Experience Gift Ideas

Now that I’ve shared all of my Halloween ideas, I’m ready to move on to Christmas! Most people start buying gifts in October and November, so I’ve been working hard to update all of my gift guides for those of you who like to start shopping early. These guides include tons of great gift ideas for kids of all ages, shopping tips, and more. But one thing I also wanted to talk about this year are experience gift ideas.

If you’ve over felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of gifts your kids get this time of year, non-toy gifts might be the solution you're looking for. Instead of bringing more things into your home, experience gifts for kids focus on an activity, outing, or event. 

And — something interesting. While it can be fun to wow kids with a lot of presents under the tree, that initial excitement often doesn’t last. Some studies have shown that people have stronger emotional responses to experience gifts — and they show more gratitude. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get any toys for your kids! But if you like the idea of gifting experiences for kids and want to try it out this year, I’ve got some suggestions that can help. 

Why I Love Experience Gifts

I’ll be the first to admit that I love practical products and fun, engaging gifts. But I also love giving my girls experiences they can look forward to — and look back on as a really great memory. 

Here are a few more reasons why I appreciate gifting experiences for kids.

• Clutter-free gifts = less stress. Even though I declutter and organize regularly, we still end up with so much stuff! Focusing on experience gifts for kids means less clutter in your home, which means less time spent sorting, cleaning, and donating. 

• Fewer toys leads to more engaged kids. It’s so easy for the toy collection to build up. But research shows that giving kids fewer options helps them focus, play for longer, and be more creative in their play. 

• They’re more meaningful. While some toys can be memorable, an experience usually has a deeper impact. Research shows that experiences make us feel happier. They also create lasting memories that continue to bring us joy every time we re-live them. 

• Their worth is unmatched. The thrill of a new toy can fade over time, but the value of an experience can last a lifetime. Experience gifts can help kids to develop life-long skills, encourage new interests or hobbies, and build stronger social connections. This can also make you feel like your money was well spent.

• You’ll feel closer as a family. Kids will always remember the time you spent with them — and so will you! Family experiences will help you value this time, give you a chance to connect, and strengthen family bonds. They can also encourage yearly traditions and create new memories you’ll be able to share together forever.  

How to Shift to Experience Gifts for Kids 

Transitioning from toys to experiences for kids can be tricky, especially if that’s what they’re used to. And as someone who loves giving physical gifts to my girls, I’m in no way saying to only give experiences! But if you’re interested in switching to experience gift ideas — or you want to have more of a balance between both types of gifts — here are some things that might help. 

• Talk about it as a family (and not just at the holidays). Depending on your kids’ ages, it may be difficult to grasp the value of an experience over the excitement of a toy. Talking about it as a family will help everyone understand the meaning behind an experience gift and why it can be just as exciting. 

• Think about what your kids like to do and what’s available around you. What activities are your kids drawn to? Are there things they’ve wanted to try or a new skill they’d like to learn? Is there a fun event or place they’d enjoy going to? You can also provide a list of experience gift ideas and ask them what they’re most interested in.

• Start slowly or strike a balance. If you want to re-shift the focus of gift-giving, you can ease into it by giving your kids one experience gift or doing a shared family experience. You can also do a combination of non-material and material gifts so it feels more balanced. 

• Choose one experience to gift every year. Figuring out which gifts to get your kids every Christmas can feel taxing. Instead, simplify your decision-making with one or two experiences you can gift every year. For example, we always give our girls a zoo membership. We also plan a family day and one-on-one time with each kid. 

• Focus on family experiences. I love planning family days, but it can be hard to set aside an afternoon for something fun when our schedules get busy and we get caught up in our day-to-day routines. Gifting a family experience forces us to plan a family outing we’ll all enjoy — and stick to it.  

Experience Gift Ideas for Kids

You may already have some ideas brewing for the types of experiences your kids (or family) will enjoy. Personally I like to have a list I can refer to, just in case I’m feeling stuck when I'm trying to think of fun birthday gifts or unique Christmas gifs for kids. I know it can be just as tricky to shop for adults, so this list includes both experiences for kids as well as family experiences to help inspire you.

Class-Based Experiences

• Art: drawing, painting, pottery

• Cooking or baking

• Music 

• Gymnastics

• Dance

• Martial arts 

• Horseback riding

• Singing 

Memberships/Passes

• Zoo

• Science museum

• Play places

• Rock climbing gym

• State parks 

• Water park 

Fun Events & Outings

• Concert

• Play/musical

• Sporting event

• Escape room

• Amusement park

• Arcade

• Mini golf 

• Rock climbing

• Laser tag

• Magic show  

Outdoor Activities

• Camping trip

• Family hike

• Fishing

• Skiing/snowboarding

• Ice skating

• Tennis or pickleball 

• Beach day

Exploration & Learning

• Science kits

• Craft kits

• Kid’s magazine subscription

• Kiwi crates

• Clothing boxes (Stitch Fix) 

Travel

• Local day trips

• Road trip/weekend getaway 

• Flying somewhere new

• Popular destination trips (Legoland, Disney, Universal, etc.)  

Self-Care

• Spa day

• Manicure/Pedicure

• A cozy “do nothing” day 

• Yoga/mindfulness session 

Family & Friend Time

• Movie marathon night

• Slumber party

• One-on-one quality time

• A yes day (within reason!) 

For Parents

• Date night

• Family photo session

• Wine tasting

• Fitness class

• Massage

Q&A: Experience Gifts

What is an experience gift?

This type of gift encourages a fun and rewarding experience. This could mean supporting someone’s hobby, empowering them to try something new, helping them improve a skill, or giving them a fun memory they’ll always remember. 

Do these experience gift ideas work for any age?

Yes! Younger kids might have a harder time grasping the concept of an experience gift, especially if they have to wait for it. To build appreciation for non-toy gifts, you can give them a choice of what they’d like to do and then continue talking about it after they’ve unwrapped the gift. Parents (and older kids) can also model the behavior you want to see by showing excitement and gratitude. After the experience, you can reminisce together and talk about how fun it was.

What are the best non-toy gifts for kids who have everything?

One-on-one time is priceless! My husband and I love when we have a “date night” with just one kid. They choose the restaurant and we bring the fun! 

Can I give experience gifts to multiple kids at once?

Of course! You can choose an experience for each kid, like a particular class or one-on-one time, or do one shared experience, like a family outing. A family outing could be something simple, like going bowling, or it could be something more adventurous, like zip lining. Most of the experiences I listed above are great family gift ideas.

Are memberships really worth it as gifts?

If you'll use them! I always gift my kids a zoo membership as it pays for itself after 2-3 visits. Calculate: Does the membership cost less than what you'd pay for multiple single-day visits? Will you actually go regularly? Memberships are especially valuable for local attractions you can visit year-round with minimal planning.

How do you wrap an experience?

Part of the fun of gift-giving is seeing your kids open presents, so I get it! The good news is that you can still give them something to unwrap, like a membership pass, ticket, or gift card. Some experiences for kids can also be supported with a material gift. For example, you can gift a drawing class with new art supplies.

What are the upsides to an experience gift?

There are so many benefits to gifting experiences! Because they help kids grow and develop skills while also fostering a stronger sense of gratitude and long-lasting happiness, this type of gift has a more meaningful impact compared to getting a bunch of toys. Experiences can also help your family focus on quality time together and make you feel closer.

More Ideas to Keep the Magic Going

If you’ve been here a while, you know that I love sharing tips, products, and resources that make parenting feel easier and more enjoyable. This time of year is always so fun, but there are some parts that can feel stressful too. There’s so much planning that goes into making the holidays feel magical for your kids. So I’m here to save you some time and lighten your mental load with gift guides, shopping tips, and more.

If you have any experience gift ideas you’d like to share, I’d love to hear them! Just comment below and tell me what worked best for your family. 

Need more ideas for littles? Check out my toddler gift ideas and preschooler gift ideas. You can also find unique gifts for kids ages 6-8 and tween gift ideas too!