The Prediction Jar

December has a funny way of filling up before we’ve even turned the calendar over, doesn’t it? Between the shopping, wrapping, school events and trying to remember where you put the Christmas lights, finding time for another family activity can feel like a bit much.

This one can quietly tick along in the background while all of that happens.

The idea is simple: put a jar somewhere everyone can see it, leave some paper and pens beside it, and invite the family to drop in little predictions, wishes and funny guesses throughout December. What do they think will happen this Christmas? What are they hoping for? Who will fall asleep on the lounge after lunch?

Then, on Christmas Eve, you open the jar and read the notes together.

Some will be sweet. Some will be completely ridiculous. And there will probably be at least one that says something like, “I bet Dad burns the gingerbread again.”

You don’t need beautiful handwriting, matching stationery or a family who will happily sit down for an organised craft session. People can add a note whenever something pops into their head. Those little passing thoughts become the entertainment for a lovely Christmas Eve moment together.

Best Ages: All ages - younger children can draw their ideas or ask someone to write for them
Time Needed: About 10 minutes to set up, a few minutes whenever someone adds a note, and 15–20 minutes to read them together
Difficulty: Easy
Repeats Yearly? Yes - bring out the same jar each December

What You Need

• A jar, tin or small box. Use something you already have. A container with a lid helps keep the notes together and discourages curious little peeks. A sturdy plastic jar or box is a good option if young children will be helping themselves.

• Small slips of paper or notecards. Cut a little stack in advance so adding a prediction is quick and easy.

• Pens or pencils. Keep them beside the jar rather than expecting everyone to hunt one down.

• A simple label or sign. Something like “Our Christmas Prediction Jar — Open on Christmas Eve” is enough.

• Optional decorations. Ribbon, Christmas stickers or a handmade label can make setting up the jar a little activity of its own.

• An envelope for keeping the notes afterwards. Write the year on the front so you can find them again next Christmas.

How To Make Your Christmas Prediction Jar

1. Give the jar a place in your December routine

Set it out on December 1st, somewhere the family naturally gathers or walks past regularly. The kitchen bench, dining table or a shelf near the Christmas tree can all work well.

Keep the paper and pens right beside it. The easier it is to add a note, the more likely people are to do it.

And if you’re reading this halfway through December, please don’t feel you’ve missed your chance. Start then! A week of little notes can be just as much fun as a whole month.

2. Explain what can go inside

Let everyone know that they can add a prediction, a wish or a playful guess about this Christmas whenever they like.

A prediction might be:

• “I think we’ll eat Christmas lunch outside.”

• “Someone will forget where they hid a present.”

• “The dog will try to steal something off the table.”

• “I think the baby will sleep through all the excitement.”

A wish could be:

• “I hope we all play a game after dinner.”

• “I hope we get to call our family overseas.”

• “I hope we have pancakes on Christmas morning.”

And a cheeky guess might be:

• “Dad will be asleep before the Christmas movie finishes.”

• “Someone will wear their paper crown all afternoon.”

• “Mum will say we’ve bought too much food.”

Keep the jokes affectionate. You want the person being mentioned to laugh along too.

Wishes don’t have to be about presents, either. This is a lovely chance to find out which small moments everyone is looking forward to.

3. Add a few notes to get things going

An empty jar can be surprisingly intimidating, especially for children who aren’t sure what they’re supposed to write.

Pop in one or two notes yourself, then invite everyone to try one. You could ask, “What do you think will happen at Christmas lunch?” or “What’s one thing you’re really hoping we do together?”

After that, let the jar find its own rhythm. Some days nobody will add anything. Other days a child might have six very important predictions before breakfast.

There’s no need to make it a daily homework task. A gentle reminder now and then is plenty.

4. Help younger children join in their own way

Children don’t need to be able to write independently to take part.

They can tell you their prediction while you write it down, draw a picture, or add a few words with help. If they dictate their note, try to keep their wording exactly as they say it. Their little expressions are often the best part when you read everything back.

For a drawing, you might add a small explanation on the back so you remember what it means. That mysterious brown shape could be the Christmas pudding, the dog or Uncle Dave asleep on the lounge!

Names are optional. Leaving notes unsigned makes guessing the author part of the fun, but younger children may be very proud to put their name on theirs.

5. Fold the notes and save the surprise

Fold each note before dropping it into the jar, then leave the contents unread until Christmas Eve.

You can keep opening the lid to add more slips; the important part is saving the reading for your chosen moment.

If you have enthusiastic little investigators in the house, use an opaque container or wrap a paper sleeve around a clear jar. A label saying “No peeking until Christmas Eve!” can help make it feel like a proper family secret.

6. Make room for family who are far away

If someone won’t be with you for the lead-up to Christmas, invite them to send a prediction or wish by message. Write it onto a slip and add it to the jar for them.

They might predict what will happen during your Christmas video call or send a funny guess about the family lunch.

You could include them in the Christmas Eve reading by video call, or save a few notes to read when you speak to them. It’s a simple way to let them be part of the tradition from wherever they are.

7. Choose your Christmas Eve reading time

Pick a moment when everyone can pause for a little while. After dinner, before a Christmas movie, or while having a hot chocolate can all work.

Take turns pulling out a note and reading it aloud. Help younger children with the reading, or let them choose the next slip for someone else to read.

Before the writer owns up, have a guess at who put it in. You may discover that the most sensible prediction came from the youngest child, while the silliest one was Dad’s.

Some predictions won’t have an answer yet because Christmas Day hasn’t happened. Put those aside and check them again the next evening. It gives you a little bonus round of “Who got it right?”

There’s no need to turn it into a competition unless your family enjoys that. The conversations, laughter and little surprises are enough.

8. Keep the notes with the year

Once you’ve finished reading, tuck the slips into an envelope labelled with the year.

Keep it with the jar or in your Christmas decorations box so it comes out naturally next December. You could read a few of the old notes before starting the new jar.

Over time, you’ll have a collection of your family’s changing wishes, funny observations and confidently incorrect predictions. Things that seemed ordinary when someone wrote them can become lovely little reminders of that particular Christmas.

Keep It Easy Enough to Do Again

If the jar only has eight notes in it by Christmas Eve, that’s absolutely fine. If someone forgets to add one until five minutes before you open it, let them pop it in.

You’re making space for a bit of fun and connection during a busy month. The tradition should fit your family, including the distracted adults, reluctant writers and children whose predictions make very little sense to anyone else.

Those are often the notes you’ll be happiest you kept.

♥ Kim’s Tips

Bring out the same jar every December and keep the previous years’ envelopes with it. Before long, simply putting it on the bench will be enough for someone to say, “Oh, are we doing the predictions again?” That little bit of anticipation is a lovely part of the tradition.

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This post is part of my Christmas Activity Hub - packed with ideas for making Christmas memories.

With love, Kim xx

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