These are the 10 best holiday gift ideas for families in 2021

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Whether you need a gift idea for your older brother, younger sister, mom or dad, you're sure to find some great gift inspiration on this list.

To find the best gift ideas for 2021, a panel of experts selected 20 nominees, then our readers voted for the 10 best.

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10. KiwiCo Gift Subscription

Fun and enriching science, art, geography, culture and early learning KiwiCo crates are delivered to the family monthly, inspiring children of all ages to be creative problem solvers. There’s even a new “Yummy Crate” to teach older children the science of cooking!

Play and learn, explore and discover – because there’s no telling what your child can do while experiencing the magic of KiwiCo.

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9. Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2

The portable WONDERBOOM 2 takes your music with you, wherever your family goes. The Bluetooth speaker offers crisp and bass-y, 360-degree sound. The Outdoor Boost feature boosts the audio for outdoor listening. It’s also waterproof, dust-proof and floatable.

Photo courtesy of Crazy Aaron Enterprises

8. Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty comes in more than 60 colors and effects, each meant to inspire wonder and curiosity. The Philadelphia-based company works with several area vocational centers to employ individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities.

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7. pureAir PERSONAL Air Purifier

Give the gift of fresh air this year to your friends. This pureAir device continuously sends out a stream of unipolar air ions that create a clean air zone free of pet dander, perfumes, colognes and other odors. Small enough to be inconspicuous, it can be worn around the neck or set on a desk or bookshelf.

The air cleaner has a USB charging cable so that it can be recharged easily for continued use.

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Photo courtesy of Cooperstown Distillery

6. Cooperstown Distillery Baseball Decanter

For the sports and whiskey fan in your family, Cooperstown Distillery makes a series of commemorative baseball-shaped decanters etched with an archived Baseball Hall of Fame signature. Each bottle holds 750ml of spirits with a stopper made from ash wood (the same wood used to make traditional baseball bats).

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5. Little Passports Subscription Boxes

The Little Passports subscription box inspires kids to see the world through topics like geography, science and global cultures. Each monthly box includes hands-on activities, souvenirs and experiments, with options for kids ages 3 to 5 or 6 to 10.

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4. "Shotgun!" The Road Trip Game

Shotgun! is a road trip card game that engages everyone in the family – except the driver, of course. One person (likely whoever is riding shotgun) draws and reads one of 200 cards, such as "First person to say which side the gas tank is on wins a point" or "First person who gets a wave from someone in another car wins two points."

Cards are stored in a convenient drawstring pouch, ready for the next road trip. Readers' Choice Awards contributor Chez Chesak remarked, “Great fun for road trips with the kids, whether they’re big or small. We had good fun with this one on a drive to Louisiana, and our girls are 14 and 16.”

Photo courtesy of Treats LLC

3. Treats International Snack Box

Everyone in the family loves treats, but have you tasted treats from other countries? Treats sends subscribers a box of at least five (standard) or ten (premium) packages of goodies each month from around the world. It's a great way to learn about and experience other cultures with satisfying snacks.

Photo courtesy of Lupe Technology Ltd

2. Lupe Pure Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Lupe has designed the perfect cordless vacuum for busy families – 60 minutes of cleaning performance, with only one head needed for all surfaces. The Pure Cordless provides optimum suction across different surfaces and debris types. It is also highly durable, intended for long-lasting ownership and has easily replaceable parts available to order.

10Best contributor Marla Cimini raves, “I'm a huge fan of this high-tech vacuum! This is a fully recyclable vacuum cleaner that's easy for the entire family to use!”

Photo courtesy of Artsy Fartsy

1. Artsy Fartsy Drawing Game

“This is NOT your parents’ drawing game,” says TwoPointOh Games about Artsy Fartsy. A family-friendly version of the well-known adult party game Drawing Without Dignity, this is a fast-paced game where artistic skills are not required.

Not much is off-limits in Artsy Fartsy – categories can be anything from “Don’t Get Caught” to “Animals That Leave Tiny Turds” and everything else you might imagine! Team up with family members to draw and guess from clues that will have everyone laughing out loud for hours. A perfect gift for families from four to twelve members and ages ten and up.