2020 Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Family and Beyond

March 10, 2020

Buying a gift for a family puts a unique twist on the usual challenges associated with gift buying. Rather than considering one person's preferences, you need to think of all of the individuals in the family, as well as the group dynamic.

Fortunately, buying gifts for the whole family has never been easier. Here are some of the best family gift ideas for 2020 and beyond.

Perfectly Preserved Memories

Most families have a bank of photos and recordings that have been stored away as the digital era has taken over. These treasures hold a lot of sentimental value. Whether it's a cassette tape from the days when your now-grown children had a Fisher Price Tape Recorder or a video featuring your late grandma, these pieces of the past can't be replaced.

Digitizing old recordings and images using a service like EverPresent allows families to revisit these memories without worrying about wearing out tapes. This also makes those old bits of nostalgia more accessible to the younger generations. This sentimental gift is a beautiful gesture and will be tremendously appreciated.

A Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a fun way to bring the family together and get them moving. The modern era has made these traditional activities that much more exciting. Smartphones, GPS, and augmented reality make for a learning opportunity that's fun and educational.

Use a service like LetsRoam to give the gift of a virtual scavenger hunt. This provides an opportunity for the family in question to each have specialized roles assigned and tour a local city, looking for virtual clues and learning more about the area.

A Subscription Service

Everyone has got bills to pay. Some, like electricity and groceries, are necessities. Others, like Disney+ and Netflix, are extras that make life a little more enjoyable.

For an easy, functional gift, give the family a subscription service gift card or make arrangements to pay for a year of their service. This simple gift provides entertainment while cutting one less bill from the budget.

A Fire Pit

One of the sweetest gifts you can give families for 2020 is a fire pit. They come in all shapes and sizes and provide a gathering area for relaxing under the stars on a hot summer night or warming up with hot cocoa on a chilly winter evening.

You can get custom cast iron fire pits with shapes cut out to add to the aesthetic or deck-friendly fire pits for those with limited yard space. Throw in a kit for smores and a bundle of firewood to make the gift that much better.

A Night Out

When you have a family, getting a night out to have fun can be a costly endeavor. Treat the family on your list to a mini-vacation. Purchase a hotel voucher they can redeem to get out of the house for an evening. Look for accommodations that have a pool or splash pad and water slide where the kids can play.

Take this gift to the next level with gift certificates to a local restaurant or movie theater.

Scratch Maps

For the family who loves to travel together, purchase a scratch map so they can track everywhere they've been. You can get custom scratch maps that look like old atlas maps or shades of sleek black and gold.

There are also other scratch records to consider for families who don't get to travel as much. Lists of some of the best movies of all time or books to read, as well as things like family bucket lists and seasonal activities, are all available as scratch-off posters.

When buying a family gift in 2020, look for something that brings everyone together to make new and special memories.