One of the pleasures of the run up to 25th December has to be Christmas Eve. While many countries make this their main celebration day, in Ireland and the UK and USA certainly, Christmas Eve is a day of anticipation. Will Santa Claus come? What will he bring?

Excitement levels can run high so be sure to fit in some exercise during the day to help tire out wee ones, a brisk walk all bundled up to get some fresh air was always a good trick in our house.

Then all you need to make sure is you have all your Christmas Eve Essentials covered! So here’s our list to help you out:

Top of the list are Christmas pyjamas for the kids to put on after their bath or shower (so you’re all clean for Santa!).

They are great for keeping warm and cozy while waiting for bedtime.

The kids will look extra cuddly in their PJs with a cosy dressing gown. Also perfect for the next morning when they are too excited to get dressed before opening presents!

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And to keep their tootsies warm as they run around excited, a pair of fluffy warm slippers or socks.

You’ll need some teats to leave out for Santa and the reindeer. We usually leave a Christmas cookie or two, a glass of something for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph in our house!

Whether you are into carols or Christmas pop songs, it’s essential to have that music on in the background, it really gets everybody into the mood! Check out our Mykidstime Hip Christmas playlist on Spotify for something a bit different!

Or if you like the more traditional Christmas music, we also have our MyKidsTime Favourite Christmas Hits playlist too!

Christmas Eve wouldn’t be the same without watching a classic Christmas movie together. Our favourites are The Snowman or Elf or Home Alone. Or if we have time, all three!

In our house, everyone gets to choose and open one small gift on Christmas Eve.

I’ve also heard recently about parents giving their kids a Christmas Eve Box with some of these Christmas Eve essentials in them like jammies and hot chocolate mix which I think is a lovely idea.

Need we say more?

As the Christmas classic song goes, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” and an open fire really is the biz (if you have a fireplace) for making it feel perfectly Christmassy.

If you can persuade Mum and Dad to put on their Christmas jumpers or their Christmas jammies then they’ll look just the part. Or failing that a set of reindeer antlers or a pair of Christmas socks!

It’s just the deliciousness of the hot chocolate with melted marshmallows that makes it feel Christmas Eve-ish. Or for some extra Christmas Eve fun try making Snowman Soup!

Yes, Mum and Dad are definitely ready for a glass of bubbly or a cocktail! (Especially if they have a complex toy to assemble or even a trampoline as we did one Christmas Eve!)

A bag of Magic Reindeer Food to sprinkle in the garden to let the Reindeers know where to come!

I love a Christmas-scented candle or putting tealights in my Christmas holders, there’s something so soft and gentle about candle light. (Just remember to keep an eye on them at all times and blow them out at bedtime!)

A proper Gingerbread House is lovely to break pieces off and nibble on. Or how about baking this easy but stunning gingerbread village?

You must have the Santa Tracker up and following progress on the tablet or laptop! Here’sHow to Track Santa and Other Santa Watch Websites to check out.

We like to play a family board game together on Christmas Eve, it helps pass the time too. Some favourite board game suggestions from parents.

And of course when your kids are tucked up in bed, there’s nothing nicer than reading a Christmas bedtime story together. Here are our favourite Christmas stories.