteries, which are made with 22% recycled materials and last up to five years through hundreds of recharges.

My biggest and most important tip is to get rid of toys now. Have kids choose 10 or so items that they don’t play with regularly and figure out what can be donated to make room for the new stuff that’s coming in. Otherwise, you will have no idea where to put everything, and it will bring more stress to your holiday than you need! 

Follow these tips so you can focus on all the merry magic this holiday season. And remember, whatever you do: Don’t forget the batteries!

Energizer is the official battery sponsor of The Toy Insider. Learn more about why Energizer is the go-to battery for holiday toys, read our full review of Energizer’s World’s First 3-in-1 Child Shield batteries, or shop batteries below!