The kids have been eyeing those presents for a long time. They are itching to open them. Then on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve), they tear into the stack, leaving behind them a chaotic tangle of wrap, bags, bows, and stuff. It's over in 15 minutes, but the cleanup will take way longer than that.
The alternative is to have a system where everyone takes turns opening a present, one at a time. But why avoid the joyous Christmas chaos?
1. To respect guests. Grandma or Auntie is joining your family for Christmas. They have probably spent money and time picking presents for everyone. In the chaos model, they might not even see the kids open their gifts and they probably won't be able to tell if the kids liked the gifts, which are now lost in a sea of wrapping paper.
2. To promote gratitude. Everyone should have the chance to open a gift and thank the giver. Gratitude is greater than avarice.
3. To tell the story of the gift. That large cloth thing you received? Is it a table cloth or a throw? Was it handmade or did it belong to the late Aunt Edna? The giver can tell the story.
4. To create an event. Everyone gets their eggnog and finds a relaxing place to sit. Then the day unfolds amid talk and laughter, everyone gets to see what everyone else opens.
5 To involve the kids in giving. Christmas isn't just about the desire for your own gifts. It's the fun of giving, too. Many families have kids 'play Santa,' passing out the gifts to each person in preparation for the event. Each person can then choose which gift to open on their turn.