One present for a whole household?!!!

[sunnysaturdaymorn]

A relative has decided that we should buy one present per household. This is stressing me out no end! They have children aged 3, 6 and 10 and the mum and dad. Does anyone have any idea of a family game or something else that would work please?

How??

Popcorn maker machine

Get them a drum kit, and hopefully they will never ask you to come up with a multi-age gift again 😂

I can absolutely understand where they are coming from, having been the ‘relative living abroad’. They have limited capacity to transport things home and the idea of receiving a cubic metre or two of presents is enough to make them break out in hives.

It’s not just your presents, it’s all the presents from all the relatives and friends. They have to fit that in their luggage along with the things from home that they want to shop for, because they can’t get them or they’re stupidly expensive where they live. Plus, depending on where they live, they may not have a lot of space to store all the presents from their generous relatives and friends.

Consider it a challenge to find a great family gift, and please don’t hold it against them. They will appreciate your efforts.

voucher for a day out to the local wildlife park
or zoo, trampoline park vouchers, craft basket with things that can be used
by all ages

I'd buy a large photo frame and an ink pad so they can do their own handprints for a snapshot of Christmas 2025.

A craft hamper - pens, glitter, paper, crayons, etc

Use a picture of the family to order a personalised jigsaw.

A set of mugs with each of their names on.

Dobbel.

A nice food hamper?

Art set with paints pens etc.
Baking / cooking kit with a few cookie cutters or jelly moulds.
A box of assorted balls: football, beach ball, bouncy ball, marbles.
A lego set.
A sofa blanket.
A magic set.

I agree with this 👆 perfect gift 🎁

They’ll need electrical adaptors if not in the UK.

Seems entirely reasonable to me, and surely makes life easier.

Hot chocolate and a board game

Hamper with nice expensive olive oil, pate, wine, cheese, Pickles, biscuits, olives, chocolate and maybe a chocolate father Xmas or reindeer etc for each child included?

The live abroad, don't buy anything electrical.
I think treat them to a day out here, zoo, soft play or panto.

I'd avoid cinema 10 yos and 3 yos are likely to want different films.

A fun family game like Telestrations

We’ve given gifts like this in the past and have done movie hampers with a couple of family friendly dvds, fancy hot chocolate sachets, marshmallows, candy cane, upmarket popcorn

Lovely suggestions.

@sunnysaturdaymorn I was looking at gifts earlier. I saw a memories box that holds photographs on Not On The High Street. You could have a personalised engraving with the family’s names on it. It would be what I would choose as it can be treasured by all. The children are not going to know any different. If you have any images of them you could add them in the box with some sweets or chocolate in it as an extra.

I would get a voucher for a day out to the zoo or bowling etc. Maybe a hamper of goodies they can all share.

If they have pics of them all on social media can you make them a 2026 calendar and/or get them all T shirts with their family name on, so they can wear them as pyjama tops if they want to do the matchy thing at half the cost? Trying to think of slightly more personal things that won't break the bank.

I’m guessing it’s around money! Personally I think it’s a great idea as Christmas is just a commercial enterprise these days!

A friend bought my family the board game Herd Mentality. We don't normally make time together to play games. My kids are young teens, but this one is enjoyed by us all! But maybe that's for one in a few years time as the ones you're buying for are still quite young.
We also have Stay Active Jump It Wipe Out which is fun for all the family or Twister.
Alternatively, what about a cinema voucher for the whole family to enjoy?

Science museum annual wonderlab pass.

They live abroad so I really don't think that's practical 😂