| It was not so long ago that families used to go broke | | | | game. There are many different spins on the game, |
| at Christmas shopping for Christmas gifts for Aunt | | | | but they all have a central idea - getting a gift and |
| Sally, Cousin Ned, Grandpa and Grandma Jones and | | | | having fun getting it. One way to incorporate your |
| the rest of the family. With more and more families | | | | white elephant gift game into you Christmas party gift |
| getting larger, and paychecks getting smaller and | | | | exchange is to put numbered pieces of paper in a box, |
| smaller, many families are now opting for ways to | | | | bowl or hat that coordinates with the number of |
| lessen the burden of the pocketbook but still enjoy the | | | | guests. If you have 20 guests, then you need to have |
| gift giving. One such idea has started to become | | | | 20 pieces of paper numbered 1-20. All the gifts |
| widely popular -- picking just one person's name, | | | | (previously wrapped)for the game are placed in the |
| maybe out of a hat or dish and then shopping for that | | | | center of the floor or on a table. Each person takes a |
| person. Naturally, the kids hate this idea because it | | | | turn picking out a numbered piece of paper. The |
| severely cripples their gift consumption. | | | | person with #1, obviously goes first and picks a |
| There many ways you can play this, too. One | | | | wrapped gift. Then person with #2 can either pick a |
| suggestion is to have the kids pick the kid's names and | | | | gift from the pile or take the one that person #1 just |
| the adults do likewise. Of course, you might want to | | | | picked. Where the fun lies is in that you can either |
| put a cap on the dollar amount to be spent so that | | | | have each person open their gift so that when it's your |
| those family members that might not be as monetarily | | | | turn to get a gift you can decide if you want the one |
| well off as the rest of the group will not feel like they | | | | you can see or an unknown one. I personally like to |
| are being singled out. | | | | play it where you do not ever know what's in the |
| Once names are picked and gifts are bought you can | | | | package until the end. When does this game end? |
| put a spin on your Christmas gift giving by making it a | | | | Well, that would be entirely up to you. You can do it by |
| scavenger hunt with clues put around the house; one | | | | setting a time limit or play a song on the radio, like |
| clue leads to another spot and so on. You can play it | | | | musical chairs-type idea. |
| like "I spy" to lead them toward the spot where their | | | | Another spin on Christmas gift games would be to |
| gift is hidden or have the family member walk around | | | | play an easy card game and if you win the hand, you |
| the house and tell them they are "hot" or "cold" as they | | | | get to pick a gift. |
| are getting closer or farther away from their gifts. | | | | It doesn't matter what game you are playing or how |
| These ideas should not be left to just the children. | | | | many gifts you get, it should be the idea of having a |
| Re-discover your inner child and have fun with it. | | | | great time with family (or friends) and enjoying each |
| One gift giving party game that has become the rage | | | | other's company. |
| at many a church function is the "white elephant" | | | | |