Strategic Family Christmas Gifts 2022
It’s that time of year again: time for you to get stressed out buying stuff for your kids that they may or may not like, and that may or may not have any lasting value and that they may or may not forget in the next 24 hours…
No! It’s time for you and your spouse to be strategic with that gift-giving! If you need some ideas, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites and included why we like them so much.
Note: If you use these links, we receive a small commission on the items you purchase.
We’ve broken these up into categories:
- Family Games
- Ideas for Boys
- Ideas for Girls
- Active Gifts
- Books for Kids
- Books for Adults
- Items for Car Trips
Family Games
Ticket to Ride (8+)
This game is awesome for strategy! Using cards & trains, you plan your route all over the US. Great way to learn some geography as well.
Carcassone (7+)
If you like maps, you’ll love Carcassone. In this game, you build your own map and get points for how you arrange it.
Set (8+)
Set is like sprinting for the brain! It’s simple — only cards — but requires intense thinking. Great to help you identify pattens and differences.
Ideas for Boys
Nerf Laser Guns
These things are awesome — and they’re not just for kids! You can use a bunch of these at once and it’s a lot of fun. Best part: nothing to pick up afterwards. We’ve had some good ol’ fashioned family fun with these things, jumping over couches and hiding behind book shelves.
Allnice Wood Carving Tools
What more could a boy ask for than sharp objects? This is a great no-technology way to build some fine motor skills and prompt your young man to produce something of value.
ThinkFun Gravity Maze
Great way to help your child build creativity and work on some of those physics concepts!
Ideas for Girls
America’s Test Kitchen Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
Our daughter has learned so much from this book (and our whole family has benefited from it)! This has great photos to help them learn and grow in what is becoming a lost art! (Obviously boys can use this too, but let’s be honest: an 10-year-old girl in the kitchen is a better bet than a 10-year-old boy!)
America’s Test Kitchen Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
Same thing, except for baking. Delicious.
Li’l Woodzeez Bakery Playset
Our daughter loved these — something precious about little animals in their little play world. If you have an animal lover, this is a great buy.
Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad
Great way to help your child build some drawing skills.
Book Ideas for Kids
Green Ember Series Complete 8-Book Set
Epic storytelling from author SD Smith, a follower of Christ whose work is naturally infused with great Christian themes. Plus, your kids will love the stories and the characters.