The box arrived. It is taller than your kid, it says exactly what is inside on the side, and the big day is still weeks away. Big gifts like an indoor climber, a kitchen tower or a swing with its own stand are some of the best gifts a child can get, because they get used every day for years instead of being forgotten by New Year's. They are also the hardest gifts to hide, wrap and get ready in time.
This guide covers the last mile: where it waits, how to wrap it, the night before and the reveal. If you haven't ordered yet, start with our week-by-week countdown for big gifts.
Step 1: Open the Box the Day It Arrives
It feels wrong to open a gift early, but this is the most useful thing you can do. Open the shipping box when your child is out of the house or asleep, find the parts list in the manual and count everything against it. Then close it back up.
Checking early means a missing bolt or a damaged board turns up while there is still time to get a replacement, instead of at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. While the box is open:
- Note which tools the manual calls for, so you can find or buy them now.
- Take a photo of the parts list and the first few assembly steps on your phone.
- Put the hardware bags somewhere small kids can't reach. Bolts, washers and caps are choking hazards.
Manuals and assembly videos for every Avenlur set are on our instructions page, so you can read ahead without opening the box twice.
Step 2: Where to Hide a Box That Doesn't Fit Anywhere
A big flat box is easier to hide than you'd think, because flat boxes slide into spaces kids never look. The best spots are indoors, dry and somewhere the box can lie flat or lean against a wall without bending.
| Spot | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Under a bed | Flat boxes slide right under, and kids rarely look there | Measure the clearance before you try |
| Behind a coat rack or long coats | Hides a tall box standing on its edge | Make sure it can't tip onto anyone |
| A friend or relative's house | No risk of discovery at all | Plan who brings it back and when |
| A closet in a room kids don't use | Easy to reach on setup night | Cover the box so printed photos don't give it away |
| Garage or basement | Lots of room | Keep wood off damp floors and away from leaks |
Most shipping boxes have a picture or the product name printed on them. Turn that side to the wall, or wrap the outside in plain paper or a moving blanket so a curious reader can't spell out what it is.
Step 3: How Do You Wrap a Gift That's Too Big to Wrap?
You don't have to wrap the whole thing. Pick the reveal that matches your plan for setup.
Option A: Wrap the box
Best if you plan to build it together after the reveal. Use a roll of kraft paper or a flat sheet instead of holiday wrap, since a long continuous sheet covers a large box in one piece. A big bow on top does the rest. Older kids often love helping build their own climber, and it teaches them how it fits together.
Option B: Build it and cover it
Best for a big morning moment. Assemble it the night before and drape a large sheet, tablecloth or tree skirt over the top. Freestanding climbers like the Magnolia or the Cherry look great under a sheet, and the shape alone builds suspense.
Option C: The clue box
Best when the gift is already built, wall mounted or too big to cover. Wrap a small box with a clue inside: a photo of the climber, a drawing of a slide, or a note that says "Go look in the playroom." Kids love following a trail of clues from the tree to the real gift.
Foldable gifts are the easiest of all to hide and reveal. The Hazel Pikler triangle folds flat, so you can set it up, fold it and tuck it behind the couch until morning. The Chestnut folds too, and the Spruce indoor swing folds flat on its own stand.
Step 4: Build It the Night Before or Reveal the Box?
There is no wrong answer, but each one fits a different family.
| If this sounds like you | Try this |
|---|---|
| Your child is under 3 | Build it ahead. Toddlers care about the climber, not the box, and waiting for assembly is hard at that age. |
| Your child is 5 or older | Consider building together. It becomes part of the gift. |
| It mounts to a wall | Install it before the holiday. Wall gyms need to go into wall studs following the manual, which is not a job to rush at midnight. |
| You have one evening and two adults | Build it the night before, using the checklist below. |
| You're traveling | Wrap the box or use a clue box, and build when you get home. |
Step 5: The Night Before Setup Checklist
If you're building on Christmas Eve, a little prep turns it from a late night into a short project.
- Measure first. Check the assembled size on the product page and measure the floor space and your ceiling height. Our indoor climber comparison chart puts the sizes side by side.
- Clear the room. Leave open space on every side kids will climb or slide off, not just the footprint of the frame.
- Put the mat down before the frame. On hard floors, a padded mat goes under the climber. It's much easier to place first than to slide under a built frame. See which one fits in our crash mat guide and our post on what flooring goes under an indoor climber.
- Lay out parts by step. Group boards and hardware in the order the manual uses them.
- Follow the manual, not memory. Tighten every bolt it calls for and add every cap and cover.
- Test it yourself. Push on it from each side. It should feel solid, with no wobble or gaps between joints.
- Clean up every piece of packaging. Plastic bags, foam, zip ties and leftover hardware all go before the kids come down.
Step 6: Make the Reveal Count
The first few minutes set the tone for how a child uses a climber for years. A few simple things help:
- Let them explore at their own pace. Some kids head straight for the top. Others circle it for ten minutes first. Both are normal.
- Stay close for the first climbs. Watch where they go, how they get down and which parts they skip. It tells you a lot about what they're ready for.
- Set two or three house rules on day one. One child on the slide at a time, feet first, and no climbing without a grown-up nearby. Rules stick better when they come with the gift.
Curious what your child is working on at their age? Our toddler development guide breaks down what each stage looks like and which kinds of play match it.
Which Big Gifts Are Easiest to Hide and Set Up?
If you're still choosing, it helps to think about the hiding and setup part too.
- Folds flat: Hazel for ages 1 to 6, Chestnut for ages 2 to 8, Spruce for 6 months to 3 years. Easy to hide after setup and easy to store later.
- Doubles as furniture: the Laurel kitchen tower for ages 2 to 6 becomes a step stool, a slide and a chalkboard, so it blends in under a sheet as "just furniture."
- Freestanding showpiece: the Magnolia and the Cherry make the biggest morning moment when built ahead and covered.
- Wall mounted: the Walnut Modular Swedish ladder takes almost no floor space. Plan to install it ahead and use a clue box for the reveal.
For more ideas by age, see our holiday gift guide or shop by age. If you have an outdoor playhouse, our post on decorating a kids' playhouse for the holidays has ideas for that too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hide a big Christmas present from kids?
Keep it flat and out of sight in a spot kids don't explore, like under a bed, in a closet in an unused room or at a relative's house. Turn the printed side of the box to the wall or cover it in plain paper so the photos and product name don't give it away.
How do you wrap a present that is too big to wrap?
Use a long sheet of kraft paper and a big bow, drape a sheet or tablecloth over the assembled gift, or wrap a small box with a clue that leads to the real gift.
How do you surprise a kid with a big gift that's already built?
Cover it with a large sheet or tablecloth and add a bow, or wrap a small box with a clue, like a photo or a note, that leads them to it.
How long does it take to set up an indoor climber?
It depends on the set. Read the manual or watch the assembly video ahead of time so you know the steps and tools, and plan for two adults on larger frames.
Can I store a wooden climber in the garage until the holidays?
Indoors is better. If the garage is the only option, keep the box off the floor, away from leaks and damp spots, and bring it inside a day before you build.
Do I need a mat under an indoor climber?
On hard floors, yes. Put the mat down first and build the climber on top of it.