While finding matching pajamas may look good on Instagram, you may not totally be that family. And, let’s face it, everyone already has everything so we’ve taken the pressure off you by finding some fun presents that will check the box for mom, dad, the young kiddos, and especially your moody tweens and, of course, your teenagers who are already over it.
TOP 6 FAMILY GIFTS: GO DIRECT
We’ve been hand-choosing gifts around here since 2016 so we’ve spent years (literally) researching, reviewing, reading endless reviews, and even testing in some cases. We’ve also checked in with some of the top brands who have come up with their own famous lists to see what’s buzzing this year (outside of just what’s being viewed on TikTok).
This year here at Trendsicle we wanted to make sure we really focused on experience and activity gifts for the families and gifts that fit into a bit of a lower budget.
We’ve matched up our own internal gifting data with current trends online and even some items we even own ourselves or have gifted to our own loved ones and have come up with the ultimate list of ideas that, not only, work for the entire fam – but for different members of the family at all different ages and stages.
Things to Do Together
We took a look at gift ideas that could work for multiple people in the family and, more importantly, would be done together. Some examples you’ll see below are things like:
- Adventure Challenges
- Bucket List Activities
- Escape Rooms at Home
- Family-Friendly Games
Creating & Cooking
Some of the most fun things to do with your family are things where you’re all rolling up your sleeves to create something together, whether that’s creating a project from scratch or following a recipe and seeing how it turns out. Kids find themselves especially proud when all the ingredients and steps come together.
Below you’ll find some gift ideas like:
- Making DIY Ice Cream
- DIY Churro Kit
- Make Your Own Cupcakes & Muffins
- A T-Shirt Screening Maker
Online Focus
We get it. Everyone in the family is still going to be online so why not meet everyone where they’re at and where they’re most comfortable? So we’ve come up with ideas where screen-time can still be the main event. You’ll see gift ideas like:
- Fun Online Classes to Take From Celebrities
- Ancestry Tests
So, whether your family has younger kids, older kids or (quite frankly) no kids at all there are a bunch of really unique and fun ideas below that we’ve hand-selected and reviewed ourselves.
1.
The Adventure Challenge Family Edition
It’s time to officially for the fam to get off the couch, shut down their devices, turn away from their screens and tackle all these really fun family adventures.
This super fun book comes with 50 “scratch off” adventures and space to jot down some memory notes, add photos, and so much more. If they’re on a bit of a budget, don’t sweat it because there are plenty of budget-friendly activities to be had.
And don’t sweat it if you have members of the fam all at different ages. This book was created to be fun for ages anywhere from 4 to 16 years old and not matter how many people there are in the fam! Have at it!
2.
The Movie Night Popcorn Gift Set (With Spices!)
It’s always a great idea for popcorn, but especially when it’s family movie night! Sure you can toss a buttery bag in the microwave, but with this ultimate gift set you get the kernels to pop on your own, along with a yummy variety of spices and seasonings to please just about every member of the fam.
This set comes with 3 bags of kernels (fluffy white, crunchy red, and sweet tri-color), but more importantly it comes with 5 delicious spice flavorings like:
- White Cheddar Cheese
- Buttery Caramel
- Chili Lime
- Sweet & Salty Kettle-corn
- Hot Sriracha
The best part is that you can add as much or as little of the seasonings as you’d like. And with five different flavors everyone is bound to get something they like – now you just all have to agree on the movie.
3.
The Escape Room At-Home Game
Not that there’s anything wrong with a classic game of Monopoly, but if you’re not that family you’re going to all have a blast with one of the best selling at-home Escape Room games. Basically, you all have 60 minutes (it’s timed) to solve the mystery game and “escape” your room within that timeframe. This one comes with three different mysteries: Panic on the Titanic, Alice in Wonderland, and Dawn of the Zombies!
Along with these really fun games, Escape the Room also comes with the official chrono decoder, the hint decoder, 16 different keys, and the official hint cards. The only thing it doesn’t come with is the 3 AA batteries that you’ll need for the chrono decoder.
4.
The “Big Blanket” Giant Family Blanket
Whether you’re enjoy movie night, streaming your favorite shows or just hanging out chatting – nothing is cozier than a giant comfy blanket that basically the entire fam and snuggle up under. And when we say “giant” we mean it. This “throw” measures in at 10-feet x 10-feet. Yes, really! And it even weighs 11-pounds so it’ll keep everyone warm and calm (although it’s not technically a weighted blanket).
The Big Blanket has 4-way stretch, is super comfy and cozy, is actually temperature regulating, and is even larger than a king-size bed blanket. Plus, it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns to choose from. While it’s definitely on the pricer side ($180) it’s really a great way for everyone to get together, be comfy, and spend some much-needed time together on the couch, floor, or even outside by the fire pit.
5.
The Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven
Pizza is always a great idea just about any day of the week! And nothing brings the whole family together quite like making your own wood-fired pizza with all the toppings of your choice right from the comfort of your own home. Well, backyard really.
The Pi Pizza oven comes from the geniuses at Solo Stove that have created the best selling smokeless outdoor fire pits and is actually really easy to use. So it’s perfect for beginners and pizza experts alike. This one is big enough to create a standard 12-inch pizza, but feel free to make individual personal size pizzas too so that everyone gets the toppings they specifically like.
The Pi Pizza oven is small enough to place on an appropriate table outside and weighs in at about 30-lbs so you can move it around when not in use (and once it’s cooled off, of course!).
6.
The 18-Piece Animal USB/iPhone Cord Protectors
Perfect for larger families who are tired of fighting over whose charging cord is whose. This cute 18-piece set of funky little animals will help prevent cords from splitting, cracking, breaking and will help everyone identify which cord is theirs! With their low price and small-ish size these also make cute little stocking stuffers when it’s that time of year!
7.
The DIY "Make It At Home" Churro Kit
Another great quick and simple way to gather the whole family around in one place for a fun activity….making churros! You no longer have to travel to Disney to get your hands on these because now you can make your own churros from the comfort of your own kitchen.
This yummy kit comes with everything you need to create up to 40 cinnamon-sugar churros, including the mix itself, the reusable piping bag and reusable tip, the thermometer, and more.
8.
The Matching Christmas Family Pajamas
Sure it’s a bit cheesy, but if there’s really one time of year where everyone in the fam can wear matching pajamas it’s Christmas! We chose the ones that are the least embarrassing and ones that they’ll actually want to wear during the Christmas season and for that awkward family photo. From the famous PajamaGram company, these matching sets come in navy blue and classic black.
While as we get closer to the holidays it may be more difficult to get the sizes you want, they are available for infants, toddlers, kids, men, women, and even pets!
9.
The Trendy Felt Message Board With Skinny Letters
We always love the idea of a retro felt message board, whether you want to place it in your kitchen, living room, or even hanging it on your wall. You can add you own personal messages for the whole fam each and every day. What we love about this in particular is that the letters are totally unique from almost all other brands, with totally skinny letters and symbols to use on your own board. Unfortunately you have to purchase the message board separately, but you can pick that up here.
10.
The “Do You Really Know Your Family” Game
You know your family, but do you really know them? This super fun trivia and activity game is perfect for ages 8 years old and up, and comes with trivia cards and challenge cards that everyone can play with.
Trivia questions can include things like:
- What was my favorite family vacation?
- What do I wish we could do more as a family?
- If I could live in any other city or town, where would it be?
When it comes to challenges, those activities can include things like:
- Draw something with your eyes closed and with you as the judge, choose who did “the best.”
- Make an animal sound and have the judge choose which family member made the sound “the best.”
It’s all light and family-friendly fun that will help create laughter, memories, and time spent together.
11.
The Indoor Electric S’Mores Maker
Bring the campfire inside! You can never really go wrong with a S’Mores maker, especially one that is for inside your home – making it the perfect gift for just about any time of year. This top selling maker has an electric flameless heater that’ll help make your S’Mores quickly and at that golden shade that you’re looking for. It even comes with 2 roasting forks making it easier for more than one person to use it at the same time – just like you’re sort of around the campfire (but not sitting outside freezing!).
12.
The 100 Movies Scratch-Off Bucket List Book
Everyone is a critic and when it comes to the best movies ever made we can all agree to disagree, but this scratch-off book makes it really fun to watch some of the most buzzed about movies of all time by scratching off the secret image, read a fun fact about the movie, and then allow you space to rate it (star-rating system) and even your overall review. Think of it as a quick and fun book report, but for movies!
13.
The Muffin & Cupcake Maker
Who doesn’t love cupcakes or muffins?! This official cupcake maker makes it really easy (and pretty fast) to make up to 6 delicious desserts at a time. It even has a non-stick coating so you don’t have to worry about your muffins or cupcakes getting stuck inside, only to have to dig them out!
14.
The Michael Storrings 1000 Piece Puzzle
A super fun and beautifully illustrated jigsaw puzzle that the whole family can take part in! This 1,000 piece puzzle is the hustling bustling streets of London, but check out other options, too, like New York City, Paris, the beach, and more.
15.
The Breo Box Tech Gift Box
Finally out of all the zillions of subscription boxes out there there’s finally a really amazing tech one that features some of the coolest gadgets, electronics, and gear. Your family will receive around $300 worth of gadgets and you’ll only pay a fraction of the price.
You can choose a season delivery option or go with just a one-time or once per year option. They even have a section where you can purchase specific products that have been included in the past that are some of the most popular.
16.
The ‘100 Things to Do’ Scratch Off Poster
If there was ever a year to really focus on that ultimate “bucket list” this is the year! There are 100 fun activities to do and when you all complete it, simply scratch it off the poster. It’ll keep everyone in the family busy and having fun together at the same time. Finally get everyone off their phones for once. Well, at least get them off their phones for a little while.
17.
The Masterclass Gift Subscription
A fun way for the whole family to learn some really amazing skills, ideas, and more from some of the most popular thought leaders and experts around. You’ll have access to more than 85 different experts and hundreds of classes you take online at your own leisure.
18.
The Microwave Popcorn Popper
Making popcorn for movie night has never been easier or more fun. This famous microwave popcorn maker will make fresh popcorn and you can even place a pad of butter on the top so that it naturally melts right in with all the delicious and fresh popcorn. It really makes some of the yummiest microwavable popcorn in just 3 minutes and it’s even dishwasher safe.
19.
The Ancestry DNA Kit
If you’re looking to trace your family history, Ancestry DNA is a great place to start. With more than 16 million verified users, their database is one of the largest in the world. And with their new auto-clustering feature, it’s easier than ever to find matches and connect with distant cousins and other family members you may not have known about (but only if you want to).
They currently offer two different tests – an autosomal test and a mitochondrial test. The autosomal test is recommended for most people, as it covers all of your ancestors back to about 800 AD. The mitochondrial test is only recommended for people with specific last-names or who are interested in tracing their maternal line.
Once you’ve taken the test, you’ll receive a report that shows you how much genetic information you share with other Ancestry DNA users. You can also use the site to build a family tree, and they have an extensive online library of resources to help you research your family history.
20.
The Eero Mesh Complete WiFi System
When everyone in the fam is using just about every single tech device in the house all at the same time your WiFi can totally slow down. This pack of 3 mesh WiFi system will cover up to 5,000 sq. feet and help speed things along. Totally worth it!
21.
The Kids Against Maturity Game
If you love playing Cards Against Humanity, you and your family will love this kid-appropriate game that’s pretty similar and just as funny, but totally clean! It’s one of the top games for kids this year so snag it while you can.
22.
The DIY T-Shirt Screen Printing Kit
A bit on the pricer side, but now you can all make your very own t-shirts, tote bag designs, and so much more with this really amazing at-home DIY screen printing kit. It comes with everything you’ll need to start creating and, don’t worry, it’s safe and easy for beginners too. Get your business going!
23.
The Giant Yard Pong Game
It’s like the classic tabletop game some of you may have played in college, but now it’s giant and totally family-friendly. It comes with 12 giant red plastic buckets and two large balls. Play as teams of 2 or more and see who can sink the most balls to eliminate the buckets! It’s perfect to play outdoors, but if you have the space it can be a blast inside too.
24.
The Positivity Family T-Shirts
Simply stated, but a totally needed reminder that everyone really is loved and everyone really is enough. This super comfy tee comes in a variety of colors and styles for both men, women, and even a variety of youth/kid sizes. It’s like wrapping them all up in a giant hug of love even if you’re not with them at all times.
25.
The Play-n-Freeze Ice Cream Ball
Why not make everyone work for their ice cream? Look no further than the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball! This super unique and pretty fun ice cream maker lets you create delicious homemade ice cream in minutes, without any electricity or special equipment required.
All you have to do is fill the ball with your favorite ingredients, add some ice and rock salt, and roll it around until the mixture is frozen. Then, just open up the ball and enjoy your very own homemade ice cream! It’s pretty perfect for making small batches of your favorite flavor, or trying out new recipes. And cleanup is easy too – just rinse the ball out with warm water when you’re done.
This ball actually makes homemade ice cream in just 30 minutes. And while it does work, everyone in the fam will have fun wondering if rolling and kicking it around will actually turn it into ice cream!
If You're Gifting For OTHER Families
If you’re not doing the gifting for your entire family and looking for ideas for another family, we’ve broken down some of the top ideas that most other people tend to look for. When possible, we’ve marked which gift ideas from Amazon are currently on sale. Hey, every percentage counts!
IF THEY'RE ALL FOODIES
You usually can’t go wrong with a food basket of sorts. Well, unless you get them all apples or oranges or something lame like that. So, we’ve hand-picked a few of the current best sellers that just about everyone in your crew will enjoy. Our personal favorite is the chocolate caramel crunch basket. While it can always make a great Christmas gift, you can send this one for just about any occasion.
FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS
If the family has young kids, you really can’t beat a fun and interactive game that everyone can take part in. Most importantly, find something that’ll bring on the laughs and you’ll start making memories almost instantly. We hand-picked three really fun (and pretty funny) games families with younger kiddos.
IF A FAMILY LOST A LOVED ONE
Losing a loved one can be one of the most excruciating experiences and whether you’re looking for more of a sympathy gift or something that you want to give them for their birthday, Christmas, or to commemorate their life there are a few ideas we really loved.
FOR A FAMILY OF GAMERS
Nothing beats the whole crew playing video games together. It’s fun, high-stakes, and someone is bound to get yelled at (mainly the parents). Sure, most gaming consoles are super expensive so these won’t be for everyone. But we did include a retro Nintendo that’s plug-and-play and comes installed with more than 800 old-school games!
