If they have already peeked and it is too late, don't get angry. Instead, take it as a lesson for yourself to be more creative in hiding things next time. Usually it just means not to be careless. Just don't leave the gifts right in the closet where they are sure to be seen.

1) Hide the gifts up high.

If you have little kids, then hiding the gifts in a high place will prevent them from ever being able to reach it. They may know where the gift is, but unless they suddenly grow a few extra feet, they are not going to be able to reach it. Make sure it is not simply on a shelf, otherwise they may try to climb and see the gift.

2) Tape up a bag with the gifts in it.

If you do a thorough job of taping up a bag, you won't have to worry about the kids peeking. The key with peeking is to return a bag to the way it was before you saw it. If you tape it up in a complex pattern, then they won't be able to open the bag, let alone re-tape it without you knowing they looked.

3) Hide it outside the house.

If you don't want the kids looking at the gift, hide it at Grandma's place. They won't be able to see it, they won't know the layout of the house and they will have very few opportunities to look without Grandma catching them.

4) Penalize them for looking.

If you want to play hard ball and you have caught them peeking, make them take the gift to a charity and drop it off. The fact that they will have to give up their gifts as a result of peeking, although for a good cause, will prevent them from peeking the following year. Children learn by example, so this gives them an example of how to be charitable, at the same time as teaching them a lesson.

Inevitably, peeking is going to try to happen, and you have to make sure it doesn't succeed. Hide the gifts in obscure places, wrap them up tight and make sure they know how important it is that they do not peek. After Christmas morning, they will be glad that you surprised them and that they weren't allowed to peek!

After all, where is the story of Christmas if the kids have seen all their presents beforehand. Was Santa ahead of schedule or did one of his workers bring the presents early?