Experience gifts for kids that they’ll remember and appreciate far more than any toy or trinket! Checkout our list of activities and experiences ranging from a few dollars to $100+. We’ve included ideas for all ages, preschool to tween and teen.
My kids have waaaaaay too many toys! It seems like it starts with the baby shower just grows and grows until one day you can’t even remember what color the carpet is in your child’s room. Between the birthday parties and holidays, grandparent gifts and Amazon surprises, it’s overwhelming!
However, recently we decided to change the way we exchange gifts and focus more on experiences and activities we can enjoy together. We also decided to extend our idea to friends and family so they can also skip the stress of choosing something random and give experience gifts they can be a part of.
Gifting Experiences
So how does it work? We put together a family bucket list, starting with big ticket experiences that we contribute to throughout the year. Then we break it down into individual wish lists of activities and experiences that suit the age and interest of each child.
For example, our top tier list includes a family zoo membership, annual passes to our favorite theme park and a weekend at Great Wolf indoor waterpark. Then we’ve listed Brady’s wish list- trampoline park tickets, Dave & Busters arcade play card and tickets to see a football game. Beckhams list includes gymnastics classes, aquarium passes and tickets to Disney on Ice.
We also set-up an online savings account for the big ticket items and we make monthly contributions. On holidays we gift each other by adding a little more to reach our goals. If grandparents or loved ones want to contribute as well they send a check, Paypal or Venmo.
For personal experience gifts we invite family members to choose which they would like to come along for. An afternoon movie date with grandma, an ice cream treat with an aunt or an arcade visit with a best friend. It’s exciting for the kids to get to experience something they enjoy with someone they love, and it’s something they really look forward to.
Experience Gift Ideas
Memberships
Museum membership, aquarium membership or zoo membership makes a great experience gift idea that can be used all season or even all-year along.
Classes
Art classes, robotics classes, cooking classes, coding classes, computer programming and gaming classes.
Lessons
Horseback riding lessons, martial arts, golf lessons, swim lessons, gymnastics, dance lessons, singing lessons, music lessons.
Tickets
Concert tickets, sports event tickets, theater or musical tickets. Movie tickets
Camps
Summer camps, sports camps, winter break camps.
Outings
Spa day, lunch date, arcade visit, trampoline park, paintball, lasertag, rock climbing. Ice cream shoppe, movie date, shopping trip.
Weekend Trips
Amusement park, indoor water park, hotel stay.
Season Passes
Outdoor water park, amusement park or theme park passes.
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