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?

We got a waffle maker / donut maker thing and loads of toppings and some snacks for a family we thought hadn’t wanted to do presents but we wanted to get something for them - with a bit of a family night in vibe.

Exactly. This kind of decision isn’t for one person to make.

I would ignore the parents when choosing and get a 3-way set of walkie talkies. The 3yo might be a bit little for it but if so would probably enjoy joining in quite soon.

The relative is trying to ensure they can actually get the gifts home.
They also have 3 kids the chances are they already have every toy the 3 yo could possibly want.
I think the Op needs to respect their wishes.

We got a family a waffle maker, nice toppings and sprinkles which they really enjoyed making together. Otherwise a game like the kids version of cranium? Or a ticket to an experience? Is definitely harder to do it that way. Is there a budget?

Ahhh… the Peak Frean memories!

There was also “Rover” tinned biscuits, and the eternal “Family Circle” ( now in a grotty plastic packet, not a tin!😡)

Assuming this was meant to make things easier 😆
Any bowling/cinema/crazy golf venues nearby? Voucher and a Cadbury box of choccies.

An old fashioned compendium of games
Theatre tokens
Cinema tokens
Tokens for a trip to somewhere local
A hamper of nice food/chocolates/cheese depending what they like
An activity they can do together depending on their interests
I have just seen they live abroad but you can still but vouchers /gift cards for something local to them . I have family abroad and one year we bought them a voucher for a meal at a restaurant near them

A sodastream?

I’d do a hamper too but you just know the relative who suggested this will get a tin of biscuits or a bottle of bubble bath for the whole family and receive tickets and hampers etc in return. I agree with the person who said it will be like the secret Santa where some people go all out with thoughtful or expensive gifts and then others get a 3 for 2 boots gift. I’d definitely be asking to agree a budget before going ahead

My family used to get a large wooden box of satsumas from a family member every Christmas in the 1970s and 80s, when it was possible to buy them like this. It was great, as some of them would be individually wrapped in tissue paper, and they were age appropriate for everyone! Even now, I think of this every time I have a satsuma or clementine. It's the memory that counts.

I buy my Brother, SIL & neice and nephew a cinema voucher for Christmas….
I buy a £50 voucher for them and they can spend it on a family ticket and snacks and if there’s money left they can put it towards another film too ♥️

Well the drip feed of them living abroad complicates things…
A cinema voucher could still work if they’re here long enough to go to the cinema?….. otherwise I’d look up if they have Amazon in their country & just buy a voucher for each child. Or go to the post office and change some ££’s into Euros or whatever currency their country uses… stick cash in each of the children’s cards and let them buy a gift for themselves when they return home !
My sister lives in New Zealand and I buy vouchers on line for shops out there..
But also in the past I’ve said to DSIS - can you buy and wrap something for the kids from me and I’ll do same for my DD & put it from her…. Could you suggest this and ask them to buy something from you to the kids to open before they come over here and you buy your kids something from them ?
or just tell them ‘let’s not buy presents this year, just being together is the main thing … and say I’m just buying the kids a selection box as a little token to open on the day!

Tsuro is a great game which a bright three-year-old could absolutely play with a bit of help. It's an adult filler game but all a three-year-old needs to know how to do is put down a tile. And it's beautiful.
A chocolate fountain is another sure-fire winner. My kids love ours and we just got a cheap one from Home Bargains.

I think the board game is a good idea if a fairly small budget. Otherwise, if you don't want to do vouchers for a day out, think about what they like doing as a family? eg could get camping stuff? Or picnicware? Or beach games? Or baking equipment? Or telescope? Binoculars? Birdspotting/nature guides....

Chocolate fountain machine. Amazon has some for 25-30 quids. My kid is eyeing them, but we haven't bought one to advise if they are good! Cake decorating set. My kids got one from a relative once and they loved it.