Seven Experience Gifts To Give Kids This Season
By Sarah Lyons
Does it feel like your kids already have more toys than they could ever want ? I love the holidays and the spirit of gift-giving , but every year I wonder what toys my kids could possibly want and where they will go in our already crowded home ? Experience gifts are a great gift option that has benefits for kids , parents and other gift-givers . With an experience gift , your child will create great memories while enjoying something they may not have had the opportunity to try otherwise . An added bonus is that there is no need to store the item after the child has grown tired of playing with it . Here are some great experience gift ideas for every child on your list .
Season pass One of my family ’ s favorite gifts is season family passes to local attractions . This not only saves us money but it also encourages us to get out , enjoy our city and make memories along the way . Some attractions to consider are zoo admission , a local museum ( consider a children ’ s museum if your children are of the right ages ), amusement park tickets or swimming season passes to the area pool .
Subscription box A subscription box is a great gift idea , especially for tweens and teens who are hard to buy for . They are now available for any age , interest and price range . If your child loves science , reading , art , games or sports ; chances are there is a subscription box that will fit their interests .
Classes and camps Consider giving the gift of prepaid classes or camps that fit your child ’ s interest . Some ideas include dance , gymnastics , sports , cooking , art or music . Classes and camps can be really expensive but are worth the money and give kids the opportunity to try something new .
Travel Consider combining your holiday and vacation budget to take a family trip . Whether it ’ s an overnight to a nearby indoor water park or a cross-country trip , traveling is a great way to expose your child to different places and build family memories at the same time .
Tickets Tickets to a favorite sporting event , concert or show are a great idea for a gift for the whole family . Combine the gift with a t-shirt to wear to the event or a backstage tour to make the day more memorable .
Box it up If your budget is a little smaller , try putting together several things in a box for your child to enjoy . Create a movie box with a movie or video rental gift card , candy , popcorn and a warm blanket so the family can enjoy a movie night at home . Combine art supplies , a sketch book , paints and other craft items for an art box . You could also put together a cooking box , ingredients for homemade playdough with cookie cutters or a gardening box with seeds , gardening gloves and tools . Get creative and combine your child ’ s interests to put together a customized box .
Adventure gifts For the adventurous child , look for experience gifts that give them a chance to try something they wouldn ’ t normally get to do . Some ideas could include horseback riding , fishing , camping , rock climbing , indoor skydiving or a day at a gym with an obstacle course or trampolines .
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