Admittedly, it’s not ideal—opening a picture of a Playstation or a cozy sweater isn’t going to be as exciting as opening the gift itself. But there are ways to build a little anticipation (and add a little fun to the proceedings). The top tip: Don’t make your IOU gift a bummer. No need to go into your shipping woes and how hard it was to track down the gift in the first place. Focus on the positive—that this amazing gift they’re going to love will be on its way as soon as possible. Humor is also a good idea—such as making a joke about how the gift is taking the scenic route into town. Check out belated birthday cards for some inspiration. And for kids who believe in Santa, read them a “note” from the man himself saying that the gift requires a little extra magic to produce, and will arrive as soon as it can. (Best not to put a specific date on it, in case the shipping turns out to be delayed even further.) If your IOU gift doesn’t have an appropriate ancillary gift, a small foodie treat like cookies, candy, tea, or their favorite snack foods will always be welcome. Just don’t go too overboard; setting up an elaborate scavenger hunt with an IOU at the end may lead to a feeling of disappointment.
