Does anyone else have a 3-year-old who continues to pine for more gifts to unwrap?

One who looks longingly into the corner where the Christmas tree stood and says, offhandedly, "Any more presents?"

A child who peers into backpacks and bags hopefully, thinking maybe a bonus gift was forgotten inside?

Here's what's helped us stem the disappointment of humdrum, non-present-opening life between Christmas and his birthday:

Giving each other pretend gifts wrapped in pretend paper.

Thankfully, with little kids, it can be so easy to make them happy if you're willing to play a little.


Here's how it works, in photo-essay format from my camera phone so I could record in real time:









But: Here's where it keeps being good. Even after their little chubby faces fall as they unwrap something they didn't want in the first place, all you have to do to keep their enthusiasm up is do it again. And again! And again!

Take turns gifting each other things. Get siblings and other relatives and friends in on the game. Filter in some small surprises that are things the recipient would actually like but that you just have on hand, like a piece of their afternoon snack or a toy they haven't seen in awhile. There's no waste and no money spent, and the fun is solely in the surprise of unwrapping. Which is at least half of what little kids love about Christmas, anyhow!

Let me know how your little unwrapper enjoys this game.