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You are here: Home / Themes / Christmas / Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

By Shaunna Evans 6 Comments ยท This content may contain affiliate links.

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For our Discover & Explore theme this week we’re inviting you to link up your favorite gift ideas. You can share gift guides, homemade gifts, even DIY wrapping paper ideas. If it’s related to giving and receiving gifts, we’d love to see what you have to share.

I thought I would share my favorite gift ideas for encouraging family time. For birthdays and holidays we often focus on experience gifts and toys that also give us extra opportunities to spend time together. Although we can always sit down with our kids and engage in whatever activities they are playing, there are some gifts that especially encourage group interaction and play.

Gifts for Families

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Gift Ideas for Families

Gifts for Families who Love Games and Puzzles

Games

Games can be a great way to get everyone having fun together. We like to keep a few games out on the table, so we’re sure to see them and stop to play regularly. With a toddler and a preschooler in the house, we are just beginning to explore games. Tinker loves to join in as much as she can, so if she can’t play a game independently she’ll cuddle in an adult’s lap and be a helper. Below are some of the games we think are great for families with young kids.

 Uno

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Connect 4

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Twister

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Candy Land

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Thinkfun Roll & Play

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

If you’re just getting started with family game nights, this post on What Do We Do All Day? has some great tips for an enjoyable family game night.

Puzzles

Puzzles also make great gifts for families. Depending on the age of your children you can purchase puzzles that can be finished in one sitting or left out in a special area to be worked on a little bit at a time. Right now both of  the girls enjoy sitting with us to work on floor puzzles. We love Melissa & Doug floor puzzles. Below are some of our favorites and a few we’ll be adding to our collection this year.

Fairy Tale Castle Floor Puzzle (48 pieces)

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Underwater Floor Puzzle (48 pieces)

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Solar System Floor Puzzle (48 pieces)

Best Puzzles for Preschoolers

Safari Floor Puzzle (100 pieces)

Best Puzzles for Kids

Under the Sea Floor Puzzle (100 pieces)

Gifts that Encourage Family Time

Musical Toys

Best Musical Toys for Kids

Whether you’re singing together or taking turns putting on a show, musical toys can be a lot of fun for family time. We aren’t a musical family, and you don’t have to be either. Silly antics and out of tune songs welcome! Some video games can also be a fun way to sing and dance together.

 Piano Mat

Best Musical Gifts for Kids

Rhythm Instrument Set

Best Musical Gifts for Kids

Play & Grow Horn Set

Best Musical Gifts for Kids

Remo Kids Drum

Best Musical Gifts for Kids

Just Dance Kids 2014 

Wii Just Dance

Baking Kit and Cookbooks

Gifts for Kids Who Love to Cook

If your family enjoys cooking or baking together, then buying some new baking items, cookbooks or special aprons can be a really fun and practical gift. You could create a specific kit with materials to make cookies or leave it more open-ended and include some kid-friendly cooking tools. Below are some ideas we like.

Better Homes and Gardens Jr. Cookbook

Gifts for Kids Who Like Cooking

Betty Crocker Kids Cook!

Gifts for Little Cooks

ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with Your Family

Gifts for Kids Who Like Cooking

Kid’s Kitchen Tool Kit

Gifts for Little Cooks

Cookie Cutter Set

Gifts for Little Cooks

Children’s Rolling Pin

Gifts for Little Cooks

Edible Color Markers

Gifts for Kids Who Like Cooking

Icing Writer Tubes

Gifts for Kids Who Like Cooking

Sprinkles

Gifts for Little Cooks

Cupcake and Decorating Kit

Gifts for Little Cooks

Chef Set in Red or Pink

Gifts for Kids Who Like Cooking

Craft Kits

Best Craft Kits for Kids

Sitting down to make new crafts together can be a lot of fun. You can purchase some basic craft materials to gather together and make your own craft kit, or you can buy one specifically related to your family’s interests.

Classic Wood Crafts

Craft Kits for Kids

Fashion Headbands

Craft Kits for Kids

My First Sewing Kit

Craft Kits for Kids

 

Monster Truck Custom Shop

Monster Trucks

Dinosaur Paint & Play Set (additional themes available)

Dinosaur Paint & Play Set

 

 

You can also create your own creation station to give as a gift. It will allow for many opportunities to craft together.

Quiet time activities for kids

 

Equipment for Family Adventures & Sports

If your family enjoys playing sports or spending time outdoors, then sports equipment and outdoor games are great gifts that encourage family time.

Memberships & Gift Certificates

One of my favorites gifts to get for our kids is memberships to local attractions. Many science centers, museums, zoos, and amusement parks offer family passes. Those passes can  be enjoyed by kids over and over again throughout the year and provide them with many enriching and memorable experiences.

Gift certificates to favorite local places can also be great gifts that allow families to spend time together. Depending on the age of the children in the family gift certificates to ice cream shops, favorite restaurants, miniature golf or adventure parks, movie theaters, and pottery studios can give families a wonderful day out together.

Books

And being the book lover I am, you know I wasn’t going to create a gift list without adding BOOKS! A good book can inspire hours and hours of family time and snuggles. You can even give a book that was one of your favorites as a child to make it even more special. If you need a little inspiration, you may find some in our collection of books lists.

Are there any gifts you would recommend adding here? What toys or activities have been the most fun for your family to enjoy together?

 

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Filed Under: Christmas, Discover and Explore Tagged With: family time, gifts

Previous Post: « Tea Taste Test and Mixing Science Experiment
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JDaniel4's Mom

    November 28, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Thank you so much for this link up.

    Reply
    • Shaunna Evans

      November 28, 2013 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks for joining in!

      Reply
  2. Stephanie

    November 27, 2013 at 8:33 am

    This is a wonderful list! I love the idea of giving a gift to encourage quality family time!

    Reply
    • Shaunna Evans

      November 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm

      Thank you, Stephanie! As the girls get older we’re finding so many fun ideas for gifts that we can all enjoy together.

      Reply
  3. Emma

    November 27, 2013 at 7:09 am

    What a wonderful idea – gifts that can help the whole family spend time together. That in itself is a gift! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Shaunna Evans

      November 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm

      I agree! It’s so much more fun buying gifts when I can think of all the fun and quality time we can have together with them.

      Reply

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