A Secret Santa Christmas gifts exchange is a fun and easy holiday activity teens will enjoy. Playing Secret Santa simplifies Christmas gift giving, with each member of a group giving and receiving one anonymous gift. For a party, school event, or at work, a gift exchange is a simple way to share the joy of the holidays.
For a basic Secret Santa gift trade, each teenager draws the name of another teen. Each participant plays "Santa" and secretly gets a gift for that person. Teens usually meet at a later date to exchange presents.
Planning a Teenage Secret Santa Christmas Gift Exchange
Secret Santa planning ideas include:
- Deciding which teens will be involved
- Gathering participant names
- Announcing rules or limits
- Choosing (secretly) who is buying for whom (i.e. drawing names)
- Deciding if Santas will be kept secret or revealed
- Giving participants time for obtaining and wrapping presents
- Choosing a way, place, and time to exchange gifts
- Organizing the exchange
Variations include setting limits on price or specifying gift type. For instance, a crafty group could trade homemade ornaments. A group with money to spend may prefer to purchase Secret Santa gifts.
Other ideas for a Secret Santa include trading funny used items ("White Elephants"), homemade baked goods, or any other theme the group prefers. Teens might like a CD or DVD exchange.
Great Christmas Gift Exchange Gift Ideas for TeensFriends will find it easy to shop for a teen pal. It can be harder to think of good Secret Santa Christmas gift ideas when the recipient is not as close. Asking others about the person can help or a nice generic gift will work.
Some purchased gifts appropriate for teens include:
- A yummy gift basket stuffed with holiday treats
- A DVD of an awesome movie or holiday film
- A special Christmas ornament
- A unique blank journal
- Totally cool socks
- A stuffed animal (maybe holding a candy cane)
- A funny hat
Ideas for Exchanging Secret Santa Christmas Presents
If teens are trading the gifts at a party or gathering, wrapped presents may be hidden in paper bags until put under a Christmas tree or on a table. This will ensure gift givers stay anonymous.
To keep things secret, gifts may be mailed (if there will be no party), delivered to work, or another location in a sneaky way. Gifts can be piled and passed out at an event. Tags for anonymous presents might say something like “To Chelsea, from your Secret Santa.”
For gift exchanges where “Santa” will be revealed, organizers can set guidelines. Teen Santas could hand deliver gifts when the recipient’s name is called. Another idea is to put a note inside each gift naming the giver.
Secret Santa Party Games
Secret Santa gifts can be incorporated into a teen party game.
- Dice game: Everyone sits in a circle and a tray and two dice are passed. As each person gets doubles, he or she picks out and opens the appropriate gift.
- After each teen opens a Christmas gift, the person guesses his or her Secret Santa. If the guess is correct, that person wins a small prize.
- Prizes can be awarded for any fun category, such as: "Best Gift Wrapping," "Most Sneaky Santa," or "Funniest Gift."
For more ideas, read:
- What is a White Elephant Gift Exchange Activity? Fun Present Trading Party Activity Idea for Kids, Teens & All Ages
- Various Ways to Play a White Elephant Party Game: Ideas How to Organize a Gift Exchange Party for Teens or Kids
- Teen Christmas Party Ideas & Dance Themes
Above all, the idea of a Secret Santa is to add holiday fun to the season. Everyone should relax, enjoy the event, and be thrilled silly with whatever they get.
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
