Why Santa Needs a Toolbox this Christmas
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Assembling toys and putting batteries into electronics is sometimes a frustrating part of preparing for the holidays, but a little bit of planning ahead of time can make everything go smoothly. This year, instead of just leaving out milk and cookies for Santa Clause, consider gifting him a holiday toolbox. Here’s what you should include.
Screwdrivers—and Lots of Them!
There’s no telling how many battery covers you’ll need to remove from remote control toys or how many pieces of that adorable kitchen playset will need to be screwed into place to make everything perfect for Christmas morning. Packing both Phillips head and flathead screwdrivers will make everything easier, but keep in mind that some toys will have tiny screws. Add a variety of sizes to your Santa’s toolbox to prevent last-minute headaches. You can also invest in an interchangeable ratcheting screwdriver set to cover a range of needs. Here’s a pro tip for putting kids’ toys together; sometimes an eyeglas repair kit has the perfect screwdriver size for small battery covers on the backs of toys.
Invisible Tape and Scissors
In case you have last-minute wrapping to take care of (or if a wrapped gift accidentally tears in the shuffle), it’s a good idea to have scissors and extra invisible tape on hand. If Santa has a helper, double up on both so you can work together throughout the night to finish putting all the trimmings on your family’s gifts. Scotch tape is always great, but you can also find invisible tape at the dollar store that will work nicely. If you want to take a fun approach to last-minute gift wrapping, consider using colorful washi tape instead of invisible tape!
Wire Cutters
So many toys come with wires that hold parts into place within the packaging. Untwisting them takes forever and can even result in a few broken nails. A pair of wire cutters makes quick work of these tethered-down toys and reduces the time your kids spend waiting to play with their gifts.
Batteries
No matter how well you plan, there will never be enough batteries to last through the holidays. Stash extra packs of AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries inside Santa’s toolbox to keep all the electronic gifts working. If you prefer rechargeable batteries, toss an extra charger in there for good measure. Keep track of all the battery-operated gifts you buy so you can make sure you have enough batteries on hand to power all the presents under the tree.
Box Cutters
Box cutters are essential for opening all the packages you have delivered to your home, but they can also make it much easier to open the packaging for toys. For safety, consider choose a design with retractable blades, like this ergonomic box cutter, to help prevent accidents.
Manual Can Opener
No, Santa probably won’t be opening cans of soup on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, but a manual can opener works wonders on pesky plastic blister packs. Remote controls, headphones, and even some action figures come in this type of packaging, and clamping onto the edge with a can opener lets you roll the blade around the edges until each side is open. The best manual can opener will have handles and a simple twist mechanism to make operation easy. Avoid using the kitchen can opener so you don’t dull the blades.
Magnets
Telescoping magnet pickup tools, like those you might use in a workshop or garage, are ideal for finding loose screws that fall out of packages. This is a particularly good idea if your home is carpeted so you don’t have to worry about fishing loose screws and nails from the bottom of the carpet. Be sure to also stash a few small storage containers or baggies to keep any extra screws in after you’re done assembling for the night.
So, why should you have a separate toolbox just for Santa? Even if you have most (or all) of these tools sitting around the house, you probably won’t be able to find them when you need them on Christmas Eve. Assembling a toolbox just for the holidays can make it easier to bring the magic of Christmas presents to life, with fewer headaches and a reduced need for the first aid kit. Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to buy everything new each year. Take stock of what you have a few weeks ahead of time and gather everything together. You’ll be able to see if you need more tape, batteries, or even a replacement Philips head screwdriver (because you know you can never find it when you need it!).
You can also use these ideas when you’re shopping for stocking stuffers to give to the Santa of your household (check out more of our stocking stuffer ideas). Of course, you don’t have to purchase all these items new. If you already have them in your home, simply gather them together ahead of time. The key is to have everything in one place so you’re not rifling through the garage or digging around in the basement when you should be having visions of sugarplums dance in your head.
