Give family time for Christmas—with a plan to make it happen

A homemade gift voucher can promise something simple: a drawing afternoon, a shared story or a game together. Before you put it in an envelope, decide what you are offering, who will arrange it and when it will happen—or when you will agree a date.

Use the blank voucher and adult checklist below to plan one shared activity. Copy the prompts onto paper and fill them in; no account or special template is needed.

Choose one activity the recipient would enjoy

Start with a small, specific offer. “We will draw a make-believe town together” gives you something to plan. “A whole day of surprises” leaves more to work out.

A paper coupon for a family outing is one of Action for Children’s Christmas gift suggestions. The activity can also happen at home. You could read together, draw or play a game. Choose something that fits the recipient’s interests and the time and materials you have.

Give the child a voice in the choice. You might ask, “Would you rather draw with me or play a game?” They can point, draw or tell you their answer instead of writing it. If the voucher is a surprise, offer one idea and leave room to change it together afterwards.

Write roughly how long you plan to spend together. It is an estimate, not a target the child needs to meet. A shorter version can be your alternative if either of you wants to stop earlier.

Decide who will arrange it and when

Name the adult who will check the calendar and prepare what is needed, so the recipient knows who will arrange the gift.

If you already have an agreed date, write the month in words and include the year and time: “9 January 2027 at 2 pm”. If you cannot confirm a date yet, write when you will agree one and who will start that conversation: “I will talk with you by 3 January 2027, so we can choose a date.”

The deadline for agreeing a date tells you when to make the plan. It is not the activity date. Leave enough time to make the arrangements. Once the date is agreed, add it to your calendar as well as the voucher.

For a preschool outing, explain what will happen in advance and keep the length adaptable. Naître et grandir’s guidance for outings with children ages 3–5 recommends preparation, marking the date on a calendar and adjusting to the child’s pace. It does not prescribe a fixed duration for this gift.

Check the practical details before you give it

For an outing, check opening times, booking requirements, transport and any cost before writing the promise. Do not assume a place will be open or admission will be free. For an activity at home, check that the adult can set aside the time and that the materials are available.

Use the adult checklist for those details. The gift itself can say “at home” or “at the library we choose together”; it does not need an address, contact details or financial information. Keep both sheets with the family.

Choose a simple alternative you would be willing to offer. If an outing cannot happen, that might be an activity at home. If the child wants a different activity, discuss a replacement rather than treating the voucher as something they must use exactly as written.

Blank family-time gift voucher

Copy these prompts onto paper, or use them to make your own notes. Names are optional; drawings work too.

A gift of time together

• For, if you want to add it: ____________________
• From, if you want to add it: ____________________
• One thing we will do together: ____________________
• About how long we plan to spend: ____________________
• The adult arranging it: ____________________
• Where, in general terms: ____________________
• Choose one timing option:
• Our agreed full date and time: ____________________
• Or, we will agree a date by: ____________________. The adult starting that conversation: ____________________
• If the first plan cannot happen, our simple alternative is: ____________________
• If we change the plan, we will agree a replacement date by: ____________________

Fill in one timing option. On the replacement-date line, write the deadline for agreeing a new date if plans change; this does not book the activity.

Example: a drawing afternoon

This is a fictional example, not a family’s reported experience. The length and dates are choices for this example, not recommendations for every child.

A gift of time together

• For: You
• From: Me
• One thing we will do together: Draw a make-believe town and tell each other who lives there.
• About how long we plan to spend: Around 30 minutes, with the option to finish sooner.
• The adult arranging it: Me; I will set out the paper and pencils.
• Where: At home, at the table.
• Our agreed full date and time: 9 January 2027 at 2 pm
• If the first plan cannot happen: We can read a story together at home instead, if we both want to.
• If we change the plan: I will talk with you by 12 January 2027, so we can agree a replacement date.

The other timing option stays blank because this example already has an agreed date.

Private adult arrangement checklist

Before you give the voucher:

• Ask about the recipient’s interests, or leave room to change a surprise activity together.
• Confirm which adult will arrange it and that they can make time for it.
• Choose an agreed full date and time, or a deadline for agreeing a date with a responsible adult.
• Check materials, transport, opening times, booking and any cost that applies. Keep your notes private.
• Choose a simple alternative and check that it is practical too.
• Decide when you will agree a replacement date if the plan changes.

After giving it, confirm the activity with the recipient, finish any outstanding checks and put the agreed date on your calendar.

If the plan changes, explain what has changed and talk with the recipient in time to agree a replacement date by the deadline you wrote. If you cannot meet that deadline either, contact them and agree a new one.

Finish the plan before you wrap the gift

Write the activity first, then the adult’s name and the timing option. Check the practical details before you wrap it. The decoration can wait until the promise is clear.

The voucher and checklist are original planning aids from Before the Magic. They are not a tested method for improving follow-through. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ family-ritual guidance supports giving children a voice in family planning; the specific fields and replacement-date prompts here are our editorial suggestions.

Print the voucher and adult checklist

Open the accessible printable · Download Letter PDF · Download A4 PDF

Two pages: the gift voucher and a separate adult checklist. Print at actual size. Keep your completed copy private.