{"id":8067,"date":"2017-07-21T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2017-07-21T10:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=8067"},"modified":"2023-02-10T14:00:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T19:00:29","slug":"best-gift-exchange-ideas-big-families-hosting-summer-reunions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/21\/best-gift-exchange-ideas-big-families-hosting-summer-reunions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Gift Exchange Ideas for Big Families Hosting Summer Reunions"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The family tree | Image courtesy Etsy seller WordOfLove<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019ll never forget the very first family reunion I went to when I was a kid. My brother, my parents, and I all piled into our red station wagon and road tripped to Wisconsin where we gathered at my Uncle\u2019s country home\u2014along with forty of our relatives. It was the first time that all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins were together in the same place at the same time.<\/p>\n

I remember feeling very overwhelmed and shy when I first stepped out of the wagon; I\u2019m pretty sure I hid behind my mom for the first full day and avoided making eye contact with anyone. But then, something happened that forced me out of my shell: we had a family gift exchange. I mean, what kid doesn\u2019t like presents, right?<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t remember the exact details of the exchange, but I do remember that my uncle made it into a super fun game. There was a ton of laughter, a lot of bonding, and only a little bit of play fighting (at least I think it was play fighting).<\/p>\n

From my experience, there really is no better way to break the ice at a family reunion than with a fun, creative gift exchange that gets everyone involved. It doesn\u2019t matter that it isn\u2019t Christmas; take advantage of the fact that your family is all together and get gifting! Here are my best gift exchange ideas for big families that are bound to have you bonding in no time at your summer reunion.<\/p>\n

Gift Exchange Ideas for Big Families (and Memorable Reunions)<\/h4>\n

I love dreaming up gift exchange game ideas because there are literally endless possibilities. They can be as simple and straightforward as you like, or as wild and wacky as you dare. The classic white elephant gift exchange<\/a> is always a hit for any gathering, but the ideas below also emphasize interaction, bonding, and humor\u2014all the ingredients for a memorable family reunion. My hope is that they\u2019ll bring your family closer, break any ice that needs to be broken (there always is in a big family), and maybe even encourage everyone to share a good belly laugh or two.<\/p>\n

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Musical wrap, not rap | Image courtesy Etsy seller stripeycity<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Game of Musical Gifts <\/b><\/p>\n

Do you remember playing musical chairs as a kid? This idea was inspired by that childhood game. It\u2019s super simple to play, so if you have a bunch of little ones in your family it\u2019s a good choice.<\/p>\n

Basically, everybody sits in a circle holding the gift that they brought. Start the music using a musical chairs app for iOS or Android<\/a> so that everyone can participate and nobody has to worry about shutting off the music at random intervals. When the music starts, everyone passes their gift to the person to the right of them to the tempo of the song until the music stops. When it does stop, stop passing gifts as well. At this point, you have the option of either keeping the gift that is in your hands and leaving the circle or continuing in the game until you get a gift you want to keep. Keep playing until everyone has walked away with a gift.<\/p>\n

I like to play this game with unwrapped gifts because I think it makes it more exciting. Everyone will have a good laugh when a pink teddy bear ends up in big Uncle Rick\u2019s hands! Plus, this way you\u2019ll be able to eye the gift that you want and stay in the game until you (hopefully) get it.<\/p>\n

The Family Trivia Gift Exchange<\/b><\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a good game of trivia? Well let me tell ya, it\u2019s even more fun when the questions are about your family! There will be lots of laughs and maybe even a bit of impromptu storytelling with this one. Plus, you\u2019ll all get to learn a lot about your family members, which can bring everyone closer and maybe even inspire some great conversations later on.<\/p>\n

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Hey there, cupcake! | Image courtesy Etsy seller analiesenoell<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before the reunion, prepare the trivia questions (you\u2019ll need as many as there are family members in attendance, plus a few extras just in case). They can be about anything, as long as they\u2019re about your family. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n