20+ Family Gift Ideas For The Whole Family

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When it comes to gift shopping for a whole family, it can become quite a challenge since each family member has unique interests. These family gift ideas are loaded with fun for everyone to enjoy together.

From gift baskets and matching pyjamas to games, experiences and edible treats.

Whether you are shopping for your own family or for a family aside from your own, there’s plenty here to choose from.

family gift idaas hugging at Christmas

Why Give One Gift To A Whole Family?

When searching for a gift for a whole family, you want something that appeals to each family member. Especially if it’s something they can enjoy together.

Family presents can be a budget-friendly way to do your Christmas shopping, since individual gifts add up fast. It’s also easier than coming up with a clever idea for every single person.

If you’re doing this across a large extended family, a family Secret Santa or one of these gift exchange themes is worth considering too, since it cuts the number of gifts down even further.

Family Gift Baskets

christmas eve box ideas for kids and adults

A gift basket is the most flexible family gift there is. You choose the theme, you control the budget, and you can tailor every item to what that family actually enjoys.

Start with your container. An actual basket, a box, a laundry hamper, a picnic basket, a wooden crate or a storage tub they’ll reuse afterwards.

Then pick a theme and fill it.

Movie Night Basket

The easiest one to put together and the one most families will genuinely use.

  • Popcorn, and a popcorn maker if the budget stretches
  • Chocolate and lolly bags, one for each family member
  • A streaming service gift card, or cinema passes
  • A cosy throw blanket
  • Novelty popcorn bowls

Family Game Night Basket

  • A new board game or card game
  • A tub of snacks to graze on while playing
  • A scoreboard or notepad for keeping score
  • Drinks for the grown-ups and something fizzy for the kids
  • My printable Christmas Party Game Bundle if you want a stack of games ready to print and play

Baking Basket

  • Cookie cutters and sprinkles
  • A mixing bowl or measuring set
  • Dry ingredients for a recipe, layered in a jar
  • A recipe card, or a printed copy of a family favourite like my rum balls
  • An apron each for the kids

Camping Or Outdoors Basket

  • Marshmallows and skewers
  • A torch or headlamp each
  • A card game that travels well
  • Bug spray and sunscreen
  • A picnic rug

Pamper Basket

For the family who need to slow down more than they need more stuff.

  • Bath bombs and bubble bath
  • Face masks, one for each person
  • Hot chocolate sachets
  • A candle
  • A book or two

Breakfast In Bed Basket

  • Pancake mix and maple syrup
  • Good coffee or tea
  • A jar of jam or honey from a local producer
  • A serving tray
  • Fresh fruit added on the morning

The trick with any of these: one bigger item as the anchor, then fill the gaps with small cheap things. A basket with one $40 item and eight $3 items looks far more generous than four $12 items.

Snack Subscription Box

What is more fun than a box full of snacks? A box full of new snacks that arrives on the doorstep each month!

Snack subscription boxes are an exciting gift for a family to share and you can purchase a single box or an ongoing subscription as a gift that keeps on giving over 3, 6 or 12 months.

Here are some snack subscription boxes to gift:

The Adventure Challenge

the adventure challenge family

Give the gift of new adventures and family memories with The Adventure Challenge Family Edition. Filled with mystery adventures to have together. Choose one to scratch off then get ready for fun. There is a spot to add a photo and journalling of the day too. Such a great idea!

Use Promo Code SIMPLIFYCREATEINSPIRE To Save 10%

Family Pyjama Set

A family pyjama set can be a really sweet gift to have everyone matching. Or a really fun novelty gift ideas if you opt for something silly!

Being gifted a good night’s sleep or a lazy day to lounge at home with a unique style, pattern, fabric, and print of pyjamas is a great way to channel each family member’s personality.

You can get these family Christmas pyjamas from Etsy:

You can even personalise the pyjama set with the family’s names or with monograms.

Even if they don’t match, a new set of PJs for each family member still works well. We got Peter Alexander pyjamas from relatives for Christmas one year and it was a fab gift!

A Family Tree

This is a great sentimental gift to give to a family. There are endless options for how you gift a family tree too.

A custom family tree photo holder already displaying their photos will accent any room in a family’s home. If you are looking for meaningful gifts, this really is a wonderful idea for the entire family.

There are some absolutely stunning personalised family tree gifts on Etsy:

Giant Jenga

For a fun twist on a classic family game, get a giant outdoor Jenga as a gift for a family. This is a fun way to encourage bonding as a family, with some time in the backyard playing games.

For more yard games, try these too:

Ice Cream Maker

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Okay, so some people don’t! But for most families, ice cream is a wonderful treat so why not give the gift of making their own delicious ice cream flavours at home with an ice cream maker!

Best of all, many ice cream makers also work for making frozen yogurt and sorbet too. Bring on all those homemade chilled treats!

And don’t forget the ice cream serving essentials:

Movie Night

A cinema trip for a family can soon add up as an expensive outing once you add on tickets and snacks.

Gift the family movie passes and a snack bar gift card for a family movie date out.

Or put together a movie night in a box with popcorn, chocolates, and a new DVD. Alternatively, switch out the DVD for a gift card to a favourite subscription service so they have plenty of choice for the next month or so.

Find more activities to do at home with kids plus over 100 fun ideas for the backyard too!

Family Game

A family game night is always a load of fun, and a brand new game the whole family will love to play makes perfect family gift ideas for a group! You can choose a classic game or a fun card game for them to enjoy on future game nights.

Get something that is suited to all age groups if they have younger children, such as one of these classic board games. Plus it means time spent together away from devices too!

Here are some fun family games:

Scratch Off Bucket List

Set the family a challenge with a scratch-off bucket list or a scratch map to track their adventures or hobbies.

Scratch posters are a lot of fun and will inspire some new family fun together. We love scratching new destinations off our world scratch map after a trip.

You can get top 100 movies of all time or go for a family-friendly, top kids movies of all time scratch poster. There are so many different scratch poster options and there’s sure to be one to suit the family you are gifting.

Here are a few fun scratch posters:

A Holiday

If you have a bigger budget, the gift of a holiday is the ultimate gift for a family. Especially if it has been some time since their last vacation.

Get them hotel accommodation or a voucher for a mini-break or a holiday package.

This is a great gift for your own family if you are looking for something you can all enjoy together, rather than traditional gift-giving.

There is no greater gift than the memories you create together!

Attraction Tickets

If a vacation is out of the budget, attraction tickets are a fun alternative. Theme park tickets or passes to a local attraction for families is a thoughtful family present and they are also great clutter-free gift ideas.

Check out Viator or Get Your Guide for a huge range of online attraction booking options.

Camping Equipment

If they are a family who loves the great outdoors, camping gear is a practical gift idea they can put to good use.

This is an equally wonderful gift if they are looking to get started with family camping trips. You could always get them their first tent!

Just make sure if they aren’t already campers that this is something you know they will use!

Family Picnic Set

A picnic set makes the perfect gift for a family because family meals are better when spending time together away from home – like in the backyard, at outdoor concerts, in a park, during a road trip or camping trip.

The other great thing about this gift is that it fits into an insulated and integrated backpack.

This picnic set also comes with a blanket that has a waterproof base, along with plastic flatware, cups, and plates for up to six people.

Bucket List

This ready-made bucket for creating their own bucket list is such a cool idea. Each family member can add their own bucket list items and together they can see which ones they can do in the years to come.

Alternatively, create your own DIY bucket for them using a metal bucket, some embellishments and bucket list slips. This is a really creative Christmas gift idea that encourages new experiences.

Laser Tag Set

For the family who likes to stay active and who are all big kids at heart, laser tag at home is sure to be a hit! Complete with laser guns and vests, they can turn their home or backyard into a competitive game of family laser tag.

This set is suited to both kids and adults, so there’s no excuse for the grown-ups not to join in.

Need More Ideas? Check These Out

If you are still stuck on the perfect gift to give a family, here are some more quick ideas to get you inspired:

  • A telescope to view the night sky
  • Instant camera
  • Basketball hoop or sport equipment
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Karaoke machine
  • Camping gear

Conclusion: One Gift Whole Family Ideas

These family gifts will delight the lucky family recipients with fun gifts to suit families of all sizes and interests.

Whether you choose a sentimental personalised family gift or something that is more of a novelty, they will feel appreciated and loved!

These best family gifts are sure to bring joy to a family this holiday season! Or gift them to your own family if you are looking for something you can all enjoy together! And of course, don’t forget to add some of these hilarious Christmas games to your celebration!

For more family gifting ideas, Family Secret Santa is a great tradition to start with adult family members as a way to keep your Christmas budget down. This also works great with friends too!

Don’t forget the advent calendars. You can create your own DIY Advent Calendar for each member of the family with a load of cool advent filler ideas plus add some of these family advent activities too.

Get my free printable Santa gift tags for your gifts:

Printable Santa Tag

Need ideas for family fun? Check out these activities for your backyard, fun things to do on Father’s Day, family Valentine’s Day activities and tech-free family fun.

Whether you choose a sentimental personalised gift or something more novelty, a shared family gift means everyone gets something to enjoy together rather than another thing to find a home for.

More gift guides:

More family fun:

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fun family gift ideas

Hi, I’m Holly! Mum of 2 energetic girls. A Psychologist turned stay at home mum and blogger, sharing my best tips for simplifying life and getting organised! I have a love for DIY, sweet treats and travel. Join me in creating a life that you love!

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