Instead of individual gifts, get a gift that parents and their kids, or maybe just the parents, can enjoy together. All these high-tech gift ideas are suitable for parents (and kids) of all ages, whether the kids are still living at home or only visiting every now and then from college.
This gift guide was originally published on November 7, 2025 and updated on December 2, 2025 to feature new gift suggestions.
Top Picks (Editor’s Picks)
1. iKarao Break XI Karaoke Machine
WiFi HiFi Publisher John Thomson is an at-home karaoke novice, and he couldn’t believe how much fun he, his wife, two grown daughters, and friends had with the Ikarao Break X1 karaoke machine when he received one for review. Distributed in Canada by Lectron and selling for $1,100, the Break X1 has a 13.3-inch HD tiling screen with two mics you can store in the 450W unit when you aren’t belting out Mariah, Elvis, or Benson Boone. It’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and supports multiple karaoke software packages, including subscription-based services like KaraFun as well as free karaoke tunes and lyrics you can find on YouTube.
Thomson likens it to a boombox with a screen and integrated lighting for ambiance. It’s easy to carry from room to room (though it has a bit of heft to it) and the battery runs for up to 10 hours. Set up is simple and you can adjust volume, bass, and light effects from the top panel, along with special effects. Thomson loves that you don’t need extra wires or external screens, so it truly is plug-and-play. If you want to connect it to a TV for a larger screen, however, you can using the included HDMI output. But by and large, it’s a self-contained unit.
As someone who enjoys karaoke annually at a family New Year’s Eve celebration, I can see a unit like this coming in handy. Every generation in the family enjoys it, from the grandparents in their 70s to the cousins in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, my nieces in their 20s, and my teenage son. Karaoke really does bring everyone together. Having a simple machine that just works can make all the difference.
“The iKarao Break X1’s sleek design and convenience make it easy to recommend for anyone looking to host karaoke at home,” says Thomson. “It’s the ease of use and subtle attention to detail that make the iKarao players stand out. Whether you are a complete novice to karaoke like me, or a seasoned pro, iKarao is manufacturing easy to use players that are incredibly fun, highly entertaining, and sound terrific. That they also provide a snapshot into the personality traits of your friends is an unintended but rewarding bonus.” Read our review. Buy the Ikarao Break X1.
Other Gift Ideas
Netflix Premium Subscription
Streaming TV has become complicated now: if you want to watch all your favourite shows, chances are you need to subscribe to multiple services. There’s a good argument for subscribing to all of them top ones, especially with so many new shows coming and returning in January 2026. But Netflix is a great one for families given the diversity of the shows and movies streaming there. You can watch everything from KPop Demon Hunters for the teens to WWE wrestling for dad, true crime titles for mom, and classics like Shrek for kids. Plus, enjoy family-friendly shows like Fuller House and Young Sheldon and movies like Family Switch and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Either sign the family up or upgrade to Premium for a better experience, which is $24/mo. or $288 for the year. With the highest tier, you get access to all available content without ads in the bes quality possible at 4K with spatial audio. If the family is into shows like Stranger Things, the first part of its three-part final season just premiered while Part 2 is coming Christmas Day and Part 3 New Year’s Eve. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for you to queue up the TV and login to surprise them so you can gather ’round the living room on Christmas night to binge the first seven episodes.
Amazon Echo Show 11 Smart Display
The Amazon Echo Show 11 smart display is one of a handful of new products tailor-made to work with Alexa+, which just launched in Canada and can become your family’s new personal assistant. With Alexa+, you get a smarter, more contextual assistance that can help simplify your days. Alexa+ can seamlessly and intelligently control compatible smart devices in the home. Say “I’m cold” in your home office, for example, and it will know to raise the heat a degree or two. It will also know it’s you thanks to visual and voice ID, personalizing responses to each member of the family and adapting to your needs, preferences, and routines over time. For busy families, it’s great for each person to use voice commands to add an appointment or reminder to a family calendar, for example, so everyone is on the same page. Equipped with an 11-inch HD screen (smaller 8-inch version also available), the Echo Show also provides spatial audio for listening to background tunes while the family gets chores down around the house or enjoys board game night. It’s $300 and while Alexa+ is $28/mo., it’s free for Amazon Prime members. Buy the Amazon Echo Show 11.
Skee-Ball Home Arcade Premium
Arcade machines in the home are nothing new, families that have one often considered a favourite in the neighbourhood. No wonder all the kids always want to go to Billy’s house after school! But have you ever considered Skee-Ball? To this day, Skee-Ball remains one of my favourite amusement and arcade games, and I love the idea of being able to practice form at home. It’s not only good exercise but can make for some epic family game nights. The Skee-Ball Home Arcade Premium machine is a big investment at $6,249 (it’s the cheapest option in the line!) but can you put a price on this much fun? If you have a big, open-concept basement, it’s the perfect addition to a games room, right beside the pool table. Scaled down to 80% the size of a commercial machine, it employs a Merapi woodgrain finish and six game options for up to six players. It comes with five 2.75-inch round wood polypropylene balls and an LED pixel display. It runs on a 100V wall outlet. Assembled dimensions are 24 x 108 x 66 inches and it weighs a solid 245 lbs. Go ahead, surprise the kids. Buy the Skee-Ball Home Arcade Premium.
Dyson V16 Animal Cordless Vacuum
When you think high-end vacuum, Dyson is probably among the first that comes to mind. The Dyson V16 Animal cordless vacuum features a new dual conical cleaner head that ejects even long hair and automatically adapts to all floor types for detailed cleaning on hard floors, and deep cleaning on carpets. It adjusts suction power and brush bar speed while LED illumination reveals invisible dust. The new Dyson Hyperdymium 900W motor generates 315AW of powerful, fade-free suction. Go a step further and get them the upgraded Submarine 2.0 wet roller head as well, which uses a combination of hydration, agitation, and extraction to remove spills from hard floors, with adjustable hydration mode for stubborn stains. The 300mL clean water tank can cover floors up to 1,180 square-feet in size. Hydration control technology delivers targeted and precise water supply when wet cleaning. Activate boost for an additional water supply as needed for tougher stains. The V16 Animal is $1,100 or add Submarine option for an extra $200 at $1,300.
Marshall Bromley 750 Party Speaker
Get the family party started with the Marshall Bromley 750, the company’s first-ever party speaker. Considering Marshall’s extensive experience in the live concert and stadium spaces, the brand knows how to make a speaker that totally rocks. It features 360° True Stereophonic sound with double top tweeters to push sound overhead. It can run for 40+ hours and works with battery back-up or AC power. A new sound character knob can toggle between ‘dynamic’ or ‘loud.’ You get clearer sound when listening in the living room, for example, then switch to loud for a punchier sound while listening outdoors. Boasting an IP54 rating, it’s safe to use outdoors, resistant to dirt and splashes of water. The top tweeters even have a built-in drainage system in the event of an unexpected light rainfall, though it should not be submerged. Integrated stage lighting with three presets (ambient and two gradual increments in energy that move with the music) add a party feel while two combo jacks for mic and instrument inputs let you start a jam session. The exchangeable battery doubles as a power bank. Built-in handles and wheels make it easy to bring the speaker along with you by both tilting and rolling as well as lifting – it weighs about 52 lbs. Available through Erikson Consumer for about $1,450, you might not be able to receive it until 2026, but it’ll be worth the wait. Buy the Marshall Bromley 750.
Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Compact Power Station
Keep the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 compact power station in the basement in the event of a power outage, or to take with you on the next family camping trip. It’s designed for outdoor recreation, RV travel, and emergency back-up use, with decent power at 1,800W rated output across 11 ports with support for a 3,600W surge. With a 1,024Wh capacity and 1,000W solar input, it recharges in as little as 70 minutes. The compact design is just 25 pounds, making it a lightweight and space-saving solution for travel and backup power. Whether you need to keep a portable fridge powered up for an hour during a blackout or your laptop going for the rest of the workday until the power comes back on, it’ll be a lifesaver. It’s $1,149 but often on sale for as much as half off. Buy the Bluetti Elite 100 V2.
Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop
Upgrade the household to an effortless vacuum and mop with the Ecovacs X9 Pro Omni, which uses an Ozmo Roller Mop and affords continuously self-washing in real time. With separate clean and dirty water tanks, the system refreshes the mop with clean water on the go while isolating dirty water. It incorporates BLAST (Boosted Large-Airflow Suction Technology) vacuuming technology, which ensures an effective dry vacuum. The mop lifts for carpets, and a lifting main and side brush raises bristles when wet messes are detected. This intelligent lifting system helps prevent streaking, contamination, and scattered mess. The proprietary SuperBoost battery ensures a longer run time and reduced heat output. The ZeroTangle 3.0 system eliminates hair wrap, making it great for households with pets and kids. Edge-to-edge cleaning is handled by TruEdge 2.0 3D edge sensing and an extending mop and side brush for deep cleaning in corners and along walls. It also features advanced AI navigation and the fully automated OMNI Station, which washes and dries the mop with 145°F hot air to prevent bacteria growth. I haven’t tried this model, but I did try the generation before, the X8 Pro Omni, and it works like a dream. The price? $1,999 in Canada. Buy the Ecovacs X9 Pro Omni for 46% off right now at $700.
SharkNinja Fireside360 Firepit
Get the fam-jam ready for the Spring or even warmer winter nights with the SharkNinja Ninja Fireside360 firepit, which delivers up to 80,000 BTUs of 360-degree warmth through proprietary HeatZone Technology with smokeless flames and zero cleanup. HeatZone Technology provides precision-controlled 360-degree heat distribution that delivers head-to-toe heat coverage. It has three operation modes: Heat Mode for powerful warmth, Flame Mode for ambiance, or Combo Mode for both simultaneously, all controlled via intuitive dial interfaces that provide instant on/off operation and granular heat and flame adjustment. Since it’s a propane system, it delivers smokeless flames, so you don’t need to worry about burning eyes, smoky clothes, or guests constantly repositioning themselves to stay away from the blowing smoke. This also means there’s no ash, embers, or residue to clean up after use, so you aren’t breaking fire bans in your area. Designed for use in various weather conditions, it’s simple to assemble. All you need once it’s set up is a standard propane tank. Get it for $499.
Everblog Wall-Mounted Digital Calendar
There are popular digital calendars for families like the 21-inch Amazon Echo Show and the Skylight Calendar. But there’s also the Everblog Smart Calendar. Like the others, you can use this calendar to keep on top of schedules, chores, meal planning, and rewards, and even display family photos, all on one hub. It syncs with Google Calendar and iCal and works with voice input along with text. The anti-glare display can be easily mounted on the wall or place tabletop. At US$439, it’s similarly priced to Amazon’s model and much cheaper than the Skylight Calendar, especially without the need for a subscription. I haven’t tried this one, but I have tried the Skylight, which is fantastically convenient, though overpriced when factoring in the subscription. If this one eliminates that part of the equation, it’s worth considering.
Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus Portable Lifestyle Projector
Great for movie nights under the stars in the summer or Friday night sleepovers in the basement, the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus portable lifestyle projector is one of a new series launched by Epson. You get a compact and lightweight projector with a tiltable stand so you can place it virtually anywhere. It also has built-in ambient lighting and provides up to 1,000 lumens brightness. With Epson’s 3-chip 3LCD Triple Core Engine technology, you get a 4K Pro-UHD picture up to 150 inches in size, complemented by Sound by Bose for room-filling audio, with four specially tuned sound modes. Use EpiqSense 2.0 auto set-up to adjust focus, colour, and picture alignment. With USB-C power, it supports 100W and 140W portable chargers and you get up to 70 minutes with a 24,000mAh charger. Buy the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus for 15% right now.
At $1,300, it’s a great alternative to a big screen TV that you can take with you up to the cottage, campsite, even to a friend’s house: use any white wall as your makeshift screen. Choose the standard Lifestudio Flex with pared down specs instead to shave a bit off the cost. Buy the Epson LifeStudio Flex, on sale right now.
Hitster – The Music Card Game
Kick family game nights up a notch with Hitster – The Music Card Game, which will test everyone’s knowledge of music through the decades. If you have painstakingly spent years exposing your kids to music from the decade you grew up, you can challenge them to show off their skills with this fun party game. Pick a music card, scan the QR code, and play the tune from Spotify. Position the music card on the music timeline overtop the decade you think the song was released. Flip it over to see if it matches. If you’re right, you get to keep the card. The first person to get 10 cards wins. It’s the kind of game you can play again and again, even slow it down by playing the entire tune to get the party going and extend gameplay. It’s a fun take on Name That Tune that focuses on the timeline instead versus identifying the song itself. But maybe others get extra points for guessing song title and artist, too? At $30, it’s an affordable gift for kids that they’ll enjoy playing with friends, too. If they aren’t familiar with the great tracks of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, they’ll learn a thing or two about some of the best decades in music as well. Buy Hitster for 25% off right now.