Enjoy giving your child the gift of experiences, because we all have too much stuff! It must be in our parent DNA to want to give our children every single thing they could possibly ever want or need. My son is not even a year old yet and it seems like we own every toy known to man. A one-year-old should not need his toys rotated! Yet, here we are.
We buy him toys that we think look fun or will help teach him something new. Our parents and families buy him toys for every occasion. Friends give him toys, because who doesn’t love the look on a child’s face when they receive a gift?
The excitement of opening the gift fades after a day, and you’re suddenly left with shelves and tubs full of toys that receive little to no attention. Let’s face it – we all have too much stuff.
Furthermore, it can be defeating to spend money (probably too much) on a gift that blends in with all the others. Do yourself and the kids a favor – give the gift of experiences, whether it is an outing or supplies for your adventure. How you spend your time together and the memories you make in the process will always be more important than another “thing”.
1. “Board Game Night” Gift Basket
Create a collection of items centered on a night of family fun. Choose a board game as the centerpiece, and add in some family-favorite snacks and simple card games. The fun experience will last for hours!
A Few Favorites:
- All Ages – Qwirkle, Labyrinth, or Rummikub
- Toddlers – Move & Groove or The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
- Ages 4-7- Zingo!, Race to the Treasure, or Outfoxed!
- Ages 8-13 – Not Parent Approved, Exploding Kittens, or Watch Ya’ Mouth
Pro Tip: Buy a few board games at Christmastime when they are deeply discounted!
2. One-on-One Time with Mom or Dad
A friend of mine started this yearly tradition with each of her kids after realizing their need for more individualized attention. When you think about it – you likely spend limited time with only one of your kids at a time, especially when you have more than two!
This is a great treat, whether the time is spent with mom or dad. Either choose a surprise activity or allow your child to pick how they’d like to spend your time together. Experiences like this will not be soon forgotten!
>> If you are looking for more fun for any day, check out 14 Fun & Free At-Home Indoor Activities for Kids.
3. Membership/Season Pass
It’s the gift that keeps on giving! A membership or season pass allows you to attend a place more than once – typically as frequently as you like. Plus, you can often get a discounted membership if you purchase it during the off-season.
Bonus – the membership serves as a gift AND an activity to entertain the whole family over and over again, especially indoor experiences on a rainy day! Even better, most places that offer memberships or season passes serve as excellent learning opportunities for the kiddos!
Options: Zoo, amusement/water park, kid-friendly museum, aboratorium, aquarium, or an indoor playground
4. Art Supplies Gift Basket
I am all for giving “things” to kids if they are going to provide hours and hours of entertainment and foster creativity. The opportunities for creativity are endless with art, and this is an activity you can experience with your child too.
Suggestions: chalk, water paints, activity books, construction paper or other colored paper, canvas & paints, coloring supplies, clay, beads, slime-making supplies, glue, and/or stickers
5. Teach Something
Give the gift of your time and expertise! You don’t need to know how to do something well enough to medal in the Olympics or win a Nobel Prize, but you probably know how to do lots of things that you could teach a child!
You know your kids best – if you don’t think they’ll take direction well from you, consider saving this idea for a niece, nephew, or another child with whom you are close. Experiences like this are enjoyed equally by the giver and receiver!
In addition to giving your time, you could gift the needed materials for your activity as something to unwrap.
Could you teach any of these skills/interests?
- Knitting (or another craft) – yarn & knitting needles
- Make Jewelry – beads & wire
- Science Fun – Beginner Microscope Kit or Chemistry Kit
- Cooking – a few favorite recipes or MasterChef Junior Knife and Cutting Board Set (plus 15 recipes)
- Kid-Friendly Tool Set – *depends on age* Young Builder’s Tool Set or a few adult tools
6. Homemade Play-Doh Set
A classic. Generation after generation loves creating with Play-Doh. You will love sharing this joy with your child as much as he or she loves squishing the doh between their hands.
Experiences like this are not only fun during the activity, but they create memories that you and your kids can hold on to much longer than the fleeting joy of a toy.
Include: homemade playdoh recipe card, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and a few store-bought Play-Doh containers (dollar store!) to get them started
>> With your mind focused on all these budget-friendly gift ideas, check out Family Finances: Free, Editable Budgeting Spreadsheet to make sure your whole budget is on the right track!
7. “Movie Night” Gift Basket
The best kind of movie night experiences begin with you having a hand in the kid-friendly movie you will spend your night watching. Pick a movie the whole family will love, and throw in some treats to make the night extra special.
Basket Suggestions:
- Movie – Mary Poppins, Jumanji, Holes, Matilda, or another great movie your family hasn’t seen
- Popcorn
- Favorite candy
- One special “extra” for everyone, like matching crazy socks or another silly item
8. Wood Painting Set
Head to your local craft store and put this creative gift together on the cheap! You can almost always spend less on a gift when you put the pieces together yourself rather than buy something packaged by a company.
This gift is super easy to DIY. Pick out an unfinished wooden craft, like these 3D Vehicle Puzzles (paint included) or this Wooden Animal Set (paint included). If the craft or set you choose does not include paints, grab a few colors from your local craft store. Gift complete!
[If you are looking for a little something extra to add to this experience, consider a smock or paintbrushes!]
9. Origami Book & Paper
Kids as young as 5 or 6 years old can enjoy the Japanese art of folding paper. Many how-to books include easy-to-follow instructions for novice paper folders or more complicated designs for the more experienced.
Most books, like the Easy Origami Book or this Neon Animals Origami Book, include paper in their collection too. However, you could always include Origami paper of your own if you find a book that does not include it.
TIP – Origami paper is simply any type of paper that is square, most commonly 3-inch, 6-inch, or 10-inch squares. Click here to read about all the paper you already have around your house that could be used for Origami. No need to buy anything new.
10. Magazine Subscription
I used to LOVE receiving the Your Big Backyard magazines each month when I was a little tike. When it finally arrived in the mail, it was like I received a gift every month of the year! Best of all, there were so many kid-friendly activities and easy-to-read articles, which I loved sharing with my parents.
Kids love the excitement and inspiration that come from the colorful pages, and parents love the entertaining screen-free time that magazines provide their children.
Kid Favorites:
- National Geographic for Kids – ages 6-14 (or National Geographic Little Kids – ages 3-6)
- Ranger Rick – ages 7-12 (or Ranger Rick Jr. – ages 4-7)
- Highlights – ages 6-12 (or Highlights High Five – ages 2-6)
- Sports Illustrated Kids (ages 8-14)
One of the best gifts you can give a child is your time and memories that will last a lifetime. No matter what gift you choose for your own child, a niece or nephew, or someone else with who you are close, consider ditching the idea of a common toy.
Children grow up too fast as is – enjoy this special time with them by spending more time with them.
>> Check out 14 Fun & Free At-Home Indoor Activities for Kids for some more family fun!
Have you gifted an experience to a child that you think belongs on this list? Or have a new idea? Share it with us!
About the Author
I love these! Keeping in mind for future use
These are great! I love the idea of gift experiences. We have so many toys already. Our favorite gift from someone is the zoo pass that we get every year from my parents. Passes are the best!
I’m thinking of getting a zoo pass for our family this year. I want something we can do outdoors and away from the house, but still COVID-safe. Glad to hear your family loves them!