A Simple Christmas Eve Box Tradition for Our Homeschooling, Work-From-Home Family
Christmas Eve boxes have become a popular holiday tradition, but many of the options I found online felt overpriced and unnecessary for our family.
As a work-from-home mom who homeschools, I’m always looking for meaningful traditions that feel intentional without adding stress or breaking the budget.
This year, I came up with the idea to create simple Christmas Eve crates for our family—filled with books, cozy items, and favorite snacks—to make the holiday evening feel special and relaxed.
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Why I Skipped Etsy Christmas Eve Boxes (And Saved Money)
I originally came across Christmas Eve boxes on Etsy and thought they were adorable. But as a family of five—and wanting one for myself and my husband as well—I just couldn’t justify spending a few hundred dollars on wooden boxes. As cute as the wooden tags and designs were, that price point just wasn’t for me.
And as the mom of the family, I take on a lot—okay, let’s be honest, probably 99%—of the planning around here. So at first, the idea of making a Christmas Eve box for myself felt a little silly.
But it also felt kind of cool and special to intentionally pick out a few things just for me. Nothing expensive—just small items I know will bring me joy. And yes, my husband is genuinely a great gift-picker, but this was about choosing a few little things that I personally would love.
How We Built Our Christmas Eve Crates on a Budget
I sent my husband to Walmart to look for large crates, and he was able to find five that are about 16 x 10 inches. Each crate was $12, which felt very reasonable—especially compared to the wooden Christmas Eve boxes I had been eyeing on Etsy.
I needed a larger size because I have plush toys for each of the kids that are fairly big. I also figure that in the future, I might always include a plush toy in their boxes. For years now, I’ve also gifted each member of our household a book—always Christmas-themed, but chosen to reflect their personality. These crates are big enough to hold those, along with some candies and snacks that each person loves.
I also picked out Christmas tags and Faux Pine with Pinecones from Amazon for about $15 total. All in, I spent less than half of what I would have paid ordering pre-made crates online, and I still got something that felt personal and intentional.
Update: I ended up really loving the faux pine with pinecones! I simply pushed them through the twine used to secure the gift tags; this was super simple. I’ll likely buy more for decorating around the house next Christmas!
Christmas Eve Box Ideas for Each Family Member
For Our Oldest
She absolutely loves Pinkalicious, so I picked out the Pinkalicious Merry Christmas book and a Pinkalicious plush doll. I’ll also write a sweet message inside her book—something I’ve done for years and a tradition I don’t see myself letting go of anytime soon.
Update: This is how her box turned out.
For Our Second Oldest
If you read my other post about Christmas gift ideas, you already know she’s deep in an E.T. phase. I can’t wait to see her reaction when she opens her E.T. plush and E.T. book. Just like with the others, I’ll write a message inside her book as well.
For Our Youngest
I chose a nature-themed plush (not purchased on Amazon) that I think he’ll love snuggling with—and as a bonus, it happens to match his room décor, which we’re still very much putting together. Third child means you’re way behind on finishing the nursery, right? I also picked out a nature-inspired Christmas book for him, and yes, I’ll be writing a message for him inside that book, too.
For My Husband
I put together a mix of practical and sentimental items. I got him a Stanley cup, since I have several myself and it’s become a daily staple—I think he’ll really enjoy using it. I also picked up a notepad and pens, since he’s currently studying for an exam. And I couldn’t resist adding Garrett’s popcorn, which I snagged from Amazon. He’s originally from Chicago, and it’s one of his favorite snacks, so this one felt especially nostalgic.
This tradition actually brings back childhood memories for him. On Christmas Eve, he and his siblings each received a bag filled with fruit, nuts, and other snacks—something they were always excited to open and explore. He jokes that it was their only food for the day since the adults were busy cooking for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day.
A few days before Christmas Eve, I’ll head to our local downtown square to pick up some fine chocolates and candies to add to each crate—mine included. I’m especially looking forward to treating myself to some gourmet chocolate turtles.
Why Books Are Always Part of Our Christmas Tradition
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always given my husband and kids some form of a literary gift at Christmas. For the kids, it’s always been a book with a handwritten note inside. For my husband, it might be a book on a topic he’s interested in or even a collector’s magazine. Adding books to the Christmas Eve crates felt like a natural extension of that tradition.
Other Christmas Books We’ve Loved Over the Years
Oh—and since books have always been such a meaningful part of our Christmas celebrations, I wanted to share a few other Christmas books I’ve gifted to the kids over the years and truly loved. Here they are:
- The Picture Dictionary: My oldest has loved flipping through this book throughout the past year, exploring pictures and learning new words. We often use it when she asks about a new vocabulary word, and it’s become a fun way to learn together.
- A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play – Our second oldest received this book last year, and it quickly became a family favorite. The rhyming makes it fun and rhythmic to read aloud, and our kids love the outdoor games and activities highlighted in the poems.
- Christmas Time: It’s All About Jesus! – This sweet book was gifted to our youngest for his first Christmas. It’s a heartwarming story to read together on Christmas Eve, making it a special family tradition.
I love gifting books because they don’t feel tied to a single age or phase. Even as the kids grow, the stories stay with us—and the handwritten notes inside make them feel even more special over time.
How Christmas Eve Boxes Support Our Homeschool & WFH Rhythm
As someone who works from home full-time and homeschools, I’m especially mindful of how full our days already are—particularly during the holidays.
Christmas Eve tends to be a mix of wrapping loose ends, keeping little hands busy, and trying to stay present all at the same time.
These Christmas Eve crates feel like a gentle way to slow things down. They give the kids something engaging to focus on, create space for cozy moments, and allow us to ease into Christmas Day without feeling rushed.
What We Put in Our Christmas Eve Crates
- A reusable crate or box
- One Christmas-themed book per person
- A plush toy (optional, but a favorite around here)
- Favorite snacks and candies
- A small activity (coloring book, word search, notepad, etc.)
- A handwritten note or message
- Decorative touches (tags, greenery, ribbon)
Christmas Eve Boxes Can Be Simple (or Not!)
I also don’t want these crates to turn into another Christmas chore. If it ever starts to feel that way, I’ll let the tradition evolve into something different. What I love about this idea, though, is that it can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like it to be.
These crates could just as easily include coloring books, word searches, or small activities from the dollar store. The heart of it is having a few special goodies to snack on and a handful of things to keep hands and minds busy on Christmas Eve.
With so much planning already going into Christmas Day—deciding on a special dinner, making desserts, choosing gifts, wrapping everything—I like the idea of everyone having something they can enjoy throughout Christmas Eve. It feels like a way to stretch Christmas out just a little longer and really savor the season.
And of course, since I came up with this idea only a couple of weeks before Christmas, this year’s crates are a little last-minute. Next year, I may stain the crates and spend a few extra dollars on nameplates—or maybe even craft something from Hobby Lobby to permanently attach a wooden plaque to each one. I’m not the most crafty person, but we’ll see where this tradition takes us.
If you’re thinking about starting a Christmas Eve tradition of your own, I hope this gives you encouragement to keep it simple and make it your own!