I have a Christmas 'tea' on the last day before we break for the holidays ~ parents are invited to come and socialize the last hour of the day.

Initially i used to have them open their presents together ~ however the first year it was a little mayhem with pieces of toys getting lost and one parents gift got broken by another child so live and learn and NOW as they announce they are leaving for the day and start the good bye process than I hand over their child's gift and ask them to take it home and put under the tree and the child presents their gift to their parent to also take home and put under the tree so that there is a surprise for all on Christmas morning ~ this works way better for me cause I do not need to see them open it and more often than not on Christmas day I get a text or email thank you from the family for their surprise or they wait until the New Year and thank me than and on the rare occasions you get someone who 'forgets' I will just politely ask them 'did the present survive the trip home' with that concern that perhaps it might have broken or something and than they will usually remember they forgot to say thank you