When should you start holiday shopping for a big gift? For anything large, like a climber, slide or playset, aim to order by mid-November. That leaves time for delivery during the busiest shipping weeks of the year, for checking every part when the box arrives, and for assembly before the big day. Smaller gifts and stocking stuffers can wait until December.
A big play gift is the kind of present children remember, but it arrives in a large box, needs assembly and is very hard to hide. The families who enjoy the reveal most plan it backward from the holiday. Here is the countdown, from the first measurement to the moment the lights go on.
Early November: Decide and Measure
Before you shop, measure. Big play gifts need floor space, clearance around them and sometimes ceiling height or a wall with studs.
Measure the room where the gift will live, including the clear space around it for safe play. Check ceiling height if you are considering a tall climber or wall gym. Check the age range and weight limit on each product, and choose for where your child will be in a few months, not just today.
Make a short big-gift list. For each child, note their age, what they love doing most (climbing, sliding, pretend play, helping in the kitchen) and where the gift would go in your home. A child who climbs the sofa is ready for a Pikler set or climbing gym; a child who follows you into the kitchen will love a kitchen tower. Choosing by how a child already plays is the surest way to pick a gift that gets used every day.
Not sure what to choose? Our holiday gift guide for toddlers matches gifts to each age, and our small playroom guide shows what fits in a compact space.
Mid-November: Order the Big Gift
This is the sweet spot for big gifts. Popular items and colors can sell out as the season goes on, and carriers get busier every week closer to the holidays. If a color or size you want is sold out, join our email list so you hear when it is back.
All Avenlur orders ship free within the continental US. Orders placed before 2 PM Eastern usually ship the same day, with typical delivery in 2 to 5 business days. During the holiday rush, carrier delivery times can stretch, which is why ordering in November leaves room for surprises.
One thing to check before ordering early: the return window. Our returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase, so a gift bought in early November may be past its return window by the holidays. If you might need to return or exchange it, open the box and check it as soon as it arrives.
When It Arrives: Open and Check the Parts
It is tempting to tuck the box straight into the garage. Instead, open it as soon as it arrives, while the children are out or asleep, and check every part against the parts list in the manual.
If anything is missing or damaged, contact us right away. Finding out in November leaves plenty of time for a replacement part to arrive. Finding out on Christmas Eve does not. Once you have checked everything, repack the parts in their original box for hiding.
Early December: Plan the Build
Decide now whether the gift will be assembled before the holiday or built as a family project on the day.
Read the manual and watch the assembly video ahead of time. Many Avenlur products have manuals and videos on our product manuals and videos page. Gather the tools, and plan for two adults on larger sets. For wall-mounted climbers, locate the studs and plan the mounting in advance, since installation takes longer than a freestanding set.
Smaller gifts, like a Pikler set or folding slide, often go together in under an hour. Larger climbing gyms and wall gyms can take several hours, which is worth knowing before a late-night build.
Mid-December: Hide and Wrap
Large boxes are hard to hide, so think creatively.
Hide it outside the house: a garage, shed, trunk or a relative's home all work. Wrap the box in plain paper or cover it with a blanket so a curious child cannot read the label. Wrap something small instead: a photo of the gift, a drawing or a clue in a small box under the tree, leading to the real thing. It keeps the surprise without a giant box in the living room.
Christmas Eve: Set the Scene
If you are assembling the night before, start early in the evening rather than at midnight. Once it is built:
- Place a soft mat underneath and around it.
- Check every bolt and connection one final time, and make sure any folding locks are engaged.
- Clear the space around it of furniture, ornaments and cords.
- Add a bow, and step back.
After the Holiday: Two Quick Tasks
Activate your warranty. Avenlur products come with a 5-year warranty, and you can activate it through the Warranty Activation link at the bottom of our site. Keep the manual somewhere you can find it, for future tightening, moving or adding attachments.
Your Countdown at a Glance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Early November | Make a big-gift list, measure the room, check age and weight limits |
| Mid-November | Order, and note the return window |
| On arrival | Open the box and check every part |
| Early December | Read the manual, watch the video, gather tools |
| Mid-December | Hide the box and wrap a clue for under the tree |
| Christmas Eve | Assemble, check every bolt, add a mat and a bow |
| After the holiday | Activate the warranty and keep the manual |
Ready to start? Browse our best sellers, or find the right gift by age in our holiday gift guide.