Experience Based Gifts for Kids
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Experience based gifts are perfect for those kids who seem to have everything they could possibly want or need! It gives them a chance to see new places and try new things. The best part is there is no clutter to trip over!
Kid-Friendly Experience-Based Gifts
Movie Tickets – Is it just me, or does it seem absurdly expensive to take a family to the movies lately? Thankfully, AMC and Regal tickets are both available at Costco for a discounted price.
They are even available on the Costco website if the thought of navigating the Costco parking lot during the holidays makes you cringe. Amazon also sells movie ticket gift cards, in case you do not have a Costco membership.
Zoo Membership – Many zoos offer extras such as free parking with memberships. This is a gift that can be used all year long! You might want to consider gifting this a little early so they can go to any holiday shows.
Aquarium Tickets – Aquariums tend to be expensive places, so a free visit would be awesome. Many aquariums offer reciprocal memberships to other aquariums, which is a nice bonus if you splurge on a membership.
Children’s Museum – A membership to a local children’s museum is perfect for young kids . . . especially if they live somewhere with not-so-great weather! Being able to run around indoors can burn off some energy and save a parent’s sanity.
Local Museums – Many towns contain small locally owned museums. Supporting these museums helps preserve local history and exposes kids to some amazing local culture. If you are in the Northern Virginia area, I highly recommend a membership to Mount Vernon.
Rock Climbing Center – Rock climbing centers usually offer gift cards that are good for either drop-in climbing or camps. This is a fantastic experience-based gift for thrill seekers young and old.
Swimming Pool Membership – Indoor aquatic centers are a great way to pretend you are somewhere warm. They also tend to tire kids out. Paying for swimming lessons is a wonderful way to encourage this important life skill.
Gift Card for Lessons – Is there anything your child wants to learn? There are so many types of lessons available! Tennis, knitting, and art are just a few ideas.
Paint Your Own Pottery Studio – This experience-based gift is lots of fun because kids get an experience and a special tangible gift. They will remember painting pottery every time they see their finished piece on display at home.
Ice Cream or Bakery Gift Card – A gift certificate to a child’s favorite bakery or ice cream shop will be a sweet treat. Amazon sells Coldstone gift cards so you don’t even need to leave your house.
Live Performance Tickets – Orchestra, ballet, or theater tickets are awesome experiences that kids will remember for a long time. These are experiences that do not occur on a daily basis, so they are extra special.
Bounce House Pass – Lots of kids love bounce houses, although I will be honest that my kids are not big fans. For kids that love this kind of thing, they will appreciate a fun afternoon spent bouncing out lots of energy.
Park Pass – An annual park pass is perfect for those kids that love to spend time outdoors. State park passes will likely provide the most bang for the buck because they are good for all of the state parks in your area.
Trip – This is can get expensive fast, but it can be an amazing once-in-a-lifetime gift. Sometimes you can get great deals on Groupon. Great Wolf Lodge discounts tend to show up on Groupon a few times a year.
One of the things I love about experience-based gifts is that they are easy to ship! You can choose to email some certificates or just pop the gift card in with your Christmas card and stick it in your mailbox. This makes them perfect gifts when the family is scattered throughout the country or world.
These DIY gift card snow globes are adorable if you don’t need to ship the gift card.
Keep reading . . .
- Awesome Christmas Homeschool Activities
- Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals
- Best Gifts for Kids Who Love Science
- Gift Ideas for Crafty Kids
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