How many times have you come up on a holiday or a birthday and thought, “What do I get my kids??” Toys are always a no brainer, but how many toys do they really need? Half of them are short lived and just shoved in a closet never to be played with again. That’s why we started doing more non-toy gifts for our daughter. “What would that even be?” you might ask. Well I made a list to help you get started on some ideas!!!
Memberships or One Time Passes
Local children’s theatre- They have performances all year long designed just for kids.
Zoos and aquariums
Amusement parks
Water parks
Children’s science museums
Camps and Classes
William’s Sonoma Junior Chef- They have all kinds of cooking classes and week long camps specifically for kids, and they all include a gift like a special pan, apron or cookbook!
Pottery or canvas painting- These also have classes for kids and adults alike.
The Arts- dance, theatre, music, etc.- Most local programs offer camps in the summer or on the weekends.
School programs- Did you know your school has programs that are fun for kids? They typically offer science and nature camps. Call your local school for more info!
Girl/Boy Scout camps
Horse back riding and farm camps- There are many farms in the area that offer some really cool camps for kids where they get to learn about and take care of the animals.
Something They’ve Wanted to Learn
Instrument- guitar, piano, violin, etc
Horse back riding
The Arts- dance, music, theatre
Gymnastics
Swimming
Long-term Enjoyment
Magazine subscription- Ranger Rick, Cricket, National Geographic Kids, and so many more
Little Passports- Every month a kit is delivered so they can learn about geography and culture in fun ways (they have a world and U.S. version).
Insect Lore butterfly garden- Did you know you can grow your own butterflies? Caterpillars come in the mail, and you can watch them make their cocoons and emerge into butterflies!!
Experiences
Something special to do on vacation- swim with dolphins (we did this one a few years ago; worth every penny), snorkeling, pirate cruise, ride a jet ski, etc.
Kid friendly concert- The wiggles for younger kids, Kidz Bop for older ones for example. They have tons more. Just check Ticketmaster for your area!
Disney on Ice
Stay over in a hotel- Some even do themes for kids like American Girl Doll where your child and doll get extra special attention. It’s pretty cool!
Kid’s themed store- American Girl, Lego, Bulid-A-Bear, etc- These also have events that go on throughout the year in the stores that are really fun for kids and geared toward what they’re interested in! We went to the American Girl Bistro on our trip and everything was designer around your child and their doll. It was more than just a store; it was an experience.
Character meet and greet- These you may have to do a little research on but sometimes you find them at the library, a local event or restaurant that does a character lunch once in awhile.
There are so many more ideas!! A few places I tend to look are your state‘s tourism, local libraries, Ticketmaster and then sometimes I just Google whatever they’re interested in. It’s amazing what’s out there! It’s not like when we were kids and all they had was Chuck E. Cheese😄
Surprise your kids with something they will always remember by thinking outside the box!!!🎁
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