5. Go the extra mile with assembly-required toys
Older kids might begin to suspect why Santa would bother making a toy in his workshop only to disassemble it and box it up (easier to fit in his satchel, you could say). If you have it in you, present a fully assembled Barbie’s Dream House or a ready-to-ride bicycle under the tree, with tags and packaging out of sight. This does require some advanced planning — whatever you do, don't wait to crack open Barbie's 40-page instruction manual until Christmas Eve night — but the effect is well worth it.
6. Pay attention to seemingly unimportant details
Let's say that, every year, Santa includes a healthy red apple among each kids' stocking stuffers. You better make sure you aren't pulling those straight from the fridge the night before. A child on the verge of discovering the truth may have preemptively counted how many apples are in the pile before bed, and a quick count Christmas morning could confirm suspicions.
