Let’s be honest, buying family group gifts for Christmas can get tricky depending on the ages of the kids and what the family’s interests are. Christmas gifts for teens are going to be different than the gifts for younger kids that you’ll shop for. And the parents have to be taken into consideration because if they won’t like the gift then it’s not going to work. These ideas for family gifts that everyone can enjoy will get you started, and I’ve also given you some suggestions for things to avoid giving!
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Types of gifts.
I’ve divided this into sections with different types of gifts. You can jump to each section by using these links:
- Games and indoor activities
- Experience gifts
- Fun things but they’re more work for the parents
- Things the older kids will like
- Gifts that are more for the parents
Games and indoor activities.
Games that the family can play together are fun, and things that the family can do together as a group are also good. Make sure that if you’re giving a “loud” gift (you’ll see what I mean down the list) that the family has a place to contain the noise, like a playroom. If they have an open-concept living room where you can’t get away from the noise, have mercy and don’t give them something that the parents won’t be able to get away from.
Board game bundle.
Board games are good for all ages, but make sure to tailor the game to the family and the ages of the kids. It’s usually better to get games that are a little bit on the older side for most kids, since games that are too simple won’t appeal to anyone.
Family movie night basket.
Get a basket and put in microwave popcorn and a gift card for a month of Netflix or Amazon video rentals.
Family puzzle.
Customize a puzzle for the family to do together, and put a picture of them or of their house on it. The goofier the picture, the more fun people will have with putting it together.
Matching pajamas.
Definitely an indoor gift, matching pajamas can become a tradition that the whole family can use.
Escape room board game.
Get a puzzle game that they family can solve together. If the kids are old enough, you could get them tickets to an actual escape room in your area. The board games are usually best for older kids or teens.
Karaoke microphone set.
This is the “loud” gift I was talking about above…Don’t give this to a family unless you know for sure they have somewhere they can put it where people who don’t want to hear it won’t have to hear it. They can use it together, but the kids will probably bring friends over to use it at different times, and nobody needs to hear that.
Lego or building set.
Legos can be a fun activity for the family to do together as long as the kids are old enough to participate. I once built an entire K’Nex rollercoaster basically by myself because someone gave it to us when my kids were about 2 and 5, and they were too young to do much with it. That was not fun. but older kids would love it, so be age-appropriate and it will be a winning gift.
Family trivia game cards.
These family trivia cards are good for a group, and you can play competitively or cooperatively depending on the age of your kids. These come with questions of different difficulties, so everyone can participate.
Conversation starter cards.
This is good for younger school-aged kids and older, but make sure the set that you’re giving has questions that the kids in the family can answer. Sets that are aimed at adults are probably not going to be family-friendly!
Experience gifts.
Experience gifts can be fun for families with younger kids who like going places on the weekends or doing family activities. If the family you’re giving the gift to has teenagers who would prefer not to spend their free time with their parents, make sure that the experience you’re giving them is age-appropriate!
Picnic backpack or basket.
This is a fun gift for families who like to do outdoor activities, or who go to the playground on a regular basis.
Museum membership.
If you have local museums that the family likes, give them a gift membership for the family.
Concert tickets.
If there’s a group that the family all enjoys, give them tickets to a concert if the artist is performing somewhere nearby. I’ve gone to a lot of concerts with my kids and it’s a fun time for everyone.
Zoo or aquarium membership.
This is fun for everyone. Animals and an aquarium experience are educational without feeling that way, and it gives the family a place to go together where everyone will enjoy themselves.
Local experience gift card.
If you live near an amusement park or a place that has special events, get the family a gift card so that they can attend.
Family camping starter kit.
If the parents are outdoorsy and would find camping fun, a camping supplies set would be a good gift. Do not give this to people who wouldn’t be caught dead at a campground, make sure that they’d be interested!
National parks pass.
If you live near a National Park or even a state park that requires daily passes, get them a pass to go to the park to enjoy it as a family.
Group cooking class gift card.
A group cooking class can be fun for older kids and parents because you usually get to eat whatyou make, and the prep and cleaning is done for you!
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Things that are fun but are more work for the parents.
This section includes things that are fun to do as a group, but that involve extra work for mom and dad. Be wary of these gifts if the parents are totally stressed-out managing things, because giving someone a “work gift” can be bad in that situation. If the family likes doing things in the kitchen together, these will be good presents to consider.
Backyard fire pit.
If the family has a yard, you can get them a kit to build a firepit, or a premade one. Building it together can be fun, and then everyone can enjoy it together later. If they’re not into the DIY thing, get them a premade one that they can use right out of the box.
S’mores gift basket.
This is something that you can put together yourself and the family can use if they do have a firepit!
Indoor herb garden kit.
This is fun and can make kids see how long it takes to grow your own herbs, but make sure that they have space for it! If they’re short on counter space you might want to skip this one.
Pizza-making kit.
Food is a good gift, and a pizza kit will teach kids that the best pizza is made at home, not bought from the store. You can get a kit with the pan and cutter, then add some ingredients that you get at the grocery so that they have everything they need. Get a recipe for homemade pizza dough on my baking website here.
Ice cream sundae kit.
An ice cream sundae kit can be put together with ingredients from the grocery store, and everyone in the family will like it. Make sure that nobody is lactose-intolerant for this one.
Hot chocolate bar set.
Another grocery store-assembled gift idea, a hot chocolate bar can be put together pretty easily. Get hot chocolate mix and add a bag of mini marshmallows, mint flavor syrup, and mugs for the family to use. Customize mugs for them on Zazzle to make it truly personalized.
Customizable mugs.
Click to see our customizable mug designs on Zazzle, and check to see what discounts and sales are being offered this week:
Backyard bird feeder kit.
Give them a bird feeder and some birdseed. Everyone likes looking at the birds that show up to eat, and you can throw in a bird ID guide so that they can learn the names of the different types of birds.
Gardening starter kit.
If they have space for a garden, or space for a container with potting soil, give them a gardening starter kit and something like a tomato plane to let them grow some vegetables of their own.
Fondue set.
This can be a fun idea, but it can also be messy if the kids are really young. Limit this to a family who has older school-aged kids who can help clean up!
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Things that older kids will like.
If the family has teenagers, focus on things they’d like first, then make sure the parents would be on board! If the kids don’t spend the entire time complaining that they’re being forced to go somewhere or do something with the family that will be a gift for the parents on top of the gift that you give them.
Outdoor lawn games.
Most teens will like these because they can compete against their family members and their friends.
Baking kit.
A baking kit is fun and will teach older kids some cooking and baking skills. You can get a variety of baking kits on Amazon, including this one for lemon tarts.
Popcorn maker.
A popcorn popper is a good gift and can also be used along with a family movie night. This is something that can be used by everyone in the family, from older kids up.
Subscription snack box.
Get them a subscription to a “snack of the month” club, or see if there’s a local business that sells snacks that they can go pick up for a monthly treat.
Subscription craft box.
Get them a subscription for crafts that they’ll receive once a month. One example is KiwiCo’s Maker Crate, which is good for tweens to adults. You can read more about that here: Maker Crate craft subscription
Ornament kits.
These fun sequin and bead ornament kits are good for older kids, teenagers, and adults. I’ve made them with my family a few times and everyone enjoys doing them.
Gingerbread house kits.
Gingerbread house kits are a fun activity that all of the family members would enjoy no matter how old they are. You can get them at craft stores and grocery stores leading up to the holiday season, and they’d be a fun family activity.
See an article about how to make gingerbread house kits better on my other website here: Improving gingerbread house kits
Cozy blanket set.
A gift of throw blankets for each family member would be good for the winter months so that every family member can have their own blanket. You can even get them personalized with everyone’s names if you buy a set on Zazzle.
Gifts that the parents will probably like more than the kids will.
Let’s be honest, some family gifts are more for the parents than the kids. Give these primarily to the parents, but if you want to give something that the kids will enjoy, these might not be your first choice.
Personalized family ornament.
Give them a personalized family ornament with a photo that they can use every year. You can get different designs on Zazzle that include photos, the name, and the year if you want to have more than just the photo.
Family cookbook.
Give them a family cookbook that can be filled out with favorite recipes. This can also be something that you give to a teenager who’s going to college or moving into a new apartment.
Family photography session.
Give a gift certificate to a local photo studio to have a nice family portrait done.
Personalized doormat.
A customized welcome mat with the family’s name is a nice gift that they’ll all see every time they come home!
Custom return address stamp.
A family return address stamp is a nice gift that will be put to good use. It can be used for correspondence and also to put your name on books and other things that you might lend out or take places.
Family journal.
A book of memories that can be kept for the family history would be a nice gift, but the parents are going to be the ones to do the work, so make sure that people you’re giving it to are into that!
Family calendar.
Get a customized calendar that has photos from family vacations or family photos. Put a photo of birthday parties in the birthday month for each person.
Personalized cutting board.
Give the family a customized cutting board that you can have made to order. They’re perfect to dress up any kitchen workspace. or to display cookies in charcuterie style, and it’s a nice gift to give to a family.
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