Christmas Gift Ideas for the Entire Family

Christmas shopping for people we love can be a lot of fun, as long as we don’t let choosing the right gifts stress us into making snap decisions. Planning ahead can make gift buying for family members, both young and old, much simpler. You put a lot of love and thought into choosing gifts you believe your loved ones will appreciate and enjoy, but what if you simply don’t know what to buy? This gift guide will help you get some ideas.

Grandparents

By the time your grandparents have reached their senior years it is likely they have all they want in the way of material items so gift buying for them can be challenging to say the least. The two things that seniors often value more than material things are experiences and time. By combining these two elements together you can come up with some great gift ideas. Think of an outing that they would enjoy, where you take them somewhere. A day trip to somewhere that holds good memories for them can be more precious to them than any material gift you can give them, with a wonderful lunch thrown in. Take lots of photographs and then make it up into a memory album for them to look through and remember the wonderful day they spent with you.

Parents

Much like grandparents, parents of adult children have often got most of the things they want but as they are likely more active than your grandparents you can choose to give them material gifts or an experience too. If they enjoy doing specific things together you can give them something they can share. A season’s pass to a movie theatre, tickets to a live show, and a year-long pass to an art gallery or a weekend getaway can all be things they will appreciate. Keen gardeners may appreciate new plants for their garden or a gift card to their favorite gardening store. Focus on things that are useful to your parents rather than decorative items. That being said, if they need something replaced because it is old and worn out, then Xmas gift time is a perfect opportunity to give them something you know they want.

If you prefer to gift your parents individually then choose gifts that will mean a lot to them. Ask yourself what they need, and when you answer your questions you will find the best Xmas gift for them. For Mom it may be that piece of kitchen equipment that she has always wanted but never gotten around to buying. Or a favorite perfume that she is running low on. A luxurious bath robe that she is unlikely to buy for herself will give her lots of pleasure every time she wears it. Dads who love sports get him tickets to a local game, or a piece of memorabilia of his favorite team – a sweatshirt or t-shirt may be something he will enjoy wearing.

Children

What Xmas presents to buy children depends largely upon their age. It is imperative that the gifts you choose be age appropriate. If you have no idea what to buy teens simply ask them. While it may seem like there is little surprise involved when you ask them they will be more appreciative of receiving something they want. Fashion conscious teen girls may prefer a gift card to their favorite clothing store so they can choose for themselves. For younger children toys are always a safe bet but you may want to consult parents to ensure you choose the right toys. Books are another good choice for children, particularly if they have hobbies or specific interests. Video games, provided they are suitable for their particular ages, are also a good choice but check to make sure they don’t already have them.
If your entire extended family gets together to celebrate Christmas and exchange Xmas presents then one of the things you might consider doing is buying a family gift that everyone can enjoy. You can start a new family tradition with a funny board game like Headbands or a large jigsaw puzzle that everyone can help do, or buy everyone Christmas pajamas or funny hats. These items can be kept exclusively for Christmas so that they are something special that only comes out when you are all together.

Another way to start a family tradition is with a group Christmas photograph that you get printed up and then mail to everyone in the New Year. If you take a photograph of everyone in their new Xmas pajamas or their funny hats it will be even more fun. Make sure that this is a fun event and not something that the younger members of your family will resent. Let them pull funny faces if that is what they want to do.

Consider buying a S’mores maker so that everyone can sit around in Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve and watch funny movies and eat S’mores that they have made themselves. This is a more modern twist on the traditional toasting of marshmallows but just as much fun, if not more so. Don’t forget to bring all the makings too.