How to Find Christmas Presents That Your Parents Have Hidden

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Last Updated: December 23, 2024 References

We all know the feeling: Christmas is coming and you just can't wait to find out what you’re getting this year. Yes, Santa's still coming, but your parents have left tantalizing hints and even put some boxes and tubes and funny-shaped packages under the tree. The curiosity is driving you to extra helpings of eggnog. Want to know if being nice has paid off? Of course you do! Here are some tips that might help.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Finding Hidden Presents

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1
Try to be as stealthy as possible. The first rule of present-peeking is that you search only when you’re sure your parents won't catch you. Preferably, search while they’re not home. If that’s not an option, search while they’re busy elsewhere in the house. It helps to have a quick place to hide if you hear someone coming.
- You can also search at night if you think you could do so without getting caught. However, be extremely careful. Don't do this if anyone you live with has violent reactions or owns a gun. You could be mistaken for a burglar.
- If you have siblings, try to do this while they're outside the house as well. Many siblings would be more than willing to snitch on you.
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Do your homework. No, not your math (but make sure to get that done as well), your sleuthing homework. Take photos before you search an area, using either a camera or cell phone. Snap a few pictures of how everything is arranged before you touch any of it. Make sure you capture every angle, because if even one small thing is out of place, your hard work will be for nothing.
- When you’re done snooping, use the pictures to put everything back in its right place. It’ll be like you were never there.
- Be sure to delete the photos when you’re finished! Especially if this isn't your own camera, or your parents or siblings have access to it, this is definitely foolproof evidence if you're caught.
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Start with the obvious places. Your parents’ bedroom is the most likely candidate, so start in the closet and under the bed (some parents are careless like this). Then move on to hall closets, high shelves, or anything that’s out of reach.^{[1]
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- Check inside bags. If your presents aren’t wrapped yet (or your parents are sneaky), there might be goodies inside plain paper and plastic bags.
- Look inside rooms that are suddenly locked around Christmas. Look through the keys on your parents’ key chains. Indoor locks (the kind with just the small hole in the knob) are just privacy locks, and can usually be opened with a tiny screwdriver.^{[2]
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- If your parents like spy movies, make sure they haven't put a piece of tape or something in the door so they can tell if somebody opens the door.
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Move on to the other rooms, no matter how innocent they may appear. A really crafty parent might even hide things in your own bedroom! Search all nooks and crannies, including cabinets, closets, vents, suitcases, and the spaces between sofa pillows. Don’t disregard anything if you really want to find those presents!
- Try looking in "off the beaten path" places, like laundry baskets and under the bathroom sink. You never know what you'll find.
- Look through every box you find. Especially devious parents may even hide your gifts in a box with something unsuspecting like 'tax returns' or 'spare bedding' written on it.
Look in the storage room, basement, garage, sun-room, attic, shed, or storm cellar if you have one. Look under the deck or patio as well.
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Look inside your parents’ cars. Your parents might be keeping gifts there until they think it’s safe to bring them inside. Don’t forget to check the glove box.
- Also look in roof or bike storage units. They may be locked, but the key is easy to find if you know where your parents usually keep their keys.
Only do this if your parents bring you to work for some reason. Be very careful not to get into important documents or any of their coworkers' belongings; this might get you into serious trouble.
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Check your relative or neighbor’s house. If your family is very close with friends or family members who live nearby, your parents might have kept your presents with them for safekeeping. Only try this if you’re going to be over there anyway; never try to sneak in uninvited. Again, don’t search any 'personal' areas that might get you into trouble (such as bedrooms or home offices).
- Be warned that some gifts you find at a relative's house may not be for you, especially if they have any children of their own.
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Search for receipts if all else fails. These could be in the dresser, the car, mom’s purse, or dad’s wallet. You might also find a product description or purchase confirmation in your parents' email inbox or internet history if they bought your presents online. Also try to look for plastic bags that may reveal where they went shopping.
- Unless you're extremely careful, looking for receipts in mom’s purse or dad’s wallet is a bad idea. If you're caught you'll be in huge trouble. It's almost impossible to put papers and receipts back exactly as they were.
- Be extra careful if you decide to snoop on your parent’s computer. This is a serious violation of privacy and can ruin your entire family’s Christmas.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Figuring Out Wrapped Gifts

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1
Check out the box. If it's sealed tight, don't try to open it—wrapping paper can tear very easily, and if the wrapping paper tears, you will probably be caught. If there is any gap in the paper, you might be able to see the color of the box, and at least figure out where they were shopping.
- If it's almost square and about 5-inches (140 mm) long, it's obviously a CD. Just think about saying anything to your parents about your favorite CD that you want, and that's probably what it is.
- If it's slim, rigid and rectangular, it's most likely a DVD or video game, especially if you hear a distinctive disc rattling sound when you shake it. A similarly shaped present that dips inwards on all but one of the edges is a hardback book, and if it's slightly bendy it's a paperback book.
- If it's a long, soft rectangle that's not too deep, it might be clothes. Soft and roughly cylindrical presents could be socks. If a squishy present is unusually round or otherwise oddly shaped, it's likely a stuffed toy.
- A box that is larger on the bottom, and has a really skinny top, is usually either two similar gifts wrapped together or a game of some sort. If there's a second, smaller box taped to the the outside, it's probably batteries for the game.
- If the box is about the size of a shoe box, feel around the sides of the box, near the top. If there's a lip, you can be pretty certain you have new shoes!
- If it's a very long and thin cuboid, try not to drool; you've probably got some candy. Long, very light cylinders are surely posters, and square flat ones usually turn out to be calendars.
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Shake the box. Does it make any rattling noises, or can you feel something move inside when you shake? If it does, try to describe what you hear. If you hear chime sounds, it might be a music box; if you hear thumps, it could be something inside something else. If you hear broken glass, put the box down!
- If you hear broken glass, you may have already broken something inside. Take a quick peek inside the box if you hear this, and if something is broken, go apologize to your parents. It's better to tell the truth now and face the consequences than lying your way out of it later.
Some presents, especially candy and bath bombs, can be identified by their scent wafting through the wrapping paper. Take a sniff at the corners of the box, where there might be tiny gaps in the paper that allow smells to escape.
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Beware the large box. Parents are tricky—often times, they will put a small box inside a larger box, especially if the shape of the small box would give up the secret of what's inside.^{[3]
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- If the box is large, but is not very heavy, you can be pretty sure it's not packed with clothing, books, or other heavier things.
- Some parents booby-trap presents that are already wrapped by putting them inside bigger boxes stuffed with paper, packing peanuts or other things to reduce sound when you shake them. If you can’t guess what a large present is based on its size, this might be why.
- Truly clever parents will nest smaller boxes inside larger boxes if they catch you snooping. You'll open one box, and find another and then another. Your Big Present may actually turn out to be a gag gift, like a magic decoder ring, or some other silly stocking stuffer.^{[4]
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- Never dismiss a small box. It could turn out to be something valuable such as a mobile phone, jewelry, gift cards or even concert tickets.
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Dig deeper. If the paper wrapping the present is slick and shiny, you can try peeling off the taped ends. Take great caution with this, because wrapping paper tears easily. Unless you have more of the same wrapping paper, you could ruin your sleuthing expedition.
- Peel off one end only, if you can. If you manage to loosen up one end, you'll be able to get a peek at the sides of your present.
- Beware of bows and ribbons. Never remove a bow from a wrapped present, as these are practically impossible to put back on looking pristine.
Referring to your snapshots, return everything to its original position, seal up any presents you opened and have a Merry Christmas!

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Avoiding Suspicion

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1
Plan present peeking around your life, not the other way around. If 90% of your activities around the holidays are you disappearing to the basement with a flashlight, someone will definitely get suspicious. Remember to only search when you are sure no one is watching and you won't get caught.
- Similarly, don't search in one of your parents' or siblings' favorite spots, such as their rooms or offices, when they are home. They could go there at any time and you will have great difficulty being stealthy.
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Keep your tools or supplies at inconspicuous places where they won't be seen by anyone else. If you have a notebook full of your notes about what you've found, your brother or sister could easily find it and have a ton of reasons to snitch on you. Keep it somewhere safe like under your mattress, or keep it digital, such as in a text editor.
- Be careful keeping a digital log if you use a shared computer.
Even if this is your own device, parents often randomly check their kids' devices and history, so be prepared.
If your parents know you normally love painting, and suddenly have been producing no paintings since Thanksgiving, they will think something is wrong. Don't make present peeking your new hobby if it means you'd have to abandon another activity.
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Keep your grades up. If you bring home an F on a test or a D on a project because you avoided studying or working in favor of snooping, you will likely be punished, which could even mean getting one of your presents taken away. If you can, try to get even better grades around the holidays. This way, even if you get caught peeking at presents, your parents may punish you less or even not at all because of your good grades.
- Similarly, be on your best overall behavior and stay out of trouble.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Reacting If You Get Caught

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If you hear someone coming, you've got to think quick- and the best first step would be to find somewhere to hide. You may not be able to get out for a few minutes, so don't choose an overly uncomfortable or creepy spot. For example, if you were hiding in the living room, hide behind the couch or the armchair.
Quickly put your supplies in an inconspicuous place, and pretend to be playing on your phone or something normal. Make sure it's something your parents will believe that you are doing; if you are in the laundry room and you say you are taking a nap, it is highly unlikely your story will convince them.
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If none of those tactics worked, and your parents caught you, apologize. It's better to come clean than to make excuses or try to talk your way out of it. If your excuses don't work, you may get in even more trouble for lying to them.
- Say something like this: "Mom, I'm sorry that I went looking for my Christmas presents. I know you like surprising me with gifts at Christmastime and I ruined it for you. I promise I won't go snooping around again."
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Accept any punishment your parents give you without defiance. By looking for your presents, you are taking a large gamble. Thus, if you were caught, you are accepting that you took a large gamble and are accepting the ramifications. This includes any punishments your parents want to give you. This could be as simple as a verbal warning, or as severe as taking away all of your presents. However, if you apologize sincerely, say you won't snoop again, and not talk back while your parents lecture you, they may punish you less.
- If your parents say they will take away presents, don't argue. By snooping, you are ruining the surprise, so you may actually be happier not having any spoilers.
Once you get caught, your parents will probably be keeping an extra close watch on you to make sure you don't snoop again. If you suspect your parents are watching, don't snoop or do anything related to snooping. If they have relaxed their rules after you getting caught, you would likely be okay trying to hunt for presents a little bit more. Just remember to do this at your own risk only.

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Question

Could they hide it in my room?

Community Answer

They could, but they probably wouldn't, because you'd be more likely to find it there. If there's a closet or something in your room that you never use, check there!

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What if I can't find any presents that are mine?

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Look harder. You can be sure they got you at least one present. Also, look in unpredictable places such as the closets. My parents used to hide presents in suitcases.

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How do I find gifts in a big house?

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Gather some friends, divide the rooms up among you, and get searching! It would be best to do this when your parents aren't home. But if they are home, just pretend you're playing hide and seek!

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Tips

If the gift tag on your present is a sticker, and/or there is a bow on it, there is an easy way to get a sneak peek at your gift. All you need are stealthy fingers and a letter opener. Just carefully peel off the gift sticker or the bow, then make a small cut with your letter opener where the adhesive would be. This is an easy-to-hide, low-effort way to see what you're getting.^{[5]
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If snooping at night while your parents are out, always listen for cars pulling into the driveway and turn on as few lights as possible so that you can turn them off quickly to hide.

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Be ready with excuses in case you get caught, such as why the lights were on, why you were in the basement, what you were looking for, etc.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Make sure you use the same wrapping paper that the present is wrapped in to patch any holes you tear in it. This will make it harder to see. If the patches are too obvious, hide it at the back of the tree.
If you are traveling to a relative's house by car for Christmas, check the trunk of the car for any presents. If your parents catch you, say you lost something small, such as a ring or an earing.
Look at your Amazon history, and your parent's email, if you have access.. Look at their recently viewed items and their cart. Check for order confirmations in their email.
.If a package arrives in the mail, ask your mom to see it. If she says "no", it may be a Christmas present. You'll have to snoop carefully.
Try making an educated guess instead of opening your presents. Opening your presents may backfire, and it will ruin the surprise.
Try not to shake the box too hard. If your present is shattered, you will have a hard time explaining what happened.

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Warnings

If you do find your presents, do not visibly alter them in any way. Be sure to act surprised when you open them on Christmas Day. If your parents find out that you spoiled the surprise, they may decide to return or donate your gifts.

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Be forewarned that you might be disappointed with what you find.

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Know that if your parents catch you peeking at gifts, there is no easy way to excuse yourself, and you may be punished severely.

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If your parents know that you want a specific present that is somewhat expensive, don't be discouraged if you don't find it. They have probably hidden it exceptionally well to be sure that you don't find it.

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If you have siblings who snitch, be 100% positive that they're fast asleep.

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If your parents bought your presents off Amazon, and they aren't wrapped yet, be extremely careful trying to open them. A lot of Amazon boxes have special tape advertising their service that you can't find easily anywhere else. This means if you mess up while trying to peek inside, you won't have any easy way to cover it up.

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While snooping around the house, you may find something shocking that you were never meant to see.

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Parents sometimes hide presents in storage units, making them impossible to get hold of.

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If you're searching in or near fragile objects, be extra careful. Your parents will get mad if you break them, especially if they realize you were present hunting.

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It's very likely that your Christmas will not be as much fun if you do this! You will spoil the excitement and anticipation if you know your gifts in advance.

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Doing this can really spoil Christmas for your parents. They feel great about giving you presents. Be respectful and don't take that away from them.

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Be cautious working with other people. They could be double agents who will give away your secrets to your parents!

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If you have siblings, you can find out what they're getting and swap information you have about their gift and your gift. Make sure you can trust them because some siblings will snitch on you.

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If you don’t find anything, just accept it. You’ve waited for your presents before and can do it again.

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If you tear the wrapping paper, look for the exact same type to rewrap the gift. Don't even think about using different paper, because it will look even worse and set you back even farther. If you rip the paper and can't find an exact replacement, go tell your parents and apologize for snooping.

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If you are caught snooping with foolproof evidence against you, just tell the truth. You will get in even more trouble if you try to lie your way out of the situation.

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Do not under any circumstances snoop at night if one of your family members is violent or owns a gun or weapon. You could be mistaken for a burglar.

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