Experience Gifts for Kids: Meaningful Ideas That Last Longer Than Toys
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We’ve all been there…every holiday and birthday, the house gets overrun with new toys, games, and presents! So. Much. Stuff! And while getting new things is fun and exciting, sometimes it can all just be too much! That’s why I love experience gifts.
Experience gifts for kids are a fun, creative, and meaningful way to celebrate without adding more toys to the pile. Instead of a short-lived toy, you’re giving memories, skills, and family time. They’re also perfect for birthdays, Christmas, or even as family rewards throughout the year and can be done with any budget.
In this post, you’ll find experience gift ideas for kids of all ages, as well as family experiences everyone can enjoy together, plus matching gift items you can wrap up to give alongside your experiences!
Experience Gifts for Toddlers
1. Zoo Membership or Animal Park Visit
- Experience idea: A year-long or one-day zoo pass, or a one-time animal encounter.
- Pair it with: A cute animal backpack or plush zoo animal toy.
2. Toddler Music or Movement Classes
- Experience idea: Mommy-and-me music, tumbling, or dance sessions.
- Pair it with: A music set or dance outfit.
3. Indoor Play Center or Trampoline Park Pass
- Experience idea: Passes to a local sensory gym, trampoline park, or ninja gym.
- Pair it with: Grippy socks or a fun new water bottle.
4. Aquarium Day Trip
- Experience idea: Tickets to a local aquarium or sea life center.
- Pair it with: A sea creature bath toy or picture book about ocean animals.
5. Petting Zoo or Farm Visit
- Experience idea: Visit a local farm where toddlers can pet and feed animals.
- Pair it with: A farm-themed board book, toy tractor, farm playset, or puzzle.
6. Outdoor Adventure Membership
- Experience idea: A pass to a local botanical garden or nature center.
- Pair it with: A toddler-sized sun hat or nature explorer kit.
Experience Gifts for Preschool & Elementary Kids
1. Art or Craft Classes
- Experience idea: A trip to a local art studio or sessions to learn painting or pottery.
- Pair it with: A child’s art kit or personalized apron.
2. Children’s Museum or Science Center Membership
- Experience idea: Yearly family pass or a single-day trip to a museum or planetarium.
- Pair it with: A fun science experiment kit, telescope, or STEM toy.
3. Dance or Gymnastics Lessons
- Experience idea: Dance, gymnastics, or tumbling classes.
- Pair it with: A dance bag, new leotard, dance shoes, or sparkly hair accessories.
4. Storytime Subscription or Book Club
- Experience idea: Monthly library story times or book boxes
- Pair it with: A cozy reading blanket or new book light.
5. Kids’ Theater or Puppet Show Tickets
- Experience idea: A trip to see a live children’s play or puppet performance.
- Pair it with: A play-themed coloring book or costume accessory.
6. Nature Adventure Kit & Park Pass
- Experience idea: A pass to local nature trails, beaches, or state/national parks.
- Pair it with: A premade nature kit, hiking bag, binoculars, or water bottle.
7. Mini Chef Cooking Class
- Experience idea: Local cooking workshops or parent-kid baking lessons.
- Pair it with: An apron or new cooking set.
8. Seasonal Sports Lessons
- Experience idea: Swimming, soccer, or skating lessons.
- Pair it with: A themed sports bag or water bottle.
Experience Gifts for Tweens
1. Cooking or Baking Classes
- Experience idea: Local kids’ cooking classes or online baking tutorials.
- Pair it with: A kitchen tool set, personalized recipe journal, or cookbook.
2. STEM or Robotics Camp
- Experience idea: Robotics, coding, or maker workshops.
- Pair it with: A beginner robotics kit or circuit project set.
3. Horseback Riding or Animal Care Lessons
- Experience idea: Local stable classes or pet care courses.
- Pair it with: Riding boots, a helmet, or a themed notebook.
4. Adventure Park or Mini Golf Pass
- Experience idea: Day passes or memberships for mini golf, ziplining, rock climbing, or go-karting.
- Pair it with: A sporty T-shirt or reusable water bottle.
5. Escape Room Experience
- Experience idea: A family or friend outing to a kid-friendly escape room.
- Pair it with: A puzzle, logic game, brain games book, or escape room game for practicing home.
6. Photography or Art Workshop
- Experience idea: Local art classes or creative camps.
- Pair it with: A digital camera, art set, pottery wheel, or sketch pad set.
7. Animal Adoption Donation Experience
- Experience idea: “Adopt” a wild animal through a zoo or charity in their name.
- Pair it with: A plush version of the animal, certificate frame, or a bracelet or stuffed animal that tracks that species of animal, like these from Fahlo.
8. Ice Skating or Roller Rink Pass
- Experience idea: Skating lessons or open skate sessions.
- Pair it with: A pair of skates, leg warmers, or fun socks.
9. Museum Sleepover
- Experience idea: Many museums offer overnight family experiences.
- Pair it with: A sleeping bag or flashlight.
10. Music or Book Subscription
- Experience idea: A membership or subscription to a music (like Spotify) or audiobook (like Audible) service. Or for kids who prefer physical books, a book subscription box is a great choice. This post has a nice list of some options you can look into!
- Pair it with: New headphones, a cool book light, or comfy reading pillow (or even a chair!)
11. Summer Camp
- Experience idea: A day camp or week long camp focusing on their interests or hobbies.
- Pair it with: A sleeping bag or new backpack.
12. Music Lessons
- Experience idea: Give a few lessons, or enough for a year.
- Pair it with: A music stand, book of sheet music, or other relevant accessory like a tuner.
Experience Gifts for Teens
Many of the gift ideas in the lists above would also be great for teens, but here are a few more things that teens may enjoy getting as experience gifts!
1. Concert or Theatre Tickets
- Experience idea: Tickets to their favorite artist, play, or musical.
- Pair it with: A T-shirt with the band or play/cast on it
2. Art, Photography, or Design Workshop
- Experience idea: Local in-person or online creative course.
- Pair it with: Art supplies, sketchbook set, or camera gear.
3. Music or Voice Lessons
- Experience idea: Private or group music lessons.
- Pair it with: A new instrument case, music stand, or beginner music book.
4. Spa or Self-Care Day
- Experience idea: Teen spa day or DIY spa basket for home.
- Pair it with: A robe, face masks, nail kit, or essential oil diffuser.
5. Adventure Outing
- Experience idea: Tickets for kayaking, indoor skydiving, go-karting, or ziplining.
- Pair it with: An action camera or waterproof phone case.
6. Cooking or Barista Workshop
- Experience idea: Local culinary or coffee-making course.
- Pair it with: A milk frother, recipe planner, or recipe book.
7. Volunteer Experience
- Experience idea: Plan a volunteer trip or charity day.
- Pair it with: A “give back” T-shirt or personalized journal.
8. Weekend Getaway or Travel Adventure
- Experience idea: Tickets for a trip or travel vouchers.
- Pair it with: A travel bag or travel journal.
9. Tickets to an Amusement or Water Park
- Experience idea: Tickets for a day trip or even a year long membership.
- Pair it with: A new beach towel, bag, or flip flops.
Experience Gifts for the Whole Family
1. Family Game Night Subscription Box
- Experience idea: Monthly game boxes like UnboxBoardom.
- Pair it with: Matching family pajamas or popcorn bowls for snacking.
2. Movie Night or Streaming Package
- Experience idea: Subscription to a streaming service, or a local theater pass.
- Pair it with: A popcorn maker or cozy movie blanket.
3. Weekend Getaway or Cabin Trip
- Experience idea: Family staycation or weekend getaway.
- Pair it with: A travel kit or matching luggage tags.
4. Family Memberships (Zoo, Aquarium, or Museum)
- Experience idea: Year-round fun and learning together.
- Pair it with: Reusable snack bags or backpack for outings.
5. Cooking Together Workshop
- Experience idea: Family-friendly cooking or baking classes.
- Pair it with: Matching aprons or cooking utensils.
6. Subscription Adventure Box
- Experience idea: A monthly box like Little Passports or Universal Yums.
- Pair it with: A world map, a fun scratch off map, travel scrapbook, or an interactive globe.
7. Season Pass to Amusement or Water Park
- Experience idea: Unlimited summer fun together.
- Pair it with: A waterproof phone pouch or towel set.
8. Family Photo Session
- Experience idea: Professional photoshoot or mini session.
- Pair it with: Coordinating outfits or picture frames.
9. Outdoor Adventure Gear + Camping Trip
- Experience idea: Plan a camping or hiking getaway.
- Pair it with: A family tent, s’mores kit, or campfire mug set.
10. Faith-Based Family Experience
- Experience idea: Attend a Christian concert, retreat, or family mission event.
- Pair it with: A faith journal or devotional for families.
11. Escape Room or Adventure Park
- Experience idea: Give passes to a local escape room or indoor adventure park.
- Pair it with: Comfy clothes for active play or an at home escape room game to practice with (And this escape room game is great if you have younger kids in your family).
Tips for Gifting an Experience
- Wrap a clue: Hide tickets or hints inside a small box for kids to open.
- Make your own certificate: Print a personalized gift certificate for a local experience.
- Add a keepsake: A photo album or memory journal can help them relive the experience.
- Give a countdown: Create a small “countdown to adventure” calendar or surprise box leading up to the event.
Choosing experience gifts for kids helps to not only cut back on the amount of stuff that they somehow seem to end up with after birthdays or holidays, but they can also help to create memories and show kids that sometimes the best gifts are moments, not things!
