Create Play Travel Pacific Northwest family lifestyle and creative ideas
  • Family Travel
  • Kids Activities
  • DIY Projects
  • Family Lifestyle
  • Homeschool
  • Beauty Tips
  • About

We may have received one or more of the products mentioned below free for review purposes. Our posts contain affiliate links which allow us to earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are exclusive to Create. Play. Travel.

Fun Family Gifts – 10 Years of Gift Guides

by Katie Wallace | Updated: September 30, 2023

It’s hard to believe, we’ve posted 10 years of Create. Play. Travel. holiday gift guides! Over the years, we’ve discovered so many fun family gifts! Our favorite gift ideas include kids learning activities, interactive toys, fashion accessories, and beauty products. We’ve even included great gifts for moms and dads! Here’s a look back at some of our all-time favorite gift ideas from past holiday gift guides!

Wild Things animal blankets kids gift idea

Animal Blankets Gift Idea

Cozy animal blankets are perfect for kids who love to be warm while they play. Wild Things animal blankets come in many styles with snuggly pockets which give kids the head and paws or feet of a bear, leopard, unicorn, lion, and more. Additionally, these blankets are made of soft material with high quality stitched details.

Animal Packers backpacks kids holiday gift guide

Cute Animal Backpacks

Furthermore, Animal Packers backpacks are a cute way to keep school supplies organized. Kids can take these backpacks to preschool or kindergarten, or use them for homeschool. Our toddler son loved his yellow bird backpack, which we think is a great gift idea for kids. The backpack has mesh pockets, several zipper openings, and a cartoonish animal face.

Hape toys fire station kids gift idea

Quality Kids Wooden Toys

For kids who love pretending, this Hape wooden fire station is a great interactive play set. It’s initially fun to put together. Once built, kids can play with the wooden firetruck, helicopter, fireman, Dalmatian fire dog, and fire extinguisher. My kids loved the cute illustrated details decorating the fire house, along with the built-in fire pole and hinged garage doors.

Strider balance bikes for kids

Balance Bike Kids Gift

Did you know that balance bikes significantly help toddlers learn how to ride a bike? Our gift list wouldn’t be complete without Strider balance bikes for kids. Each of my kids learned how to ride a bike by practicing on their Strider bikes. These colorful balance bikes are well made, with sturdy handles, an adjustable steel frame, and durable tires. Kids learn how to balance, which helps them eventually advance to using pedal bikes.

Magformers fun family gifts

Magnetic Tiles Toy

Additionally, kids who enjoy building will love colorful Magformers magnetic blocks. An innovative take on traditional building blocks, these colorful shapes have magnets which allow them to snap together. Kids can build houses, towers, and geometric shapes. Other sets include add-ons to make vehicles, engineering creations, 3D hearts, and spheres.

Pello baby floor pillow

Baby Floor Pillow Gift Idea

For babies who love being in the middle of family life, the Pello floor pillow is very helpful. It’s comfortable and protective while also keeping baby close by. A baby can safely lounge in a Pello anywhere on the floor. The oversize pillow is gently indented to support babies through toddler size kids. You can also remove the cover to wash it. We used our Pello for two babies and even my toddler enjoyed resting in it.

Disney on Ice tickets fun family gifts

Disney on Ice Tickets – Fun Family Gifts

Next on our list of fun family gifts, Disney on Ice tickets are always a highlight for our kids. This magical ice skating show comes to our area once a year. Our kids love seeing their favorite characters perform in beautiful routines on the ice. Of course, Disney always includes a bit of magic within their professional ice shows. Disney on Ice tickets are a great family gift for kids of all ages! See our tips for things to bring to Disney on Ice.

Tenth Street hats gift idea

Hats for Men Gift Idea

For dads, brothers and husbands, a new hat from Tenth Street Hats is a great gift idea with a very practical use. You can choose from a wide variety of styles to find your man’s new favorite accessory. My husband has worn a Tenth Street Hat for several years, and it’s held up beautifully and even served as a conversation starter. Gift a hat to any man who loves exploring, relaxing by the lake, or going on adventures.

Java Skincare products gifts for moms

Coffee Body Products Gift Set

Alternately, every woman who loves coffee will enjoy any of Java Skincare’s coffee-infused body products. The lip balm and scrub duo is especially a perfect gift idea or stocking stuffer. It’s luxurious and very soothing. Additionally, this lip set is compact and can easily slip into a purse or travel bag. Java Skincare products are made with green coffee and botanical extracts. The whole product line is lovely and very moisturizing.

Anne Vaughan jewelry gift idea

Quality Jewelry for Moms

If you like jewelry, moms and women of all ages will love the beautiful designs from Anne Vaughan Jewelry. You can layer many of the pieces to create unique looks that go with a wide variety of outfits. I love the shimmery glass used in many of the designs. Anne Vaughan Jewelry comes in many styles and each piece is handcrafted in Virginia.

sipsby tea box fun family gifts

Tea Subscription Box

Finally, a tea subscription box is a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys sipping hot tea. This box is curated with an assortment of tea blends, allowing you to discover new flavors and enjoy classic favorites. The box that I received had a number of different types of tea, including vanilla matcha, jasmine and lemon tea. I enjoyed trying each one.

Fun Family Gifts

And that’s a wrap! These are just a few of our favorite fun family gifts. However, they’re the ones that stand out from our past 1o years of gift guides. Some of these gift ideas are also items and activities our family has enjoyed using the most. I hope some of these gifts inspire you to surprise your family. Happy gift shopping!

Katie Wallace
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!

Tags

  • Gift Ideas

Post navigation

DIY Apple Candles
Visiting Stonehenge with Kids, UK

Related posts

Teen Girls Valentine’s Day Ideas
January 31, 2026
by Katie Wallace  /  0 Comments

Teen Girls Valentine’s Day Ideas

Bootleg Bath Beauty Products
December 15, 2025
by Katie Wallace  /  0 Comments

Bootleg Bath Beauty Products

Fabulous Winter Fashion & Beauty Products
December 9, 2020
by Katie Wallace  /  0 Comments

Fabulous Winter Fashion & Beauty Products

guest
Recipe Rating




guest
Recipe Rating




0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Hello

Wallace Family 2024 create play travel

Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

Do it Yourself

do it yourself watermelon fruit bowl See our creative projects, kids activities, & party ideas »

Homeschool Ideas

katie wallace homeschool ideas Homeschool Tips & Ideas »

Popular Tags

  • Babies
  • Baking
  • Camping
  • Colorado
  • DIY Home
  • Easy Crafts
  • Europe
  • Fall Ideas
  • Family Fashion
  • Gift Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
  • Idaho
  • Kids Activities
  • Kids Science
  • Memories
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Paper Crafts
  • Party Ideas
  • Product Reviews
  • Snacks
  • Summer Ideas
  • Teens
  • Toys
  • Travel Tips
  • Valentines Day
  • Videos
  • Worldschooling

Latest YouTube Videos

Create Play Travel Youtube Videos@createplaytravel on YouTube »
Europe with kids YouTube videosEurope with Kids Video Episodes »

createplaytravel

Travel with kids tips & inspo 🌍🌺 Creative family ideas 🌟 Saved by grace ➡️ Follow our adventures!

The struggle is real when charging our family’s de The struggle is real when charging our family’s devices! 😀 We try to balance screen time with learning and adventures while traveling. 

Phones & tablets can be helpful for language learning and some games/entertainment. 📱

Our watches double as GPS tracking for our kids, and the drone is fun for capturing unique video content!

💬 Which devices do you bring when traveling with your kids? 

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschool family, worldschooling, exploring with kids
The struggle is real when charging our family’s de The struggle is real when charging our family’s devices! 😀

We try to balance screen time with learning and adventures while traveling with our kids. But phones & tablets can be helpful for language learning and some games/entertainment. 📱Our watches double as GPS tracking for our kids, and the drone is fun for capturing unique video content!

💬 Which devices do you bring when traveling with your kids? 

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschool family, worldschooling, exploring with kids
Girls spa day! 😊🌸 We got pedicures at a nail studi Girls spa day! 😊🌸 We got pedicures at a nail studio near our house, and it was such a fun way to spend time together. 💕🇲🇽 @teenglowtravel @just.sylvie.xo 

💬 What activities do you enjoy doing with your daughter? Comment below👇

One thing we love about living in Mérida, MX is how affordable beauty treatments can be. It’s easy to enjoy a little pampering without breaking the budget!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
The house search is on! 🏠🌴 We’re looking for a lon The house search is on! 🏠🌴 We’re looking for a long-term rental house in Mérida, Mexico. Our wish list includes:

 • 4 bedrooms
 • spacious family room
 • workspace / homeschool room
 • pool to cool off from the heat
 • space for hosting! 

Do you think we’ll find our dream home in Mérida? 😁☀️🌴 We still have one more house to look at!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
Cerrado los lunes! 😟☀️ We showed up at the zoo onl Cerrado los lunes! 😟☀️ We showed up at the zoo only to discover it was closed on Mondays. 

Thankfully, our family has gotten pretty good at pivoting when plans change. Instead of heading home, we set off on a mile-long walk to Centro Histórico Mérida and turned an unexpected detour into an adventure.

We explored local markets, enjoyed tacos and sopa de lima for lunch, and let the kids burn off energy at a park. The Mérida heat definitely called for a treat, so we stopped for fruit bars that cost just 40 pesos (about $2.50) each. We made it home just in time for Juliet’s nap!

Next time, we’ll check the zoo schedule before we go. But honestly, this unexpected change of plans turned into a pretty great day!

✨ Takeaways:

• Travel helps build resilient kids. When plans change, they learn to adapt, stay positive, and enjoy the adventure anyway.

• Some of our best experiences happen when things don’t go as planned. The zoo will still be there another day! 🦓🐊🦛

• We’re growing in Spanish every day. The kids are becoming more confident with pronunciation, casual phrases, and new vocabulary as we navigate life in Mexico.

💬 What do you want to know about our life in Mexico?

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring! 
➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures 🌎🩵

homeschool family, travel with kids, adventure family, worldschooling, kids who travel, merida mexico, family travel
Hola from Mérida! 🇲🇽☀️ Our first week has been cha Hola from Mérida! 🇲🇽☀️ Our first week has been challenging and rewarding as we settle into life in Mexico with our 4 kids!

• We’re finding our new normal, discovering favorite stores, trying grocery delivery, getting used to air-drying clothes and doing dishes (no clothes dryer or dishwasher). 

 • We’ve almost finished all steps for receiving our family’s permanent residency cards. Praying for successful completion!

 • Also experiencing frequent tropical afternoon downpours, magnificent and soaking! 🌴

 • Being without city water for 20 hours, which impacted washing dishes and taking showers. We used our rooftop water tank sparingly. 

 • House hunting & touring several long term rental houses; we hope to find a good fit for our stay-at-home lifestyle and hosting too!

I keep reminding myself that we moved here! We’re not just visiting for a few weeks. 🤯😄

Overall, we’re grateful. ☀️🙂 It’s been a good first week, and we’re excited to continue settling in and discovering what life in Mérida has in store for our family!

Hi! We’re the Wallace family. 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩵

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling, Mérida Mexico
I can’t believe in 2 days, we head to Merida, Mexi I can’t believe in 2 days, we head to Merida, Mexico to live there for two years! 🇲🇽 Our goal is to gain dual citizenship, work on learning Spanish, and get to know the local culture. We also look forward to welcoming baby # 5 in October, another GIRL! 🩷🦩🥰

North Idaho has been so good to us, and we will miss our friends and family! 

Thanks for praying for our family on our journey! 🩵🌎

Hi! We’re the Wallace family 👋😀 We love traveling with our 4 kids, homeschooling, and exploring. ➡️ follow along! @createplaytravel 

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Mexico, worldschooling
So many fun squishies, NeeDohs, and dumplings! 🥹🍕💧 So many fun squishies, NeeDohs, and dumplings! 🥹🍕💧 @needohofficial @hallmark
Follow on Instagram
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • Copyright © Create. Play. Travel. • Privacy Policy