Family gift ideas – with something for every budget!

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7 Fun Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Kids! 

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by many around the world each year to commemorate the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French Empire.  Get the entire family into the Cinco de Mayo spirit by spending time dancing, eating, and taking part in other fun activities both at home or around NYC!

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Appliances 

What? Appliances for a family gift? You bet! Two years ago I bought my family an ice cream maker.  We started a tradition of homemade ice cream every Saturday night. (Our recipe: 1 part heavy cream to 1 part whole milk, plus 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup for each cup of liquid.

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Appliances 

Add a dash of peppermint extract and chocolate chips for homemade mint chocolate chip!)

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Family Games

I know, I know… if you have to play one more game of Candyland, you might pull your hair out.   Don’t worry – I’ve included games that appeal to a wide variety of ages.

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Family Games

– Spot It! – One of those few games that is truly fun and challenging for everyone! I recommend it for ages 4 to adult. (under $20) – Settlers of Catan – One of our favorites for ages 9 to adult

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Family Games

– A Ticket to Ride – By the makers of Settlers of Catan, it’s a favorite for ages 8+. – Blokus – No reading required, but still fun for adults – ages 5+

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Family Games

– Jax Doodle Dice – Great for families with both big and little kids – ages 4+ – Mexican Train Dominoes – Ages 8+ – Pit – A favorite from my childhood – ages 8+ – Qwirkle – On our gift list this year! – ages 5+

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Family Games

– Morphology Junior – Ages 8+ – Headbanz – Looks like a fun guessing game, but skip it if the family’s kids are in their teens – What Were You  Thinking? – My personal favorite! Fabulous way to get families talking and laughing together – ages 8 to adult, but especially great for families with teens

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Family Games

– Apples to Apples Jr. – Hilarious comparisons game for ages 9+– Uno Attack – Faster and more unpredictable version of the classic card game for ages 5+ – Phase 10 card game – Ages 8+ – Skip Bo card game – Ages 7+ – Pictionary -The classic drawing game

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Family Games

– Farkle – Another fun dice game, ages 8+ – What’s Yours Like? – Looks like a winner for families with older kids – ages 12+ – Yahtzee – I like this retro version of the classic dice game – kids as young as 6 could play with help – Rummikub – Fun and challenging for kids and adults

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Yearly Membership

You’ll have to do a little research for this one, but you might be able to find a local spot that the entire family enjoys. – Children’s museum – Public museum – Water park – Zoo – Nature preserve

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Yearly Membership

– Amusement park – Indoor play place (for families with kids ages 3-10) – Local bowling alley

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Outdoor Gifts

If you’re giving to a family who enjoys the outdoors, try one of these: – Bocce Ball is a fun backyard game for ages 6+.  Get the heavier set if the family’s kids are 12+. (under $30) – The classic Beanbag Toss game can be found for both high and low prices. (We got ours at Menard’s.) Shop around. – ages 3+

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Outdoor Gifts

– Ladderball Game – ages 4+ – Bucket Blast Game Set – 15 games in one for ages 6+ (best for ages 6-12) – Hammock – Not a game, but it’s something everyone can enjoy – just not all at once!

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Outdoor Gifts

– Camping Gear: Buy a new cooler and fill it with fun and useful camping accessories – like headlamps, an egg holder, and an open-fire popcorn popper. – Insulated Picnic Basket – add a few yummy snacks and some frisbees!

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Gift Cards

If you’re short on time, buying a gift card can be quick and easy.  If you’re not buying for your own family, you’ll need to do a little research to find out the local attractions. Consider buying a gift card for one of these locations:

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Gift Cards

– Local ice cream shop or favorite dessert spot – Family restaurant – Movie theater – Pizza place – Children’s gym with open play time – Indoor bike course (for older kids) – Laser tag arena (for families with kids ages 6+)

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Building Toys

Have you ever sat down to build with your child?  Some of these toys are just irresistible no matter your age.   Of course the baby won’t be able to play along, but any child who doesn’t put everything in his or her mouth will want to join in!

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Building Toys

– Magna Tiles – our most expensive toy, but worth every penny! – Jenga, the classic stacking game – Snap Circuits Extreme – We own and adore this. I can’t say enough good things about it. – Straws and Connectors building set

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Building Toys

– Lego Ultimate Building Set – great for families with kids ages 4-12 – Big set of Lego Wheels and everything else you need to make more vehicles! – Quadrilla – my parents own this amazing wooden marble run – ages 4+ – Music Motion Marble Railway – Quadrilla with xylophone keys built into different pieces!

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Subscription Boxes

–– Space Scouts will guide your child through the solar system.  Its activities are probably best for ages 6-10. – Animal Trackers Club is from the same company as Space Scouts, but it’s a set of materials about animals for preschoolers.

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Subscription Boxes

– Green Kids Crafts has such great options – order creativity kits, science kits, and a fun variety of single boxes. – Crafting Our Kids offers beautiful, practical crafts that are designed to be done alongside a parent.  They’re for ages 3-12.

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Subscription Boxes

– Little Passports is a great way for kids to learn about the world – with options for  preschool through elementary. – Xplore Box is a hands-on science kit with toys and goodies, designed for ages 8+. – Surprise Ride  is a box of hands-on projects for ages 6-11.

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DIY Activity Boxes

If you have a cool kids’ activities book, you can page through it and put together some of the basic ingredients.  Pop it in a basket with the book, and you’ve got a great family gift.

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DIY Activity Boxes

– 150 Screen Free Activities, by Asia Citro, has a huge variety of sensory activities for babies through grade school (think glowing slime!).   If you grab some contact paper, corn starch, shaving cream, cotton balls, flour, cornmeal, vegetable oil, food coloring, craft foam sheets, baking soda, salt, vinegar, gelatin, and rice… you can do half the activities in the book!

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DIY Activity Boxes

– 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever, by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller, is for preschool on up and is the perfect boredom buster!  Put the book in a bin with some painters tape, some spray bottles, baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, liquid dish soap, cornstarch, rubber bands, craft sticks, and washable paint.

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DIY Activity Boxes

– 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever, by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller, is for preschool on up and is the perfect boredom buster!  Put the book in a bin with some painters tape, some spray bottles, baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, liquid dish soap, cornstarch, rubber bands, craft sticks, and washable paint.

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