Let's make Christmas shopping stress free again!! Try this new family sneaky shop idea to knock out your family Christmas shopping in one night! And even better.... it's a game that will become a family tradition!
Growing up, my family did this challenge every year. Now, it's a Christmas tradition
I'm excited to start with my own kids. There's only 1 rule:
Don't let the other team see you!!
So, what *IS* the Sneaky Shopping Challenge?
Great question!
--->The short version, you split into teams and buy Christmas gifts for members of the opposite team. You meet together as a group halfway through, then switch up the teams and go again until you've purchased a gift for everyone! The smaller the store, the sneakier you have to be- don't let them see your cart!!
So, let's take a more in-depth look at how this works! Here's what you'll need:
2 hours (ish)
A "supercenter" sized store (Walmart, Target, the mall, etc)
A meeting place (I recommend a restaurant if possible)
Towels, boxes, or extra jackets to hide the gifts once they're in the trunk
Let's take an example family of Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister. Here's how the sneaky shopping might go down ------------------>
1. First, split into teams- Mom/Sister vs Dad/Brother
2. Next, each team will get their own cart making sure they have their jackets handy to cover the gifts (just in case)!
3. Each team leaves the front door going different directions. They then proceed to purchase Christmas gifts for the members of the opposite team (IE. Mom/sister buys gifts for Dad/brother. while Dad/Brother buy their gifts for Mom/Sister)
4. Go out to the car and put away the gifts into your teams boxes or under your teams towels that you brought.
---------------------------------- 5. Go to designated meeting place -------------------------------
6. Switch teams- Mom now goes with brother -and- Dad now goes in with sister.
7. Each team leaves the front door going different directions- same as before. They then proceed to purchase Christmas gifts for the members of the opposite team (IE. Mom/Brother buys gifts for Dad (and a 2nd for sister if you want). while Dad/Sister buy their gifts for Mom (with a 2nd gift for brother if they want.))
8. Go out to the car and put away the gifts into your teams boxes or under your teams towels that you brought.
---------------------------------- 9. Go to designated meeting place -------------------------------
10. When you get home and are ready to unload BE CAREFUL to unload the car in teams. Lol! Whichever gifts are on top should be the first to get unloaded.....
**I highly recommend having kids/teams take their gifts to their rooms immediately and just wrap them then and there!
Adults- no giving ideas!! Here's why:
Well to be perfectly honest, the whole situation is awesome and it's even better if the kids come up with their own ideas! When dad gets paper plates because "he's always doing dishes" it'll be hilarious. When mom gets Kurig's because "coffee is the only thing she loves more than sleep" you'll be *SO proud at what you've taught your children.... (can you tell my families been through this before??)
Here are some things you can ask kiddos instead of giving them ideas:
What does _________ like to do?
What does ___________ do for fun?
What could you and ___________ do together?
What is ___________ favorite snack or food?
Where does __________ like to go?
What does ___________ need?
What is something ___________ liked but ran out of or needs new of?