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Turn Holiday Gifts into Family Fun

They gave you a list. You checked it twice. You bought the best new video games, the latest handheld gaming device, the hottest computer, or the new anniversary edition of their favorite DVD with amazing extras. You got iTunes gift cards for everyone on your list, from toddlers to teens. But once the ribbons come off those holiday gifts for kids, wouldn’t it be great to use them for family fun? Here are our favorite ways to create good times for everyone big or small, whether your inspiration comes from a book, a movie, or the most screaming-hot new technology. Happy holidays!


Ideas for Family Holiday Fun

Why not put together a 2009/10 family photo slideshow and send it to family and friends? Or if you're feeling extra sentimental, make a slideshow of your favorite snapshots from holidays past to share at your big get together.  

Lights! Camera! Action! Perform some skits based on your family’s favorite holiday movies. If they turn out well, you can film them and post the videos online for family and friends.

Hold a family Wii Fit playoff contest. (Tip: The fun is in making up the teams. Pit grandparents against grandkids, cousins against cousins.) We’ve picked Wii Sports Resort for the Best Family Game of 2009. Give it a try!

Create a basket of family media (new or used) for a family in need. Contact a local family agency, church, school program, or the Salvation Army about their “Adopt a Family” programs.

Arrange an evening of video chats with friends or family members who are on the other side of the state, the country, or the world. It’s the next best thing to being together.

Decorate gingerbread men as your favorite book, TV, movie, or video game characters. You can award prizes for the most authentic. And -- yum -- you get to eat the activity!

Post your family on YouTube! Create a family holiday video and share it online. Make sure to set the privacy settings!

Build a holiday music playlist of family favorites and share it with others by gifting it on iTunes. Or share it on MySpaceMusic or Last.fm.

Is there a budding composer in your family? Create your own music for gift giving at cool media-creating sites like MyPopStudio.com. 

Common Sense Media rates and reviews thousands of media choices for kids: books, movies, games, music, websites, and TV shows. We assess them according to child developmental criteria recommendations from some of the nation’s leading authorities. We take into account messages, role models, violence, language, and more. Our editors then create lists of the best kids' media, with an eye toward overall quality and the child’s age -- all so that you can choose from the very best for your family.


Holiday Gift Guide from Common Sense Media!

To get the holiday fun started, here are Common Sense Media's picks for the Best of 2009 in Games, DVDs, Books, Music and more.

2009 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Video Games
Best Video Games for Kids and Families

DVDs
Best TV on DVD for Kids and Families
Best DVDs for Kids and Families

Music
Best Music for Kids and Families

Books
Best Picture Books for Kids and Families
Best Middle-Grade Books
Best Young Adult Books

FUN HOLIDAY MEDIA
Best Picture Books for the Holidays
Best Websites for Kids During the Holidays


How do you turn holiday gifts into family fun?

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