| It used to be that families had no rules about gift | | | | not, you can have some good family fun with a white |
| buying. Everyone bought for everyone else, and gifts | | | | elephant gift exchange. How about a themed white |
| were exchanged when the family all got together | | | | elephant gift exchange? If the family is into fishing, you |
| somewhere during the Christmas season. | | | | could create that as a theme. Everyone must bring a |
| These days, it's more common for people to draw a | | | | gift related to fishing (this could be anything from |
| name out of a hat or get assigned a person to buy | | | | sporting goods items, to a singing bass that goes on |
| for. Or the family creates a type of "white elephant" | | | | the wall). It could be a hand held electronic fishing game |
| exchange instead of having family members buy for | | | | or a board game with fishing as a theme. |
| individuals in particular. So, what many families need is | | | | In that same vein, you could create a "cooking" white |
| a fun way to exchange the gifts, whether they be for | | | | elephant exchange or a camping themed gift |
| a specific person or whether they are 'white elephant" | | | | exchange. Again, it's more about what will please |
| type gifts. | | | | members of the family than anything. Then create |
| If the family members drew names, there are several | | | | some fun games for the exchange itself. Perhaps |
| fun things you can do. The gifts can be hidden and | | | | everyone draws a number and gets to pick their gifts |
| clues given as to the location of the gifts. So, if you | | | | from the pile in the middle based on their number. |
| arrive at grandma's house with your gift for Aunt | | | | Perhaps you begin the game that way, but then also |
| Martha, you might tuck her gift into a kitchen cabinet. | | | | people to 'steal' someone else's gift if they choose. |
| Then you'd create a series of clue as to here it is. You | | | | You can require that the gift recipient shakes a gift, |
| might say, "Cinnamon lurks here" or "it's the hub of the | | | | studies a gift and makes a good, educated guess as |
| home, but not always the home of the hub". | | | | to its contents before opening it. If they are right, they |
| The clues can be silly or deadly serious. They can be | | | | can "steal" someone else's gift, but if they are wrong, |
| designed so someone will know where to find their | | | | they keep theirs. Add to the silliness factor by playing a |
| present in just minutes, or designed so that it takes a | | | | card game and dictating that people can't get their gift |
| series of clues to get someone right to their gift. If the | | | | and open it until they win a hand in the card game |
| group is small or the house particularly large, and the | | | | (ideally something fairly quick like poker or rummy). |
| participants have the time you can always create a | | | | The idea behind any family gift exchange should be |
| hunt where more than one tip is left and one tip leads | | | | enjoying each other's company and enjoying the |
| to another, which leads to another until the gift is finally | | | | Christmas spirit. As long as it's fun and engaging, |
| found. | | | | there's no reason why the adults in the family can't |
| Why should the kids have all the fun? Create some | | | | have some fun games for exchanging gifts just the |
| fun gift exchange ideas for adults. Whether the family | | | | kids might. |
| is doing a name draw and exchanging regular gifts or | | | | |