Here's a tip to help your littlest ones on Christmas morning (and to confound your present peekers and up-and-coming handwriting analysts!):
Use character stickers to identify each child's presents from Santa! Use a different character sticker to denote each child's presents (Barbie for Lizzie, Elmo for Sam, etc.) Put one character sticker on the child's stocking so he or she knows which presents to look for. Each gift for that child is identified with that character's sticker.
For "sharing" gifts (DVD's, games, etc. to be enjoyed by all the kids), put on stickers of all the characters.
And once your kids are old enough to read, pick up some gift tags on your way to the office (ones that the kids haven't seen around the house). Ask a friend at work, on the train, etc., to write out a number of stickers in the children's names. (Do some "sharing" labels, too.) Then label the gifts, and the kids will be none the wiser.
Over the years, I've asked several co-workers to help out in this regard, and they've all gotten a good laugh out of it. Some who have gone on to greater things still ask if they can help with the Christmas labels!
By Bunky from Chicago, IL
