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Gifts for the Whole Family
Rated by 1 member
As our family moved all over North America with the Navy, we were blessed to make good friends who felt like family — so much so, we like to exchange gifts with them for the holidays. But as the group grew, it became difficult and expensive to find a special gift for each individual.
So several years ago, we decided to cut back on the clutter and expense — instead of getting a gift for each member of every family, we'd give one gift for the whole family.
Since we all enjoy family game nights, board games seemed like a natural choice. One board game from us to them, and one from them to us. Each year, we put a lot of thought into which game to buy, and this year, we even joined our families for a game night together.
Last Christmas, I extended this whole-family gift idea. We gave my sister's family a pizza-party-in-a-box — pizza stone, rotary cutter, pizza recipe book, and board game. I wrapped them all together in one big box, hoping it would be a gift that would keep on giving by helping them spend time together as a family throughout the year.
Here are some other ideas for themed gifts for the whole family to enjoy:
Murder Mystery Party
Family Movie Night Basket
Family Game Night Candyland Basket
Saturday Afternoon Football Game
A Trip Down Memory Lane (Scrapbook Starter Kit)
What I like about these kinds of gifts is that, in a way, we're giving the busy families we love the gift of spending time with each other.
Member Comments On…
Gifts for the Whole Family
since all the female my family loves candles we just get each others candles or we just make them ourselves and gives as gift.
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One more thing to add, I think that it is so great that the DreamTeam writers read and comment on the other articles!
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My sister and I have such a hard time buying for each other, the main problem is that we are all blessed so it makes gift buying difficult. We are exchanging "family gifts" this year too. Shannon, thanks for some ideas. I am leaning towards the (at home) dinner & a movie idea. I also like the family get together idea by Appytimes2. Thanks to all.
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I love giving "kit" gifts for hostesses and friends individually but it's brilliant to apply it to families. Thank you for all the great suggestions and for simplifying my gift-giving this year!
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We are currently facing this dilemma with our close friends. Between the two families there are 6 kids ranging in age from 4 to 13. Several weeks ago, Michele (the other mom) and I came up with a group gift. We are giving each child a certificate for a "Winter Adventure". Our plan is to select a beautiful winter day in January or February, take both families tobogganing and enjoy a winter campfire and picnic. We set firewood inside the garage and tucked away some marshmallow sticks. We even have some fireworks tucked away as a special surprise! With hot chocolate in thermos and hot dogs roasted over an open fire, it should be a fun filled day, worth remembering! Best of all, no wrapping paper required!
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One more idea--I'm contributing a basket for a raffle at my kids' holiday concert to benefit the music program. I'm putting together a "Kissing Basket." So far, I have a Mistletoe-scented candle, some mistletoe, Hershey Kisses, and I think I'll pick up some Chapstick or lip gloss to finish it off!
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Fantastic Ideas! These would also make great teacher gifts! Time together as a family is always a gift!
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One neat idea that I cannot take credit for is to give the ingredients- along with cookie cutters, candies for decorating, sprinkles, etc- for gingerbread people. I like to embroider, so I have adapted this for my 4 year old daughter's friends birthday. I give a packaged sugar cookie mix, some cookie cutters of whatever the child likes, and embroider a child's apron with the name of the recipient. This has been very well received.
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This is such a smart idea!! I'm always looking for ways to cut back on holiday spending, yet still be thoughtful and original! Thank you so much for sharing these creative gift ideas :-)
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As a group of friends who have small children, we usually give an adult's night out - movie passes, gift certificate to a restaurant or sporting event. And as an added bonus, a night of free baby-sitting for those friends who live close by!
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