Research shows that experiences bring us more happiness and satisfaction than things. Here are fifty experience gifts your kids will love.
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“Mom, will you ride down with me this time?” my daughter asked as we stood in line clad in our bathing suits and dripping water.
“Of course!” I exclaimed. “Should we go down the dark tunnel or the sunlit one this time?”
Even though it was 28 degrees outside, my daughters and I were experiencing summer temperatures just a few miles from our home.
It was the first time any of us had been to an indoor water park and we were having a blast – riding down windy water tunnels and lying back on inner tubes as we traveled along a lazy river.
Months earlier both girls had received gift cards for this experience from their grandparents. In an effort to move our family away from physical gifts, I’d suggested this nearby water park as a present and they’d taken me up on the suggestion.
Why experiences are better than things
Most people assume that giving someone a physical present is better than a one-off experience. The former will last longer, they assume, whereas the latter will soon be forgotten.
But research shows otherwise. New things – that is, physical objects – are often interesting and exciting when we first receive them but soon fade into the background of our every day lives.
Experiences, on the other hand, become a part of who we are – as the old saying goes, we are the sum of our experiences.
In fact, research has found that the satisfaction we feel with the purchase of a new item is at first equal with that of an experience. But over time, the satisfaction with the physical good goes down while the satisfaction with the experience goes up.
And who we share those experiences with connects us to them even more. So an additional bonus of experience gifts is that many times they can strengthen our relationship with our kids.
The best experience gifts for kids and teens
One of the biggest challenges I faced when deciding to give my girls more experiences as gifts was determining what to give them.
The following are among some of the best experience gifts for kids and teens I’ve come across.
Experiences, like physical gifts, can be both big and small. And they don’t necessarily need to cost money. At the bottom of the list, you’ll find experience gift ideas kids love that don’t cost a thing.
Experience days for kids and teens
Going to the indoor water park was a fun bonding experience for my girls and me. And possibly something we wouldn’t have done had they not received it as a gift. The following are a few experiences for kids that provide an opportunity to visit or try something new:
- Museum passes or memberships
- Zoo passes or memberships
- Aquarium passes or memberships
- Mini golf passes
- Bowling passes
- Ice skating passes
- Indoor trampoline passes
- Amusement park passes
- Water park passes
- A hot air balloon ride
- Whale watching tickets
- Indoor rock climbing passes
- Sporting event tickets
- Escape room tickets
- Movie theater gift cards
- Ski mountain lift tickets and rentals
- Petting zoo/farm passes
- Children’s theater tickets or memberships
- Pottery painting studio visit
Gift cards for kids and teens
Gift cards make great stocking stuffers for kids and teens. But my tween girls also enjoy receiving them as birthday presents. The following cards provide kids with either one-time experiences or, in the case of books and music, experiences that keep on giving.
- Local book store gift cards
- Restaurant gift cards
- Spa or pedicure gift cards
- Audible gift card
- Kindle gift card
- Spotify or Apple Music gift cards
Fun family getaways for kids and teens
Make an experience last longer by giving kids the gift of a multi-day family outing. The following are a few resources to help you get started:
- Farm Stay USA
- Airbnb gift card
- Groupon Getaways pass
- National Park Pass
- Weekend stay at Great Wolf Lodge
- Camping gear for an upcoming trip
Educational subscription boxes and kits
Educational subscription boxes are a great way to let kids experience how fun learning can be. Some of the most popular boxes include Kiwi Crates, Bitsboxes, Little Passports, and Bookroo. But there are many others…to find the box that best suits your child, check out the guides below.
- Educational Subscription Boxes for Kids
- Educational Subscription Boxes for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- STEM and Science Subscription Boxes
- Art and Craft Subscription Boxes
- Children’s Book Subscription Boxes
- Science Kits for Kids : This last one doesn’t contain subscription boxes but instead provides a list of one-time purchase kits for kids.
Classes and activities for kids
Has your child been asking to try a new sport or take a new class? Extracurricular activities make great gifts. Here are a few ideas, but of course the options go well beyond this list.
- After-school sports
- Instrument lessons
- Ballet or dance classes
- Horseback riding lessons
- Pottery class
- Swim lessons
- Cooking classes
Outdoor gifts
Countless research concludes that modern kids should spend more time outside. Encourage kids to connect with nature with these gifts.
- Flower, vegetable or herb seed packages
- Garden set for kids and teens
- Supplies to build a terrarium
- Think Outside the Box subscription for kids
Gifts to charity
Encourage kids to think of others through a gift to charity. Kiva allows users to give loans to those in need, while Global Giving allows gift cardholders to choose from a number of charities to donate their money. Save the Children and Family to Family are organizations that help support other children and families in need.
Free family experience gifts
Parents often assume that the best gift they can give their children costs money. But when it comes down to it, what our children really want is often much more simple – and at the top of kids’ lists is spending quality moments with their parents. Here are a few cost-free gifts we can give our kids. A great way to give these gifts is to create coupons that kids can cash in throughout the year.
- Family movie night (at home)
- Family game night
- Go on a hike
- Visit a distant playground
- Plan a scavenger hunt
- Cook or bake together
You may also like:
22 Meaningful Non-Toy Kids Gifts
39 Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids of All Ages
35 Fun & Engaging Science Toys for Kids That Make Science Fun