While it’s nice to get everyone a gift for the holiday season, sometimes, you might prefer to buy gifts that entire families can enjoy together. This could be so you can spend more to get a bigger gift that everyone can enjoy. It might be because the family is large and it’s unwieldy to get something for each person separately. Another reason might be because you’re buying a gift for your own family. Hello, new big screen TV!
If you’re looking for gifts that a family can enjoy together, indoors or out, we have you covered. This comprehensive gift guide includes the 20 best gifts for families. We have arranged these neatly in categories like board games, home theatre, and gaming, and included options at varying price points to help you find the perfect one.
Board games
Board games are great gifts for family because you can enjoy them again and again, for years, even decades, to come. You may influence a new Sunday evening game night tradition. Get help choosing one in our board games buying guide, or select one of these three great picks.
Ticket to Ride
A favorite among families, Ticket to Ride is great because it works with two-to-five players and is suitable for players aged eight and up, with easy-to-understand instructions. The goal in the game is to travel across North America, collecting matching train cards along the way and racking up points. It’s a simple yet fun game you can play again and again.
Escape Room The Game family edition
If they’re a board game family, look for a game they probably don’t already have. This one incorporates strategy, teamwork, and a ticking time clock to add a fun, new element to the experience. Three-to-five players aged 10 and up must work together to decode a puzzle and find clues before a 60-minute timer runs out. Once they’ve done all three adventures, they can pass the game on to another lucky family.
Monopoly
Yes, it’s a classic. But Monopoly never goes out of style. For a family that doesn’t have their own board just yet, surprise them with this one. There are no themes or movie or TV tie-ins: this is the plain, Jane Monopoly as it was intended. It’s a fun and highly competitive game. Parents can teach kids about strategy, good sportsmanship, and maybe a tiny bit of healthy gloating when they land on Park Place.
Outdoor entertainment
For a family that loves to spend time in the great outdoors, these family gift ideas will be perfect.
JBL PartyBox 710 Bluetooth wireless party speaker
Ideal for families that love to entertain, this powerhouse of an outdoor speaker provides JBL signature sound with booming bass. It can also withstand the elements. Since it’s IPX4 splash-proof, you can use it by the pool or don’t worry if it starts to lightly rain. The built-in guitar and dual mic inputs are perfect for sing-a-longs and karaoke parties.
Samsung The Terrace 55-inch outdoor TV
You might not think you’d ever use an outdoor TV. But I have had one in my backyard for years and we use it more than expected. Especially in summer, it’s nice to have Saturday evening barbecue dinners or Sunday morning breakfast while enjoying a show in the sun. For get-togethers, guests don’t need to run inside or check their phones to see the score of the game. This one is nicely size for a back deck and has the Tizen smart TV platform built-in (you’ll need to be in range of Wi-Fi unless you hardwire it. It’s ultra-bright so it’s viewable in direct sunlight. And of course, it comes housed in a durable chassis.
Solo Stove smokeless bonfire pit
The Solo Stove gets rave reviews for its design and the smokeless set-up that affords a comfortable experience. Enjoy sitting by the fire at night or roasting marshmallows during the day. What people love about these fire pits is there’s no smoke to blow in your face or disturb the neighbors. Instead, the patented design keeps excessive smoke from blowing into the air. It’s compact enough to bring camping or even tailgating, too.
Home theatre
A great gift for your own family is something to enhance the home theatre experience. This can be a big gift, like a new TV, or something more affordable, like a media streamer.
TCL 75-inch S5 Series 4K UHD Google TV
There’s no better time than to surprise your family with a brand-new big-screen TV than during the holiday season. It’s also just in time for the big game. TCL is known for its great yet affordable premium TVs. This brand-new model won’t break the bank but still provides a great picture. You get the Google TV interface for easily accessing favourite streaming services, even YouTube. The bezel-less design will look stunning hung on a wall. There’s even a game mode that gamers will enjoy.
Sonos Arc Ultra sound bar
This soundbar is a nice upgrade if you have the original Sonos Arc soundbar or a great addition if you have other Sonos speakers, It offers upgrades like enhanced bass, advanced speech enhancement for clearer dialogue, and a nicer, slimmer finish. Use this connected to your TV. For private listening, pair Sonos Ace headphones and use the handy Audio Swap feature. Or just stream background tunes to it from your mobile device. Control it using the updated touch controls, your TV remote, the Sonos app, or even voice via Sonos Voice or Alexa. It’s a wonderful addition to any living room.
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)
For an Apple household, the Apple TV 4K is a great addition to the mix. Sure, they might already have a smart TV that affords access to favourite streaming services. But you get so much more with an Apple TV. Along with 4K video and Spatial Audio support, you can use it as a home hub with compatible smart home devices. Conveniently use AirPlay to share content from other Apple devices. Enjoy private listening to AirPods. Also, leverage the sleek interface for more than just videos, like Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+.
Smart home tech
Once you get started with a smart home, there’s no end to how you can enhance it. From a simple smart speaker to smart lighting, video doorbells, and more, the possibilities are endless.
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro smart Wi-Fi video doorbell
I have had this video doorbell installed at home for some time and it’s worth every penny. You can keep on eye on the front door and area, including the driveway. Get motion alerts and even package delivery notifications. It’s also convenient to be able to talk to someone at the door via two-way talk. Let a delivery person know they can drop the package off as you’ll be home soon or tell a solicitor that you aren’t interested. Simple to install, while it doesn’t require a subscription, I’d recommend getting one. With it, you see beyond just a live view, can record videos, and are able to review a 180-day history of footage if needed.
Skylight Touchscreen Calendar smart display
You may have already heard of this calendar. It is often recommended by parents who are looking for an easy solution to replace the analog whiteboard. It syncs with Google, iCloud, Outlook, Cozi, and Yahoo calendars so everyone can see the family calendar in one place. See when parents are traveling or working late, kids sports practices, dentist appointments, to-do lists, parties, and more. The interactive nature makes it easy to keep up. Plus, you can use it to assign chores, add items to a grocery list, and whatever other tasks make sense for your family.
Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagon light panels
Add some style and colour to the home with these unique light panels. Set them up any way you want, in whatever room could use the cool décor. They are modular and offer more than 16 million colours and tunable white light. Control them by touch, voice, or through the app. There’s even a rhythm feature to illuminate in tune with music. They’re perfect for setting a mood or fitting with an occasion.
Gaming consoles and accessories
Video gaming is a popular pastime for people of all ages. It’s also an activity that family can do together. A video game console or related item is a great family gift idea.
PlayStation 5 slim console
If you want to be the favourite family member or friend, surprise everyone with this new console for playing all the latest gaming titles, and legacy ones, too. As the name implies, it’s ultra-slim and space-saving. But it packs a lot of power in the compact chassis. This includes a powerful and fast processor, massive 1TB drive to hold all your games and progress, and support for 4K gaming. It even comes with a DualSense wireless controller to get playing right out of the box. Grab a few extra controllers to go with it.
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle
The Nintendo Switch excels for solo gameplay thanks to the compact, handheld design with removable controllers. But it’s also easy to dock and connect to the big screen for multi-person play. This bundle includes one of the most popular multiplayer games. The entire family will enjoy racing one another to see who can get to the finish first. With one-year membership included, it’s the perfect gift, especially for families with young kids.
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR headset with Batman: Arkham Shadows
Do they already have a console they love? Grab this VR headset to up the ante with even more immersive gameplay. Access not only games, including the Batman title that’s included as a bonus in the package, but also content like social media apps. Everyone in the family can use it. Mom might want to do virtual workouts. A teen may love watching YouTube videos. Or multiple family members can compete in a game challenge or explore a virtual world. Ideally, get two so the family members can take turns.
Photography and content creation
Families love to make memories together, and why not capture and share them, too with the latest camera tech and related items?
Aura Carver 10.1-inch Wi-Fi digital photo frame
The family will love being able to see a rotating slideshow of images on the side table, shelf, or wall versus a single static image. With this digital photo frame, there’s unlimited cloud photo storage through the Aura app, so they can upload to their heart’s content. It’s easy for anyone to share photos using the sharing function in the app. Ideally, take this out of the box and load it up with some photos to get them started. It’s a truly personalized and thoughtful gift.
DJI Neo Quadcopter drone Fly More combo
My colleague Ted Kritsonis recently reviewed this new drone and loves how it’s ideal for even those who don’t have any prior experience flying drones. Families that love creating content together can bring it with them to the park or use it in the backyard to record fun and engaging footage. (Make sure to check local laws before flying this in a public space.) It captures 4K video while AI subject tracking makes sure the subject is always in frame. This kit comes with everything you need to get going out of the box.
Small kitchen appliances
A small kitchen appliance can help you create those moments that bring families together. Think about cooking a meal together, baking, or experimenting with something new. These all make great family gift ideas.
Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 ice cream maker
Nothing brings a family together quite like ice cream. Sure, there’s something wonderful about going to the local shop to get a cone or rushing out to the ice cream truck. But it’s nice to make your own at home. That’s especially so during the colder months. This ice cream maker will yield hours of fun for families as they experiment with different creations. From traditional ice cream to gelato, slushies, and frozen yogurt, you can try tons of flavours, mix-ins, and more. Plus, you control the ingredients. For families on a health kick, this means adjusting recipes for sugar, dairy, and other dietary restrictions or allergies.
Keurig K-Duo single serve & carafe coffee maker
You might think a single-serve coffee maker like this one is only appealing to the coffee drinker of the family. But with so many pod options from which to choose, you can enjoy everything from flavoured tea to hot chocolate as well. What’s great about this machine for families is that there’s a pod section and a larger carafe. They can make pots in the morning or for gatherings, or just brew a single cup as needed. The water reservoir is holds enough water for multiple pods before you need to refill. The carafe also has a 24-hour programmable timer so you can wake up to the smell of fresh java in the morning. Grab them a box of K-cups to get started with as well.
Philips 2000 Series air fryer
An air fryer is one of the most coveted small kitchen appliances for families that don’t already own one. Among the best reviewed brands in this space is Philips. This model has an ample 6.6-quart cooking area for making large batches of everything from chicken wings to French fries. The cool cooking window means you can even see inside while it’s cooking. The benefits of an air fryer are plenty, outlined in our air fryer buying guide. But the top three include fast and efficient cooking, frying with little to no oil for healthier results, and simple clean-up. Those are all music to a busy family’s ears.
Find the perfect gift for the family on your list
Whether it’s a gift for your family or another family, these family gift ideas are sure to delight. Gifts for the whole family foster togetherness and help families create lasting memories together. Whether you go low-tech with a board game or ultra high-tech with a VR headset or video game console, each option encourages dialogue and plenty of laughs. They all represent unique ways to bring families together.
Looking for more ideas? You’ll find plenty more gift ideas at Best Buy.
