This year is the first year that Esther and William, aged 4, really get Christmas.

I am mindful that is up to us to help them believe the magic and make the most of this children’s season.

But what when they are not such little children?

This post, in collaboration with Pink Dog, has given me some ideas for what to expect as Christmas changes, as our children grow

Christmas is just around the corner, and for those of us who survived the annual terror that is Black Friday, gift-buying for others may still be on the agenda. Of course, if you missed the discounts, you could find yourself spending a lot more than you wanted to this Christmas, so why not spread the cost by buying a gift for the whole family rather than individual members? If you’re stuck for ideas, here are five Christmas gifts the whole family will love.

A Wii U
2014 has been a big year for the release of consoles, with the PlayStation 4 and the XBox One dominating much of the market. However, these can be considered by some as quite insular – for a console that’s going to get more people involved, try a Wii U. It’s not only great for sharing games from dance to karaoke, but it will also help to get everybody fit – perfect for working off those Christmas pounds!

A digital photo frame
The bigger a family gets, the harder it can be to store the memories. It only takes a few baby photos and school certificates to clog up the fridge door space, so why not invest in a digital photo frame? With gigabytes of space, families can chronicle all their favourite moments from birth right through to adult years.

A new bed
How many grumpy mums and dads do you know who could do with investing in a new bed to catch up on much-needed sleep? There are some great options at Bedstar, from kids’ beds to Memory Foam mattresses. The benefits of a new bed or even just a new mattress extend beyond the parents – little ones who may want a cuddle in the middle of the night will certainly appreciate a more comfortable space.

A classic board game
Perfect for bringing the family together at Christmas, a traditional board game like Scrabble or Monopoly will bring joy to family members of all ages. The more cynical amongst the family members may feel that these games are a little tired, but with constant updates being brought out every year, such as the Walking Dead Monopoly, there’s no end of fun.

A personalised dinner set
Dinner time is one of the few times in which family can all get together at once, so why not make it a bit more fun by buying them a personalised dinner set? With designs and names that can be changed, you can capture the personality of each individual family member, from the grumpy daddy to the troublemaker teenager.

I wonder what my children will want for Christmas the older they grow?

This post was written in collaboration with Pink Dog