13. Eat the snacks
This is undoubtedly the best sacrifice parents make in the name of Santa. Encourage your kids to leave some milk and cookies (might as well be your favorite recipe) for Saint Nick and some carrots for the reindeer on Christmas Eve. After they've gone to bed — and perhaps as a reward after getting the house all set for the next day — take a few big bites out of the cookies, drink several swigs of milk, and nibble on the carrot. They'll marvel at whatever evidence remains. Feel free to leave a thank-you note from Santa behind – just be sure the handwriting matches up with what's on the presents.
14. Assume they are light sleepers
Even the soundest of snoozers has a hard time sleeping on Christmas Eve — there’s too much anticipation to get a solid night's rest! As handy as it is to warn them that Santa only visits homes with sleeping children, it still means you have to use ninja-like quietness and precision once bedtime has passed. As much as you can do in advance, the better — you don't want to spend half the night feverishly wrapping gifts, stopping every few scissor swipes to listen for rustling children.
