1. Communicate about the gifts. I ended up with two cd players one year.
2. Establish a set budget with the other parent. Its bad taste to turn the holidays into a competition to earn the child's love.
3. Communicate about what days and time the child will be with which parent. Sometimes there is a court order. If possible, let the child make the choice. Most children want to spend part of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with both parents.
4. Don't introduce the new boyfriend/girlfriend at Christmas. The child will view them as a party crasher intruding upon their Christmas celebration.
5. Do not force the child to spend the holidays with your new boyfriend//girlfriend. This is especially important if you left the child's other parent to be with them.
6. Establish a safe zone. Most children want nothing more than to spend the holidays with both parents at the same time. Suggestions include one of the child's grandparents or the house of a mutual friend.
7. Do not argue in front of the child. Ever.
8. Don't use the holidays to get back at the other parent. I'm pretty sure that's not reason Christ was born.