Sunshine and Hurricanes

Smart Parenting with Purpose

  • Mom Life
  • Young Kids
  • Tweens & Teens
  • Technology
    • Apps for Kids – The Ultimate Guide
    • Safety
  • Family Resources
    • Recipes
      • Meal Plans
      • Snacks
      • Dessert
      • Holiday Recipes
    • Travel
      • Florida
      • Disney
    • Savings
      • Monthly Best Buys
    • Holidays
  • Gift Guides
  • About S & H
    • Contact Sunshine and Hurricanes
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Shop

Want Happier Kids? Stop Giving Them Stuff and Give Them This Instead

By Michelle Myers 42 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Why Giving Kids Experience Gifts Will Be The Best Choice You Ever Make.

Inside:Why giving Experience Gifts instead of toys and other things has been one of the best decisions we ever made.

Do you feel like your kids already have TOO MUCH STUFF and then birthday or the holidays come along and they just get MORE STUFF? Gifts of toys and stuffed animals and just general crap they don’t need. 

Plus, even the STUFF they really think they want, they get tired of after just a few days. Then it ends up in the toy graveyard at the bottom of their closet or their toy bin – abandoned, unused and broken.

I think that we’re a generation of parents who are finally saying ENOUGH to the STUFF!

This is why several years ago, we started giving experience gifts in place of things. I’ve found, and my kids would enthusiastically agree, that this has been such a positive alternative for our family.

Experience gifts are the ones that kids will truly remember

Make Lasting Memories

The reality is, as an adult, you probably would have a hard time listing off the gifts you received on your 8th Christmas. On the other hand, you probably have no trouble recalling a trip to the circus, playing Little League, or a family vacation.

If most of us were to really recall our childhoods, we would find that all the things we’d been given were nice, but the memories that we treasure are the experiences we had with our family.

Most of our kids have generous grandparents and other relatives, who with good intentions, lovingly load up our children’s rooms and our houses with all the latest toys, gizmos and gadgets. But it’s gotten to be too much. Our kids don’t appreciate it the way they should and it only contributes to the nurturing of an entitled generation.

This was why, many years ago, we discussed our plan with all those well-meaning grandparents, aunts, uncles and others, to shift gift giving occasions away from things and more towards experiences.

Most were very receptive and enthusiastically gave their full support to gifting activities similar to what you’ll find below.

It really is a win for everyone.  Because it has given us reasons to spend quality time together as a family and it has become something my children look forward to each year.

We’re providing ideas below and hope you may find some inspiration for experience gifts that will create meaningful and long lasting memories sure to outlast any toy.

Ideas for Unique Experience Gifts

Experience Gifts - Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

1. Online Classes

A Year Of Doodles– I LOVE this concept for so many reasons!

It’s like an extracurricular activity that you don’t have to leave home to attend! Stephanie Corfee offers amazing online classes for kids to practice art via doodling. I’ve posted before about some of our doodle projects and I’m a fan of this program. By enrolling in the the classes, your family gains unlimited access to the video lessons forever. Even after the class ends!

There is a new video each month and you can work at your own pace. Everything is geared towards children. So, it’s easy to set the kiddos up with some supplies(paper, markers, crayons) and a laptop/tablet while you’re busy with something else or join the fun right alongside them! Video art lessons that’ll provide hours of entertainment, encourage creativity, and last for a year, all for $35? This one’s a no brainer!

Another great option for online courses for kids is Jam.comThey offer everything from animation to cooking and lego to minecraft. You can open up a world of opportunity that will last far longer than any material good.

Experience Gifts - Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

2. Tickets To Special Events

At some point in the coming months, chances are pretty good that a circus, Disney on Ice, a fabulous concert or some other live show will visit somewhere near where you live.

Tickets to any of those events would be a terrific way to gift an experience. Take a look here, enter the city you’re looking for shows in and you’ll be able to see calendars for the coming year. Also, don’t forget about local fairs, festivals, dinner theaters, rodeos, sporting events, or car races.

It’s not only giving a fun experience with lasting memories, it’s a change to spend time together as a family. And think beyond just mom and dad, grandparents can also attend these types of events with the kids. It will give them a whole different perspective and can be a way to bridge the generation gap doing something they both will enjoy.

Experience Gifts - Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

3. Annual Passes

This is a favorite in our family. Becoming a member at a local museum or zoo is something the entire family will enjoy over and over again. Many of these memberships are part of a reciprocity program so that even if you’re traveling, you’ll get free/reduced admissions to other museums/zoos around the country.

Search for science museums, zoos and aquariums, or history museums/gardens by geographical locale. If you live near a theme park, annual passes are a welcome treat and usually more cost effective than single day admission prices. Don’t forget about water parks and attractions open seasonally as well!

Experience Gifts - Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

4. Local Eats, Treats, and Places To Meet

Gift cards for ice cream, FroYo, the local food chain with a playground, movie tickets, a round of mini golf, a pass to the community pool, or indoor trampoline park are all fabulous gifts that families will enjoy. These are big helps when there is no school or to reward an accomplishment!

Experiences Over Gifts

 5. Lessons/Tuition/Youth Sports

Families with multiple kids are hit pretty hard when it comes to extracurriculars. Whether it is Summer camp, dance, music lessons, or a sport a child wants to try, the expenses for required equipment and the actual participation fees add up quickly.

Although you may not be able to gift an entire year of ballet classes, maybe you could pay for a week of ballet camp. How about chipping in for Summer camp, purchasing some sporting equipment for that young athlete, or helping purchase an instrument a child has committed to? With 4 kids, all with various interests, this would be a HUGE help and expand our options!

Experience Gifts - Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

6. Special Trip/Vacation

When the kids are old enough to travel well, it can be exciting to change things up. Take a vacation to an opposite climate during the holidays or to celebrate a milestone birthday. The adults in our extended family decided to forgo giving gifts for holidays and birthdays and instead we take an annual trip to the mountains together.

Those memories are priceless and way better than a cute sweater or random home decor item. Our kids have chosen a trip to a theme park or family getaway over a traditional birthday party several times and we all have those times to laugh over again and again!

Hopefully, these ideas have sparked your imagination and made you think about giving lifetime memories with experience gifts instead of a material object.

Presents that are fun to experience are so much fun to give and receive!


11/4-11/5 Day 4 & 5!

If you’re looking for some other unique gift ideas check out:

 The Best Subscription Boxes for Kids

Gross Gifts for Boys; Icky Fun They Will Love

Battery Free Gifts for Kids; Tech Free Can Still Be Fun!

Do you have any other ideas for experience gifts?

Kids today have so much stuff, more than they often can play with or use in their childhood days. Yet, every birthday and holiday they just get more of it! Instead of adding to already overflowing closets and toy bins, consider giving kids experience gifts. Let them build memories that will be worth so much more than piles of stuff. You'll find tons of ideas here for all budgets and all interests. Giving Experience Gifts Instead of Things. SunshineandHurricanes.com

L

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Holidays Tagged With: Birthday Gifts for Kids, Christmas, Christmas Gifts for Kids, Non-Toy Gifts

About Michelle Myers

Michelle Myers is mom to four kiddos ranging from elementary thru high school, each with strong opinions and a flair for the dramatic. In other words, they're a lot like her. Former educator and lover of learning, she divides her time between carpool and Starbucks by reading voraciously and giving TED talks to herself at red lights. A Floridian for almost 40 years, Michelle loves the beach, making people laugh, and date nights with her hubby of 25 years...and yeas, they clearly married at age 7.
Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/Twitter

« Suddenly My Son Is A Teenager And I Just Want Time To Slow Down A Minute
5 Ways To Raise Self-Motivated Kids Who Show Initiative And Are Go Getters »

Comments

  1. Shelley says

    November 1, 2015 at 11:33 pm

    I really enjoyed this post! Thanks for the reminder that experiences are more memorable than gifts. I can hardly remember any gifts from last Christmas. I’m definitely trying “a year of doodles” for my daughter!

    Reply
  2. Cat says

    December 12, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Love that someone else is doing this! This year I directed our kids to fill out their lists with 4 categories, but no more than 5 items in each category… Something I Want; Something I Need; Something to Read; Something to Do. I got this idea from this family’s 4 gift rule (http://hugsandpunches.com/how-we-do-christmas/) and decided to start with the list first.
    See my kids “suffer” from Too Many Grandparents-itist as well and between step parents and step parents with step parents they are truly blessed with too much love (and gifts) during the holidays. Usually my requests for toy alternatives were brushed off, but this year with the KIDS requesting specific wants, needs, reads, & dos, I’m getting more positive feedback!
    At first my kids couldn’t think of anything they needed or anything to do, but after we talked about needs vs wants and activities they’ve been begging to do, they completed their lists quickly. For example: My 10 y/o son said he “needs” jeans so he doesn’t have to wash laundry so often (a valid request since he is down to 1 pair after his growth spurt); my 5 y/o daughter wants to go to her favorite pizza place for dinner with her family as a “do”; my 11 y/o stepson wants a whole series of books as his “read” so he can read them over again with having to check them out from the library (his words!).. And don’t tell the kids but us parents are probably making them this DIY tent for a group kid’s gift (http://blog.bitsofeverything.com/2014/08/diy-fort-kit.html).
    Fingers crossed this starts a new tradition in our family! I’m happy to tell everyone who asks that I’ve already finished my Christmas shopping because I never started! Each kid will get something from their “Do” list from me and I’m hoping as time goes on my kids will tell their kids, “I always remembered mom took me to _____ every year at Christmas. I have the best memories of that.” Warms my heart already. Thanks for listening, GREAT IDEA! Keep it up!

    Reply
  3. Nidia says

    November 22, 2014 at 9:07 am

    I am feeling so grateful after reading all the comments and feeling this is an answer to my prayers! Thanks…my thanksgiving dinner is going to be great! Love you all!

    Reply
  4. Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green says

    November 22, 2014 at 1:51 am

    My husband and I take a trip nearby each year near Christmas time for part of gift. It’s so much fun and we don’t have to try to find room for more things.

    My parents, brother, husband and I also do something together each year as part of our gifts. One year we’ve gone to a NBA game, a concert, and a nice dinner out of town and a fancy movie theater. We always have a great time!

    I found you on the Pinworth Projects Link Party.

    Reply
  5. AmieJo says

    November 21, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    I love this idea. I think this is something I will have to talk to my husband about doing.

    Reply
  6. Erin Kennedy says

    November 20, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    I have actually never heard of this, but it is such a great idea. Love your ideas and pics!

    Reply
  7. Aisha says

    November 20, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Great tips! i love experiences over physical things anyways. Last year my boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Washington DC!

    Reply
  8. Kim says

    November 20, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Looking back, the memories I treasure most are the experiences I have shared with people that I love and value. You are on the right track with these recommendations.

    Reply
  9. Jen @ The Halfway Homemaker says

    November 20, 2014 at 6:22 am

    We try to do experience gifts as well. My husband’s 40th birthday gift was a family trip to Hawaii.

    Reply
  10. Sarah White says

    November 19, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    Great ideas! I’ve been really thinking of getting our family a “family gift” of yearly passes to a local children’s museum so that we can go often. I think these kinds of gifts are really great!

    Reply
  11. Jessica Doll says

    November 19, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    I love this concept! Last year we all planned to take a vacation together instead of exchanging gifts.

    Reply
  12. Caroline says

    November 19, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Those are really great ideas and I know kids appreciate those gifts a lot more then toys!!!

    Reply
  13. Jeanette Ford says

    November 19, 2014 at 6:03 am

    Great Tips! With 4 kids it is hard to pay for all the activities they want to do. This is a great idea. And thanks for reminding me I wanted to check for Disney on ice tickets. LOL

    Reply
  14. naima says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    This is the greatest alternative I’ve ever seen as an alternative to tangible gifts ever. I definitely will use this when i have children

    Reply
  15. Leigh Powell Hines says

    November 18, 2014 at 7:44 pm

    I really love this post because it’s how I spend a lot of my life daily. My kids don’t have as much material possessions as others, especially when I go in other’s homes and see for myself. My kids have plenty, but I prefer to spend out money on experiences and trips.

    Reply
  16. Amanda {Planning It All} says

    November 18, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    I love gifting experiences – my parents are both retired and have downsized to a 2-bedroom condo so they do not have space for anymore “stuff” so I’ve been brainstorming ideas for experiences instead. Great list!

    Reply
  17. Danielle K says

    November 18, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    I love this. My son honestly has so much stuff that I would much rather have experiences with him than more toys.

    Reply
  18. Lauren says

    November 18, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    This is such a great idea! I need to start incorporating this into my Christmas traditions!

    xoxo
    Lauren
    http://www.dressingdallas.com

    Reply
  19. Alana (@ I have a Future and a Hope) says

    November 18, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    My kids love getting to do things as a family instead of physical toys. One of their favorite things is going to a hotel near by that has an indoor water park at Christmas and spending a few days there. If I ask them what they remember the most, it’s our trips as a family. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Erin says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:27 am

    This is SO true! The experiences are always so much more memorable than the physical gifts. This year my mom bought the whole family tickets to the Lion King for Christmas so we can all have a night out together 🙂

    Reply
  21. Patti says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Great ideas and I agree. My husband’s only brother is turning 50 so for his gift they are going on a weekend trip together and bought tickets to a tournament ball game.

    Reply
    • Kira Lewis says

      November 18, 2014 at 10:16 pm

      That’s fantastic! How much fun!

      Reply
  22. Lani @ Life Anchored says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:54 am

    We’re getting a family pass to the children’s museum this year as our gift for our little guy.

    Reply
  23. Kristine @ Big Dreams, Shallow Pockets says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Memories are sooo much better than things. My grandmother used to always give us memberships to the zoo and what an amazing gift that was! Thank you for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Susan Mahlburg says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:28 am

    I was JUST telling my husband that what I really want for Christmas is a date night!

    Reply
  25. Cajun says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:13 am

    This is a great idea! Last year, my sister and I got my mother and Aunt concert tickets to see Cher. IT. WAS. E-P-I-C!!!!!!!! Just them opening the gift was so gratifying, and we still had to wait until March 31 until the concert. But then getting to take them to see their idol was so awesome. I don;t think we will ever be able to top that experience. It was fantastic and highly reccommended.

    Reply
  26. Ricci says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:07 am

    This is a fantastic idea!! I have 5 nieces and 2 nephews and I feel like I never know what to get them!! I think gift cards to their favorite stores/things they need for their various extracurricular activities would be a great gift!!

    Reply
  27. Neely says

    November 18, 2014 at 9:55 am

    My husband and I are big on gifting experiences. For the first birthday we spent together(they are a day apart) we took a vacation. We would rather have memories than things.

    Reply
  28. Hannah Diane says

    November 18, 2014 at 9:55 am

    This is such a great idea! Love it!

    Reply
  29. Karen says

    November 18, 2014 at 9:50 am

    Those are wonderful ideas to do instead of buying all toys for the kids.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 4 Easy Family Time Ideas For Fun and Meaningful Connection says:
    January 15, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    […] say you’re better off spending money on family vacations, rather than giving your kids more stuff. Unfortunately, family vacations are usually a once a year event for most families, if even. Plus, […]

    Reply
  2. Acts of Kindness for Kids - Raising Kids To Serve Others says:
    April 23, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    […] Experience Gifts ; The Value of Memories Instead of Stuff […]

    Reply
  3. Rediscover Your Holiday Joy By Getting Off The Too Much Train says:
    November 29, 2017 at 5:21 pm

    […] Need more ideas: Experience Gifts – The Value of Memories Instead of More Stuff […]

    Reply
  4. Unique Gifts That Give Back to Charity 2017 - Shop and Save The World says:
    November 16, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    […] Experience Gifts – The Value of Memories Instead of Stuff […]

    Reply
  5. Family Photos - How To Capture That Perfect Shot says:
    November 7, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    […] Giving Experience Gifts Instead of Things […]

    Reply
  6. Summer Reading For Tweens - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    June 1, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    […] the reward. The reward isn’t anything expensive or extravagant, and I’m an advocate of Gifting Experiences Over Things, so something like froyo for dinner or a round of mini golf with the family are things we’ve […]

    Reply
  7. Sparkle Christmas Trees - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    December 9, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    […] We’ve got Eggnog Cupcakes, easy ideas for School Christmas Parties, the amazing method of Gifting Experiences Over Things, and […]

    Reply
  8. 10 Gifts NOT To Give A Kid - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    November 18, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    […] The Gift of Experiences Over Things […]

    Reply
  9. An Elf on the Shelf Break-Up Letter - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    November 12, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    […] Now that you’ve gotten rid of one thing for Christmas, here’s a great way to make sure you don’t end up with a bunch of other stuff you don’t want. Read here about  Gifting Experiences Instead of Things. […]

    Reply
  10. Best Subscription Boxes For Kids - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    November 4, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    […] also an advocate of Gifting Experiences Over Things and these boxes fall right into that category. It can be a meaningful way for extended family to […]

    Reply
  11. The Mega Load of Holiday Gift Guides - Prototype Mama says:
    November 28, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    […] Gifting Experiences Over Things by Sunshine & Hurricanes […]

    Reply
  12. 12 Days of Christmas Gifts says:
    November 18, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    […] The Gift of Experiences Over Things  […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Hi There! We’re Michelle and Kira, two Florida moms who know that parenting is full of sunshine and hurricanes. So glad you are here. >>>LEARN MORE





Pinterest

Follow Sunshine and Hurricanes Best of S&H on Pinterest.

INSTAGRAM

Truth • • • #truth #parentingtips #parenting Truth
•
•
•
#truth #parentingtips #parentingkids #momlife
One & the same ☕️ (via @fowllanguagecomics )
•
•
•
#momhumor #funnymom #raisingkids #littleones #lovemykids #momlife
Never doubt that (via @michelle.merenda ) • • Never doubt that (via @michelle.merenda )
•
•
•
#parentingkids #parentingteens #raisinglittleones #momsofinstagram #momlife
We all had a playroom growing up...it was called o We all had a playroom growing up...it was called outside
*
*
*
#momhumor #parentingwithpurpose #raisingkids
Ever wonder what to say when your child is feeling Ever wonder what to say when your child is feeling left out?  A few years ago, I watched from my park bench as a young mother tried to console her sobbing daughter. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t blame you for being upset.”  “I don’t know why they won’t let me be in their group for the talent show. They just said they already had enough people and their routine was done and there wasn’t anything they could do about it. I told them I would make a new one up, but they wouldn’t do it.”  I tried to focus on my kindle while occasionally looking for my kids to exit the school door. But as much as I tried not to eavesdrop, I had to admit I was interested to hear how the mom would handle this all-too-common situation of a child feeling left out.  “Well, they’re probably just jealous of you honey, because you are such a good gymnast and they aren’t. They probably don’t want you in their group because you’ll show them up,” the mom stated matter-of-factly. “You should do a solo routine. Or maybe one with Chloe.”  “You think?” the girl replied, her tears slowing down. “You think they’re just jealous of my tumbling?”  “Totally.”  Several minutes passed before my girls came out, but the interaction between the mother and daughter stuck with me for a lot longer.  Maybe the girls were jealous, or maybe they honestly had their routine finished.  To continue reading check the link in bio.
Repeat after me! * * * #momsofinstagram #parenting Repeat after me!
*
*
*
#momsofinstagram #parentingkids #raisingkids #momsofinstagram
Where did all of our money go?? * * * #momhumor #r Where did all of our money go??
*
*
*
#momhumor #raisingkids #funnymom #momofinstagram #momsofinstagram #momlife
Instagram post 17870490628965807 Instagram post 17870490628965807
This is an awesome way to keep track of height * * This is an awesome way to keep track of height
*
*
*
#cleverparents #parentingwithpurpose #momlife #momsofinstagram
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · PRIVACY POLICY · Website by Moritz Fine Designs LLC

Copyright © 2022 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • 3523