Family Gift Ideas: Games and Fun for Everyone
Updated: Oct 9
Some of the best gifts are the ones you open together. These games and toys work for a toddler and a grown-up side by side, and most of them have no winners or losers, so nobody ends game night in tears.
Cooperative games are perfect at this age. Everyone works as one team against the game, so a 2-year-old can play alongside a 7-year-old and a grandparent, and nobody storms off. Look for games with short turns and no reading, and expect to play the same one fifty times.
Our picks
1. HABA My Very First Games: First Orchard
Why we like it: A cooperative first board game where everyone works together to pick the fruit before the raven reaches the orchard. The wooden pieces are big, turns are short, and no reading is needed.
Try this: Name each fruit's color as you pick it.
2. Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens
Why we like it: A team game where you work together to get the chicks back to the coop. It is sneaky counting practice, and everyone wins or loses together.
Try this: Count out loud together on every turn.
3. Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot
Why we like it: A color-matching team game where you fly the owls home before the sun comes up. It is a gentle first game for little ones.
Try this: Let your toddler choose which owl to move each turn.
4. Candy Land
Why we like it: The classic. No reading needed, just colors. It is a great first introduction to taking turns.
Try this: Name each color as you draw a card.
5. Hi Ho! Cherry-O
Why we like it: Spin, count and pick cherries. It is a first counting game for the whole table.
Try this: Count the cherries back into the bucket together at the end.
6. Spot It! Animals
Why we like it: A fast matching game with animals. It is fun for big kids and grown-ups too, and toddlers can play a simple version.
Try this: For little ones, lay out two cards and find the matching animal together.
7. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Puppet Theater
Why we like it: A wooden puppet theater for family shows. Big siblings can write the play, and little ones steal the scene.
Try this: Put on a short show before bedtime.
8. Melissa & Doug Safari Buddies Hand Puppets
Why we like it: Six animal hand puppets for the puppet theater or bedtime stories. They are great for talking about feelings.
Try this: Ask the puppet how it feels today, and let your toddler answer for it.
9. Melissa & Doug Rainforest Jumbo Floor Puzzle
Why we like it: A 48-piece jumbo floor puzzle to build together on a slow morning. The pieces are big and easy to handle.
Try this: Find all the edge pieces first.
10. Yoto Player
Why we like it: A screen-free audio player for stories and music. Kids pick a card and press play by themselves, so you get a break from the screen.
Try this: Use it for a calm story at the end of the day.
Our pick for a first family game night is First Orchard. Short turns, big wooden pieces and everyone wins or loses together.
Shop the whole list
Want it all in one place? Shop this whole list on our Amazon storefront or on ShopMy. Every pick is also in our Store, along with the books and supplies we use on the show.
More gift guides
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