My three kids all have birthdays right around major holidays: February, March, and November. So, we’re either gearing up for the Christmas season, winding down from it, or celebrating Easter! With all these holidays surrounding birthdays, we found ourselves buried in toys. It was a great problem to have, until our family became overwhelmed with clutter.
Then we thought – what if we gifted our children with experiences instead of toys?
We decided that we wanted to create more memories for our kids rather than constantly giving them things. So, the idea of “experience gifts” for their birthdays was born. Our focus was giving them an experience they would always look back on fondly. We’ve made so many memories and had so much fun along the way. Think about it this way: Your child will forget what toys they got for their 5th birthday, but they will always remember the special activity you did with them!
Family Experience Gifts: Creating Lasting Memories for Kids
We’ve taken our kids to places like trampoline parks for the day, and I took my daughter for a spa day and out to lunch after. Anything we can do that creates a fun memory for our kids to talk about rather than play with is our goal. And, we’ve invited other families to join us as well. When my son turned four, we took a bowling trip. He wanted a friend to come along, so we invited the whole family.
We bowled a few games, and then all went out to eat after! He loved that, and never once did he ask about presents.
Family members have also asked how they could participate and give experiences. We loved this idea; this was an opportunity for family members to take our kids out to do something fun as well. We’ve had them go out to movies or take them to places like Craig’s Cruisers!
Experience Gift Ideas: Fun-filled Adventures for Little Ones
A great gift idea that goes along with experiences is memberships! Memberships at various places are the gift that keeps giving (sometimes up to an entire year!). My sister-in-law purchases our family membership to the zoo for my kids each year for their combined birthday gift. We’re able to go to the zoo all season long, and they love it! It’s the perfect gift.
When my kids were a bit younger my mom would buy their yearly membership for the Children’s Museum. We used to spend hours there, enjoying all the different activities. These are some great ways to provide an “experience gift” rather than giving things!
One other thing that we’ve gotten into lately is subscription boxes. We’re selective on which ones we choose so we don’t end up with “stuff.” For example, my middle son loves to cook. We decided to get him a 6-month subscription for a cooking box! It’s so fun. He gets a new cooking utensil with each box, along with several recipes and shopping lists to try out! It’s such a fun activity to do on the weekends. We choose what recipe we want to share with the family, and then we shop for the ingredients and make the meal together. We’ve had a wonderful time trying new foods and my son loves it!
Other Ways to Make Birthdays Special
Besides giving them some sort of experience, we decorate their special spot at our dinner table. We cover the table with balloons and streamers and hang a big banner on the wall! This is something small, but I know our kids will remember it forever.
They’ve even started asking as their birthdays approach, “Mom, are you guys going to decorate my spot for my birthday?” I love that they remember it and that it’s something they look forward to each year.
As our kids get older and learn the virtue of patience, they will be given “experience gifts” that don’t necessarily happen right away. Things like concert tickets, or tickets to a sporting event. We’re looking forward to many years of creating fun memories for our kids!
If you’re looking for ideas on how to create experiences gifts for your family, especially on a budget, reach out to our Family Support Navigators at navigation@familyfutures.net or contact us on our website for ideas!
