How to Carefully Open Presents Before Christmas

Make sure you choose to do this when no one is around. Such as when they are at work, at school, sleeping, or gone out. If not possible, simply go into a room with a lock and hide under a blanket.

Go to where the presents are and choose a present you want to see. Make sure it is yours because you don't want to mess up someone else's present by accident.

Observe how the gift is wrapped. This will help when you put it back together. If possible, take a photo of the present pre-unwrapping.

If you don't want to mess up the gift wrapping, take a peek where there is a hole. Most wraps are translucent, so you have a hint of what you got for Christmas. Also, if you already have a prediction of what you might be getting, feel around the package for any textures that might give it away. Take care not to feel around too hard or you might rip the wrapping paper.

Get a knife or scissors and cut through the tape on the edge of the gift wrap. Don't completely sever the tape; use the knife or scissors to lift the edge of the tape away from the paper. Only do this on one side. Or simply use your fingers to carefully remove the tape. Replace the tape after you have seen the present. If you cut the tape, put another piece over the cut to make it less obvious.

Slide out the gift. If you are lucky, you can see the present from one side. If not, carefully slide it out, don't rip the gift wrap. If you are having trouble don't unwrap it. Only because it may be obvious that you opened it.

Clean up the dirty work. After you have seen the gift, put it back exactly how it was. Wrap the gift and tape it back up. Try not to leave any signs of tampering, and make sure to be very quiet.

When you're done, put it back where it was before and make sure it looks like no one has even touched it.

Make sure you act surprised on Christmas day.