Ask Present Professor: All in the Family

Susan writes:

I’m trying to come up with a good gift for an entire famiy.  Two parents and six kids (ages 2-11). I’ve given up on trying to get them individual gifts and now would like to come up with something they can use as a family.  Got any ideas?

Hi, Susan! Try a DVD boxed set–one with plenty of content for the whole family to enjoy for many years to come. The Disney/Pixar Ultimate Collection, on sale right now at Amazon for $109.99, includes the first eight Pixar films (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Cars, and Ratatouille). You might also want to consider a collection of Looney Tunes cartoons, introducing the children (and quite possibly, the parents) to hilarious shorts from the early days of animation. Looney Tunes: Volume I ($24.99) is a great introduction to everyone’s favorite wascally wabbit. Additional volumes are similarly priced.  The Muppet Show DVDs are also quite funny and appropriate for everyone ($22.99 per season, 3 seasons available at Amazon). And maybe, if you’re lucky, they’ll invite you over to watch. (Don’t forget the popcorn!)