4 Key Tips for a Low-Stress Christmas Morning

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and in addition to the clanging of the kids, there’s lots of toy unboxing, building marathons, and of course…batteries! Whether you want a ride-on car for the kids, a dollhouse with all the bells and whistles, or a robot pet, you’ll need a few things to keep the magic alive on Christmas morning.

From pre-assembling the big toys to having essential 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 confusion and make this year’s gift-giving extravaganza an unforgettable experience!

Prefabricated large toys

If you are giving your child any big gifts, such as a bicycle, a dollhouse, or a large play set, make them ahead of time. Your kids will be tearing open their gifts and if something isn’t assembled and packed in a big box, now you’ll have to spend all of Christmas morning sifting through 100 gifts and reading the instructions. Once the toy is assembled and opened, be sure to replace any Try Me or Demonstration batteries with Energizer batteries to keep the fun going!

Have lots of batteries on hand

Today, many toys require batteries, from interactive dolls and stuffed animals to remote controls, drones, and LCD drawing tablets. You’ll want to make sure you have standard size batteries such as AA, AAA, C and D as well as 2032 bond batteries on hand. These also make Also makes a great gift or stocking stuffer. Be sure to check if the toy requires batteries and consider them part of the gift.

Swap wrapping paper for reusable alternatives

If you want to reduce the amount of waste and trash you have to deal with on Christmas morning, be sure to consider alternatives to wrapping paper. I’ve used dish towels and baby blankets in the past, but you could also consider using reusable bags, cloth wrapping paper, or opt for sparkly bows and ribbons!

If you like to “go green,” you might also consider Energizer’s Recharge Power Plus battery, which is made from 22 percent recycled materials and lasts up to five years with hundreds of charges.

Make space in the game room ahead of time

My biggest and most important advice is to get rid of the toys now. Let the kids choose 10 or so items that they don’t play with often and figure out what items can be donated to make room for new items that are coming. Having multiple items can add more stress to your vacation than you need!

Follow these tips so you can focus on all the joyful magic this holiday season has to offer. Remember, whatever you do: don’t forget the batteries!

Energizer is the official battery sponsor of The Toy Insider. To learn more about why Energizer is the battery of choice for holiday toys, read our full review of the Energizer world’s first 3-in-1 Kids Shield battery, or shop the battery below!