How to wrap presents from Santa so kids never guess

The short answer

Use wrapping paper that the kids never see at home, and keep it hidden. Write Santa's tags in a different hand or print them. Wrap Santa's gifts after the kids are asleep, or wrap them early and hide them outside the house. Some families leave Santa's gifts unwrapped under the tree.

Santa-only wrapping paper

Sharp kids notice when Santa uses the same paper as Mum and Dad. Fix it:

  • Buy one roll that is only for Santa. Plain brown paper with a red ribbon, gold paper, or a North Pole print.
  • Hide the roll. Keep it in the car, at a friend's house, or in a box marked "tax papers".
  • Throw away the ends. Put the scraps in an outside bin, not the kitchen bin.

Tags and handwriting

  • Print tags from the computer in a fancy font.
  • Or write them with your other hand, in gold or red ink.
  • Sign them "Santa", "S.C." or "From the North Pole".
  • Use the same style every year. Kids remember.

Unwrapped gifts from Santa

In many US homes, Santa's main gift stands unwrapped under the tree, ready to play with. It saves time on Christmas Eve, and it is a clear way to show which gift came from Santa.

Where to hide the gifts

  • A locked car boot or a garage cupboard
  • A neighbor's or a grandparent's house
  • Suitcases on the top shelf
  • Inside a box for something boring, like a vacuum cleaner

On Christmas Eve

  1. Wait until the kids are fully asleep.
  2. Bring the gifts in quietly, in the dark.
  3. Fill the stockings last. They are the first thing kids look at.
  4. Leave a clue that Santa was there. See 12 ways to leave proof that Santa visited.

Questions

Does Santa wrap his presents?

It depends on the family. Many use special paper only for Santa. Others leave Santa's gifts unwrapped under the tree.

Why does Santa use different wrapping paper?

So children do not recognize the paper from home. Santa's paper comes from the North Pole.

What if my child asks why Santa's paper is the same as ours?

Say Santa sometimes borrows paper from the house to save space on the sleigh. Then buy a Santa-only roll next year.

Santa Stopped By. Coming this Christmas.