There’s a growing trend in festive giving that’s gaining momentum around the world. It can save you loads of Christmas shopping time (and money) and, if it catches on in your family, could signal the start of a new Christmas tradition. It’s the ‘family gift’ – a single purchase for the whole family, which means you buy less ‘stuff’ but it gives so much more. The family gift is one that everyone can share and enjoy together, and at a time when many of us are trying to be more mindful of our consumption, it ticks that box too.
We’ve put together our top five family gift ideas to help you get inspired:
A family adventure park pass
Across Australia you’ll find adventure parks for every age and ability level. All you have to do is choose the kind of adventure that’s right for your tribe; from walking with the birds in the treetops, to adrenaline-fueled ziplining, rollercoasters or up-close animal encounters. Most parks offer a good discount on family passes, and some offer better prices if you book online. You’ll have an adventure together, make new memories and experience something different. Isn’t that a great gift in itself?
An Alexa home helper
If you’ve ever wanted a live-in helper, then Alexa is at your beck and call. The new generation of smart home tech is the Echo Dot from Amazon, with a new speaker and a more compact design. The Echo Dot is a voice-controlled smart speaker you activate with “Alexa…” and it lets you stream music, hear news, search for information, and lots more. You can also control compatible smart home devices with your voice, like smart home lighting, turning on your air-con and even remind the kids to feed the dog from another room.
A picnic set and game
When it comes to family time, it doesn’t get much better than packing a picnic and heading for the beach or the park. Check out homeware or department stores for picnic sets that have everything you need for dining al fresco. The better ones have plates, quality drinkware, cutlery and a blanket, so you can set up a stylish spread anywhere you go. Also add a portable badminton or beach cricket set and you’ve got any number of fun family outings planned in one great gift.
Monogrammed beach towels
A great family gift that keeps on giving is a set of monogrammed beach towels. Cotton Turkish towels are a great option because they’re lightweight and easy to carry, they dry much more quickly than terry towelling and they don’t trap sand, so you won’t bring half the beach home at the end of the day. Choose each family member’s favourite colour, have their initials added and nobody ends up getting their towel pinched by a family member.
Annual streaming subscription
A gift everyone can enjoy all year round is a streaming subscription, and now there are plenty to choose from to tick every age and interest. From movies to classic TV shows, documentaries and sporting events, you can learn, explore the world, catch the latest releases and enjoy a laugh together any time. If you can’t agree what to watch together most streaming services let you watch on a TV, laptop, tablet or smart phone, so everyone can enjoy what they like to watch in their own space. And sometimes in a family, that’s just what everyone needs!
