Gift guides
Gift ideas for the specific people on your list, by age, obsession and budget. Plus the occasional how-to for getting the whole family on the same page.
How to draw Secret Santa names with a random generator
The four ways to draw Secret Santa names at random, from a free generator that texts everyone a private link to a random number generator, a spinner wheel and a hat, with the fix for people drawing themselves.
How-to · 6 minChristmas party games that work with a room of mixed ages
Sixteen Christmas party games sorted by how much setup they take, from gift exchange games like white elephant and the dice game to ten minute fillers for the table. With the honest notes on which ones flop.
How-to · 6 minThe 8 question Secret Santa questionnaire, plus 40 more to swap in
A short Secret Santa questionnaire you can paste into a group chat, a longer bank of questions sorted by what they are for, and how to collect the answers without a spreadsheet.
How-to · 6 minWhite elephant rules, the way most groups actually play
The standard white elephant rules in order, the three decisions to make before the first gift is opened, and how Dirty Santa and Yankee Swap differ. Copy the invite text at the end.
Gift guide · 6 minGifts for a 1 year old that still get played with at 18 months
Ten first birthday gifts a 1 year old can actually use, chosen so they stay interesting through the toddler year. Plus two gifts that aren't toys at all.
Gift guide · 6 minGifts for a 3 year old who loves trucks
Eleven truck gifts for a 3 year old, from the one steel dump truck worth owning to the cheap stuff that fills a stocking. With the honest downsides.
Gift guide · 7 minGifts for a 4 year old who already has everything
Twelve gifts for a 4 year old whose room is full: things that get used up, things that add to what they own, first real games, and a few that are not toys at all.
How-to · 5 minHow to run a family Secret Santa without the group chat meltdown
Budget, who's in, how to draw names, and the one thing that keeps a family Secret Santa from falling apart in week two. A step by step plan.
Gift guide · 6 minStocking stuffers for toddlers that aren't candy or junk
Small gifts for a 1 to 3 year old's stocking that get used after December 26th. Mess-free art, reusable stickers, a few classics, and what to grab at the drugstore.