We don’t have an end time for adults. Kids go to bed at 8. Santa arrives around 10, I’m in bed by 11. The rest of the adults can do what they want.

My kid goes to bed the same time as normal which is 8pm. I'd be ok pushing 9 (she is 7) but thats it. We go to Church at 430 then meet friends for dinner at 6. After dinner we go home and the friends go to the later Church service. I would not mess with bedtime, it makes for a crappy day the next day.

OP, the rest of the family can certainly go out after dinner - partying, clubbing, drinking, dancing, or just driving around and seeing christmas lights.

BUT you will be staying home to put kids to bed AND (1 or 2 hours AFTER kids are in bed so they don't wake up and catch you in the act) to put our Santa gifts. And, yes, BOTH PARENTS (if there are 2) will stay home because it's not fair for ONE to go out and have fun while the other enters into the putting together/battery hell of Santa gifts.

I HOPE they aren't staying with you, and will simply drive home after they go out...but...if they are staying with you:

they may arrive home late but THEY MUST BE QUIET because if they wake the kids they will be hung outside as an effigy and warning to all!

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids? My daughters are 9 and 11 and I will make them go to bed by 10. They like to sleep in the same room on Xmas eve, and they do their own little Xmas celebration in there. They set up twinkly lights and open little gifts for each other, and listen for Santa even though they don’t believe. They are asleep by 11pm, and then with extreme anxiety (of being caught) I set out the gifts.

This is so sweet. Did they come up with this on their own?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids can go to bed at 8 and adults can do whatever they want that doesn’t involve waking up the kids. Let them go out. Were you intending to treat the adults you are hosting like kids?

Also when I say the extended family has visions of going out after dinner, they mean all of us.

Your extended family envisions a family with little children going out AFTER dinner? To where? Where on earth would you all go?

Yeah thats whats difficult with them... bc they have no kids, they dont really get it. So I came on here to see what others do Xmas Eve when hosting. Kids are 3 and 6. The extended fam is coming from an hour away and will be here all day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids can go to bed at 8 and adults can do whatever they want that doesn’t involve waking up the kids. Let them go out. Were you intending to treat the adults you are hosting like kids?

Also when I say the extended family has visions of going out after dinner, they mean all of us.

Your extended family envisions a family with little children going out AFTER dinner? To where? Where on earth would you all go?

How old are your kids? My daughters are 9 and 11 and I will make them go to bed by 10. They like to sleep in the same room on Xmas eve, and they do their own little Xmas celebration in there. They set up twinkly lights and open little gifts for each other, and listen for Santa even though they don’t believe. They are asleep by 11pm, and then with extreme anxiety (of being caught) I set out the gifts.

Anonymous wrote:There is no "standard" for this. You do what works for you and your family.

We typically get together 3pm to 6pm or so and then everyone goes their own ways and gets kids ready for bed.

I've also done morning brunch 10am - 2pm because that is what works best.

Bottom line you tell your guests what you are planning and leave it at that.

Thank you!

Anonymous wrote:It is tricky if people are trying to work that day. We take it off. I have kids who are 3 and 5, and they'll go to bed at their normal time, about 8pm. I'd push it maybe a little, but not super late. Mainly because Christmas day is a long one, with the excitement of gifts and another family gathering, so it all goes better if they are rested.

I'd host 3-6pm or maybe 4-7pm, and then put your kids in pjs and move them along. If people want to go out after dinner (to church, or wherever) let them, but you'll be staying home with the sleeping kids.

Thanks!

It is tricky if people are trying to work that day. We take it off. I have kids who are 3 and 5, and they'll go to bed at their normal time, about 8pm. I'd push it maybe a little, but not super late. Mainly because Christmas day is a long one, with the excitement of gifts and another family gathering, so it all goes better if they are rested.

I'd host 3-6pm or maybe 4-7pm, and then put your kids in pjs and move them along. If people want to go out after dinner (to church, or wherever) let them, but you'll be staying home with the sleeping kids.

There is no "standard" for this. You do what works for you and your family.

We typically get together 3pm to 6pm or so and then everyone goes their own ways and gets kids ready for bed.

I've also done morning brunch 10am - 2pm because that is what works best.

Bottom line you tell your guests what you are planning and leave it at that.

Anonymous wrote:Kids can go to bed at 8 and adults can do whatever they want that doesn’t involve waking up the kids. Let them go out. Were you intending to treat the adults you are hosting like kids?

Also when I say the extended family has visions of going out after dinner, they mean all of us.

Anonymous wrote:Kids can go to bed at 8 and adults can do whatever they want that doesn’t involve waking up the kids. Let them go out. Were you intending to treat the adults you are hosting like kids?

Nope just a simple question asking what end time people usually have when hosting xmas eve when young kids are involved. Its my first time hosting so I wasnt sure about it.

Kids can go to bed at 8 and adults can do whatever they want that doesn’t involve waking up the kids. Let them go out. Were you intending to treat the adults you are hosting like kids?

If you host xmas eve and you have young, Santa believing, kids, what time does everyone leave? Were the only ones with kids in my family so my extended family has visions of "going out" after dinner and staying late. Whats an appropriate time to end the evening?