Research reveals that household clutter can reduce a family’s focus and increase stress levels. Experience gifts for kids offer a practical solution compared to traditional presents. Children remember these memorable experiences more vividly than material items that just collect dust on shelves.

Experience gifts for kids combine entertainment with valuable skill-building opportunities. Your children can learn new subjects and develop skills through fun activities like cooking classes and museum visits. On top of that, these family experiences help build stronger bonds as parents and children share special moments together. More families now embrace this trend to reduce household clutter and spend quality time together.

Parents have many options to choose from when planning holiday or birthday celebrations. They can pick anything from zoo memberships to theater shows. Recent studies show that teens tend to prefer bigger experiences like concert tickets. Younger kids usually enjoy hands-on learning activities more. This complete guide helps you pick meaningful experiences that match your child’s interests and create lasting family memories.

What Are Experience Gifts and Why They Matter

Parents are changing how they give gifts to their children. Many now choose experiences over physical presents that just end up collecting dust. These gifts are something special – they create memories and learning opportunities that last way beyond the initial excitement of opening presents.

Definition of experience gifts

Experience gifts for kids include any present that focuses on activities, learning opportunities, or adventures instead of physical items. You might give tickets to events, lessons, memberships, subscriptions, or special outings based on what the child loves. To name just one example, family experience gifts range from zoo memberships to cooking classes, theater shows to camping trips.

These gifts are a great way to get precious memories and promote personal growth. Experience Christmas gifts for kids come in different forms. Sometimes it’s a certificate or voucher. Other times it pairs with a small physical item (like giving a fishing pole with a planned fishing trip). Many times these are shared family activities that build stronger bonds between parents and children.

Kids of different ages value these gifts differently. Research shows that while all children benefit from experiences, teens (ages 13-17) appreciate bigger experiential presents like trips or Broadway shows more than younger kids. This happens because their brains can better hold onto and value these memories.

How they differ from material gifts

The main difference between experience and material gifts goes beyond just “doing” versus “having.” Material possessions give younger children instant happiness and real enjoyment. But experience gifts need more mental development to fully appreciate.

Material gifts are something you can touch, compare, and enjoy alone. Experiences work differently – they’re harder to compare and usually need social skills to enjoy fully. This explains why little kids might like physical presents more at first, but this changes as they grow up.

The enjoyment timeline is different too. The fun from physical gifts often fades after the first excitement. But experiences create memories that last and can mean different things as you grow. A newer study, published in 2016 by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found people stayed happier longer with money spent on experiences than on material things.

Why they’re growing in popularity

Several factors explain why experience gifts are trending up. Recent retail surveys show this change in how people shop. The 2024 Deloitte holiday retail survey found more shoppers planning to give experiences instead of physical items, with experience spending expected to go up by 16%.

Different age groups show interesting patterns. TD Bank’s 2024 Merry Money Survey showed 45% of consumers plan to gift experiences over physical items. Gen Z (68%) and Millennials (61%) lead this trend, while Baby Boomers (23%) stick more to traditional gifts.

Being eco-friendly plays a big part in this trend. Americans create an extra million tons of trash each week during holidays – about 1,000 pounds more waste per household. Experience gifts help reduce this waste.

Research shows experiences create stronger emotional connections than material gifts. They build deeper bonds between people who give and receive them, and promote more gratitude. Studies by consumer behavior psychologists conclude that experiences “represent a more promising route to enduring consumer happiness than the consumption of material goods”.

Families now see how quality time and shared adventures affect their kids. Many choose to skip adding more toys to their already full homes. Instead, they invest in moments that shape their children’s growth and create memories that last forever.

Benefits of Experience Gifts for Kids and Families

Experience gifts create excitement when kids receive them. These gifts provide benefits that go way beyond the reach and influence of that initial moment. Families who pick experiences over physical presents find multiple ways to boost their homes, relationships, and their children’s development. Studies show these intangible gifts create lasting value that traditional toys can’t match.

Less clutter, more space

Clutter creates stress and reduces focus. Studies confirm toys are possibly the biggest source of household clutter for families. Parents feel overwhelmed about storing another holiday or birthday gift. Studies show 54% of people feel overwhelmed by clutter. The average parent spends $276 per child each year on toys and gifts.

Experience gifts give kids a fresh take on this storage problem. A parent shared, “There is no post-holiday gift guilt with extra stuff that you don’t have the space for”. These presents bring joy without needing extra storage space. Families can keep their living spaces tidy and relaxed.

Stronger family bonds

Family experience gifts excel at strengthening relationships. Studies prove shared family time plays a vital role in children’s well-being. Kids show fewer behavioral issues, better academic results, lower violence rates, and feel more secure.

These gifts naturally create chances for quality time together. Cooking classes or zoo trips encourage communication and create shared memories. Families build stronger connections that last long after the event ends.

Encourages learning and creativity

Experience gifts help kids learn in fun ways. These experiences help children:

• Build confidence, independence and problem-solving skills
• Develop creativity and critical thinking through hands-on learning
• Boost social skills through interaction with others
• Find new interests that could become lifelong passions

“Activity gifts like museum passes, music lessons, art supplies, and camps can make learning fun, help kids develop and master new skills, and even spark interest in new subjects and hobbies”. Parents can choose experiences that line up with their child’s interests. Cooking classes work great for food-loving kids while car shows excite young automotive fans.

Builds lasting memories

Experience Christmas gifts leave a deeper mark on kids than material presents. Research shows experiences bring longer-lasting happiness than possessions. They become treasured stories we keep with us. One parent noted, “Think back to Christmas two years ago. Do you remember what you were given? Most likely not, but you are more likely to recall the concert you were given tickets to”.

Kids remember who gave them experience gifts and the special moments they enjoyed. Spending time with the gift-giver creates an extra bond. These memories become part of their childhood story and shape how they view what matters in life.

Best Experience Gift Ideas by Category

Kids can enjoy everything from heart-pumping adventures to eye-opening educational experiences. The world of experience gifts offers countless options that match every interest and age group. Your perfect activity-based present depends on what makes the young recipient’s eyes light up. Here’s a complete guide to the best experience gifts for kids by category:

Active adventures (trampoline parks, rock climbing)

Physical activities create lasting memories while keeping kids moving. Urban Air Adventure Park earned Shape Magazine’s “BEST Gym In America for Kids” award. Their trampoline sessions mix exercise with endless fun. Rock climbing has also become more popular, and many facilities teach children as young as 4 years old.

Indoor skydiving gives kids an exciting chance to feel free-falling without any height fears. Places like Sky Zone offer great value through membership packages. Members get exclusive discounts, special events, and regular access.

Creative experiences (art classes, pottery)

Art activities help kids express themselves creatively. Kid-friendly paint and sip classes start at USD 40.00. The creative options are endless:

• Glass pendant making classes (around USD 110.00)
• Private glassblowing lessons (starting at USD 150.00 for two)
• Pottery workshops
• Themed art sessions like “Paint Your Pet” classes

Local art studios offer many creative experiences. Prices range from USD 40.00 to USD 150.00 based on complexity and materials.

Educational gifts (museum passes, science kits)

Learning becomes fun with educational experiences. Museum memberships let kids visit children’s museums and science centers nationwide through partner programs. The Smithsonian Store offers science kits for home learning that “combine education and entertainment” through hands-on activities.

These kits “encourage curiosity, exploration, and creativity, making science accessible and fun”. Kids develop intellectual curiosity through STEM experiments covering everything from archaeology to astronomy.

Outdoor fun (zoo, aquarium, camping)

Nature experiences help kids appreciate their environment. Zoo memberships include year-round access plus savings on food, merchandise, and special events. Some zoos offer unique “Sleeping Bag Safaris” where families enjoy guided evening tours, conservation games, and morning animal encounters.

Farm stays give kids another great outdoor option. They can join in farm life, meet animals up close, and experience country living.

Entertainment (movie tickets, theater shows)

Entertainment creates magical memories. AMC’s movie gift boxes make cinema trips special with “2 tickets + 2 drinks + 1 popcorn to share”. Kids love immersive shows like “Disney on Ice” and children’s theater productions.

Subscription boxes and mail gifts

The excitement lasts all year with recurring experiences. KiwiCo leads the subscription box options starting at USD 18.50 monthly. They offer “dozens of crates available based on your child’s age and interests”. Little Passports begins at USD 22.00 monthly and takes kids around the world through geography-themed activities and hands-on projects.

Tech-loving tweens might prefer CrunchLabs Build Box while young chefs can enjoy Raddish Kids at USD 23.95 monthly.

How to Make Experience Gifts Feel Special

The way you present an experience gift shapes how children receive and remember it. Experience gifts for kids don’t have the same wow factor as wrapped presents. A thoughtful presentation can turn these invisible gifts into magical moments filled with excitement and joy.

Pairing with a small physical item

Kids love to unwrap something they can hold, which makes pairing crucial for experience gifts to work well. Studies show that children value experience gifts more when they come with a related item they can open right away. To cite an instance, you could pair art classes with sketchpads, pottery classes with clay tools, or swim lessons with goggles. This approach lets children “the thrill of opening something tangible alongside a meaningful experience they’ll enjoy”.

Creating a custom gift certificate

Custom gift certificates turn invisible experiences into real promises. Canva and Adobe Express websites offer free templates to create professional-looking gift certificates. Your design should include:

• The recipient’s name
• Clear description of the experience
• Any expiration dates or special conditions
• Your personal message explaining why you chose this gift

Quality paper or cardstock will raise your certificate’s perceived value.

Using themed wrapping or props

Creative packaging makes the presentation special. Match the wrapping to the experience—use map-themed paper for travel gifts or team colors for sports events. Themed objects work great as containers. You could wrap zoo passes with stuffed animals or hide theater tickets inside popcorn containers.

Parents say they found success with creative ideas like “creating a puzzle that our kids had to put together on Christmas morning. Once assembled it revealed their experience gift”.

Building anticipation with a countdown

Research shows that “consumers derive value from anticipation, and that value tends to be greater for experiential purchases than for material purchases”. So, creating countdown activities extends the joy beyond the experience itself.

You could use a countdown calendar to mark days until the event, or plan preparation activities like picking outfits or researching destinations. These build-up elements turn one-day experiences into weeks of excitement and maximize your family experience gift’s emotional value.

Best Experience Gift Ideas by Category

Kids can enjoy everything from heart-pumping adventures to eye-opening educational experiences. The world of experience gifts offers countless options that match every interest and age group. Your perfect activity-based present depends on what makes the young recipient’s eyes light up. Here’s a complete guide to the best experience gifts for kids by category:

Active adventures (trampoline parks, rock climbing)

Physical activities create lasting memories while keeping kids moving. Urban Air Adventure Park earned Shape Magazine’s “BEST Gym In America for Kids” award. Their trampoline sessions mix exercise with endless fun. Rock climbing has also become more popular, and many facilities teach children as young as 4 years old.

Indoor skydiving gives kids an exciting chance to feel free-falling without any height fears. Places like Sky Zone offer great value through membership packages. Members get exclusive discounts, special events, and regular access.

Creative experiences (art classes, pottery)

Art activities help kids express themselves creatively. Kid-friendly paint and sip classes start at USD 40.00. The creative options are endless:

• Glass pendant making classes (around USD 110.00)
• Private glassblowing lessons (starting at USD 150.00 for two)
• Pottery workshops
• Themed art sessions like “Paint Your Pet” classes

Local art studios offer many creative experiences. Prices range from USD 40.00 to USD 150.00 based on complexity and materials.

Educational gifts (museum passes, science kits)

Learning becomes fun with educational experiences. Museum memberships let kids visit children’s museums and science centers nationwide through partner programs. The Smithsonian Store offers science kits for home learning that “combine education and entertainment” through hands-on activities.

These kits “encourage curiosity, exploration, and creativity, making science accessible and fun”. Kids develop intellectual curiosity through STEM experiments covering everything from archeology to astronomy.

Outdoor fun (zoo, aquarium, camping)

Nature experiences help kids appreciate their environment. Zoo memberships include year-round access plus savings on food, merchandise, and special events. Some zoos offer unique “Sleeping Bag Safaris” where families enjoy guided evening tours, conservation games, and morning animal encounters.

Farm stays give kids another great outdoor option. They can join in farm life, meet animals up close, and experience country living.

Entertainment (movie tickets, theater shows)

Entertainment creates magical memories. AMC’s movie gift boxes make cinema trips special with “2 tickets + 2 drinks + 1 popcorn to share”. Kids love immersive shows like “Disney on Ice” and children’s theater productions.

Subscription boxes and mail gifts

The excitement lasts all year with recurring experiences. KiwiCo leads the subscription box options starting at USD 18.50 monthly. They offer “dozens of crates available based on your child’s age and interests”. Little Passports begins at USD 22.00 monthly and takes kids around the world through geography-themed activities and hands-on projects.

Tech-loving tweens might prefer CrunchLabs Build Box while young chefs can enjoy Raddish Kids at USD 23.95 monthly.

How to Make Experience Gifts Feel Special

The way you present an experience gift shapes how children receive and remember it. Experience gifts for kids don’t have the same wow factor as wrapped presents. A thoughtful presentation can turn these invisible gifts into magical moments filled with excitement and joy.

Pairing with a small physical item

Kids love to unwrap something they can hold, which makes pairing crucial for experience gifts to work well. Studies show that children value experience gifts more when they come with a related item they can open right away. To cite an instance, you could pair art classes with sketchpads, pottery classes with clay tools, or swim lessons with goggles. This approach lets children “the thrill of opening something tangible alongside a meaningful experience they’ll enjoy”.

Creating a custom gift certificate

Custom gift certificates turn invisible experiences into real promises. Canva and Adobe Express websites offer free templates to create professional-looking gift certificates. Your design should include:

• The recipient’s name
• Clear description of the experience
• Any expiration dates or special conditions
• Your personal message explaining why you chose this gift

Quality paper or cardstock will raise your certificate’s perceived value.

Using themed wrapping or props

Creative packaging makes the presentation special. Match the wrapping to the experience—use map-themed paper for travel gifts or team colors for sports events. Themed objects work great as containers. You could wrap zoo passes with stuffed animals or hide theater tickets inside popcorn containers.

Parents say they found success with creative ideas like “creating a puzzle that our kids had to put together on Christmas morning. Once assembled it revealed their experience gift”.

Building anticipation with a countdown

Research shows that “consumers derive value from anticipation, and that value tends to be greater for experiential purchases than for material purchases”. So, creating countdown activities extends the joy beyond the experience itself.

You could use a countdown calendar to mark days until the event, or plan preparation activities like picking outfits or researching destinations. These build-up elements turn one-day experiences into weeks of excitement and maximize your family experience gift’s emotional value.

Tips for Choosing the Right Experience Gift

Parents need to look beyond just picking an activity when choosing the perfect experience gift. They should review several important factors to make sure their investment brings real joy and creates lasting memories.

Think about age and interests

Age affects how children enjoy different experiences by a lot. Young children (under 8) love hands-on activities like Play Street Museum that spark imagination and teach them new things. Teens tend to get more excited about adventurous experiences like ropes courses or concert tickets. The best guide comes from watching a child’s current interests—when they show enthusiasm for something specific, you can find experiences that build those skills through classes like swimming, gymnastics, or cooking.

Think about timing and season

The season plays a huge role in how much kids enjoy their experience gifts. Water park passes work great in summer, while indoor activities like escape rooms or cooking classes are better choices for winter. On top of that, the experience needs to fit your family’s schedule—some activities need regular commitment (like weekly lessons), while others come with flexible vouchers that never expire, so kids can use them whenever they want.

Look for local options (experience gifts for kids near me)

Learning about nearby experiences can lead to some budget-friendly surprises. A quick search for “experience gifts for kids near me” shows adventures unique to your area that won’t involve long trips. Most cities have family-friendly museums, trampoline parks, and creative studios just a short drive away. Local experiences ended up costing less and help support community businesses—many local attractions offer family memberships starting around $120 per year.

Balance solo and family experiences

Family experience gifts create memories everyone can share, but individual experiences help children grow more independent. One-on-one time with parents creates special moments that mean a lot to kids. Solo experiences let children explore what they love without having to compromise with siblings. Group experiences encourage important social skills and bring families closer together. The best approach mixes both types throughout the year to create a well-rounded gift-giving strategy.

Summing it all up

Giving experiences as gifts to kids means much more than just finding alternatives to traditional presents—it marks a transformation in how families build meaningful connections. This piece shows how these non-physical gifts help declutter homes and create stronger family bonds. When parents pick experiences over toys, they give their children opportunities that are way beyond the reach and influence of opening wrapped presents.

Studies prove that experiences bring more lasting joy than material possessions. Kids can enjoy active adventures at trampoline parks, take part in creative workshops, visit educational museums, or go on outdoor trips. These gifts encourage skill development and spark curiosity. The presentation becomes special with custom certificates, themed wrapping, or small physical items that make these gifts exciting for kids of every age.

These gifts’ value goes beyond the moment. Families create memories together instead of organizing toys. Children grow confident as they learn new skills and find their passions through these activities. The shared moments build family bonds in ways that toys never can.

Parents should think over an experience gift’s lasting effect before buying another toy that might gather dust in storage. Picking the right experience needs careful thought about the child’s age, interests, and the family’s schedule, but the results are worth it. Kids outgrow their toys, but memories from meaningful experiences stay with them forever.

Here are some FAQs about experience gifts for kids:

How can I give experience to my child as a gift?

One of the best ways to give experience gifts for kids is by presenting a creatively wrapped “invitation” to the activity along with any necessary tickets or reservations. For fun experience gifts for kids, consider local options like zoo memberships, cooking classes, or amusement park passes that create lasting memories. You can find great experience gifts for kids near me by searching for children’s museums, trampoline parks, or interactive theater performances in your area.

What is the 5 gift rule for kids?

The 5 gift rule suggests giving children: 1) something they want, 2) something they need, 3) something to wear, 4) something to read, and 5) one of the best experience gifts for kids. This approach balances material presents with meaningful experience Christmas gifts for kids like concert tickets or sports lessons. Many parents find this method helps reduce toy clutter while creating special moments through experiential giving.

How to present a gift that is an experience?

Make experience gifts for kids exciting by creating a treasure hunt with clues leading to the big reveal or presenting tickets in a decorated box. For fun experience gifts for kids, include props related to the experience (like swim goggles for water park tickets) to build anticipation. You can enhance experience Christmas gifts for kids by pairing them with a small tangible item that represents the upcoming adventure.

Do kids appreciate experience gifts?

Children often cherish experience gifts for kids more than material presents because they create special memories and bonding time. While younger kids might initially prefer toys, even they get excited about fun experience gifts for kids like pony rides or children’s theater shows. Teens especially appreciate best experience gifts for kids like concert tickets or travel opportunities that respect their growing independence.

What is an experience gift?

An experience gift is any present that provides an activity or memory rather than a physical object, making experience gifts for kids perfect for creating special moments. These can range from fun experience gifts for kids like indoor skydiving to educational experience Christmas gifts for kids like science center memberships. The best experience gifts for kids near me often involve learning new skills or exploring interesting places together as a family.

What are good experience gifts for parents?

While focusing on experience gifts for kids, parents also appreciate experiential presents like spa days, cooking classes, or weekend getaways. Many of the best experience gifts for kids can be expanded to include parents, such as family photo shoots or vacation packages. Consider pairing experience Christmas gifts for kids with parent experiences to create complete family memories.

What is the 5 5 5 rule kids?

The 5-5-5 rule suggests spending 5 minutes reconnecting, 5 minutes discussing feelings, and 5 minutes problem-solving when kids are upset – similar to how experience gifts for kids focus on quality time. This parenting technique aligns with the philosophy behind fun experience gifts for kids that prioritize connection over possessions. Like the best experience gifts for kids near me, it emphasizes creating meaningful interactions.

What is the 7 Christmas rule?

The 7 Christmas gift rule includes: 1) something to wear, 2) something to read, 3) something you want, 4) something you need, 5) something to do, 6) something for me (self-care), and 7) one of the best experience gifts for kids. This expands on the 5-gift rule by specifically including both a “do” item and self-care, making experience Christmas gifts for kids an essential component. Many families use this to thoughtfully balance their holiday giving.

What is the most a parent can gift a child?

While there’s no limit on experience gifts for kids, the IRS allows tax-free monetary gifts up to $17,000 per parent per child annually (2023). The most valuable gifts are often the best experience gifts for kids that create lifelong memories rather than material items. Unlimited fun experience gifts for kids like travel, education, or special outings provide enrichment no dollar amount can measure.