My Non-Traditional Gift Guide
I mean, all the bloggers are writing gift guides. I actually think I’m pretty good at a very specific category of gifts that is difficult, so I decided to share some of my ideas.
I try to fully embrace the idea that experiences are more valuable than stuff, and in that spirit, I try to find experiences to gift instead of piles of stuff. It’s not perfect, and plenty of stuff still gets exchanged around here, but over and over, my kids, and really the rest of our family, finds more joy in the experiences we share than anything we receive in a wrapped box.
Kids spell love T-I-M-E. So trite, but so true. So try to give time not plastic crap this year. The earth and the kids will thank you!
So, in no particular order, here are some great experience gift ideas:
Mom-kid or Dad-kid one-on-one hotel night. I did this last year with the girls, and it was such a joy for me and for them. I picked the girl up from school early, and we did fun things just us two all day - went to the trampoline park, got ice cream, swam at the hotel pool. Did I mention the hotel? We stayed in one about 10 minutes from our house, which had a very reasonable rate on a Tuesday. It also had an indoor pool, which we had completely to ourselves. We went out to dinner, watched a movie and snuggled, ate breakfast the next morning, and back to school the kid went. It was simple, and SO fun.
Wrap: matching pjs for the sleepover, a card explaining what you will be doing, an invitation to join you for the night
Ages: 4-12 (for the simple version, maybe older with more exciting stuff?)
Fancy lunch. We did a fancy lunch with one of the girls this year also. I set the table with china and flowers, and Tommy and I dressed up. We made tea sandwiches cut into stars, fruit, and chocolate truffles. We had lunch just us three, while brother napped and sister visited the grandparents. It’s such a different dynamic when you have multiple kids to spend time one-on-one, so I highly recommend anything that involves doing that.
Wrap: fancy shoes or a fancy dress for lunch, a cookie cutter for fancy sandwiches, a pretty invitation
Ages: 3-10
Outschool classes. Is your kid into something specific? What if they could hang out with other kids who are also into that thing, while staying home (thanks Covid), and learning more about that thing? Harper has done a Home Alone Trivia and booby-trap building class, a braiding class, and art and writing classes. Ruthie takes guitar lessons on Outschool as well as a Descendants dance class just for fun. We have the girls scheduled for American Girl Doll Christmas crafting classes with their cousins in San Antonio. They have EVERYTHING. It’s a fun way to break up the time when there’s so much time at home and to learn something new. They even have gift cards now! Ask me if you want to sign up - I can send an invite that will save you $$!
Wrap: info about the class in a card, or supplies for the class if needed
Ages: varies depending on the class
Meri Cherry. Really, whatever she sells is great. You can start small, and order her book on Amazon or from a smaller bookseller. It’s full of awesome ideas of projects to do with the kids, with a strong focus on process art and sensory experiences. Great for ages 5-10. If you have a little more to spend, she has camps in a box, or camps you can download. We have done the doll house camp, and it is expensive. It is also EPIC. My girls spent hours working on the project and the creativity and joy it brought them was totally worth it in my opinion.
Wrap: the book or the camp box
Ages: 2-10
If you are a grandparent, or an aunt, uncle, special cousin, godparent, etc — give them “birthday camp” or “valentines camp” or “whatever-theme-you-want camp”. If you live close enough, have the kid come over for a sleepover to do crafts, or play with your dogs, or cook with you, or whatever you are into. You can get fancy and create challenges, or awards, or tea parties. Ask for special outfits, do their makeup, bake an elaborate cake, go on a hike and give them a badge. This is totally open-ended. My parents gave each girl birthday camp for their birthdays this year (I get my own version of birthday camp with my mom for my birthday every year, and yes, it’s awesome). Choose something you enjoy, and they are likely to enjoy it with you.
Wrap: Invitation, pajamas, or something for the activites
Ages: 4-10, or infinity, as I’m almost 40 and I love my birthday camp with my mom
This is new for us, so I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m super excited to. We are getting The Adventure Challenge - Family Edition for our family this year. The book has 50 scratch off family adventures, which will be an awesome way to come up with new ways to spend time together this year.
Wrap: The Adventure Challenge Book, or the book plus instax camera
Ages: 5-15
Give them a camping trip. Book a site or cabin at a local or national park, and head off to the great outdoors.
Wrap: A tent, camping t-shirt, s’mores supplies and sticks, binoculars, a flashlight, or hiking shoes
Ages: 2-100
What about a road trip? Rent a house not-too-far away, and drive there.
Wrap: A book about the destination or route, games for the car, or a camera
Ages: Well, I know people go on road trips with little kids, but at two, I’m just ready to take Theo on a road trip with us.
Year Cheer - this subscription service sends you a box each month with decorations and seasonal activities for your family. It’s super cute and super easy!
Wrap: The first box? Or a calendar of the months coming up.
Ages: 3-10
Literati - this subscription box sends books each month tailored to a kids age. I will say this is technically “stuff” but books don’t really count in my mind. It also comes with extras each month - a little project, a print from a children’s illustrator, and other surprises. It really inspires my kids to read, and you can send back any books you don’t want risk free. They also have book clubs for adults, which I haven’t tried but sound interesting.
Wrap: The first box!
Ages: infants - adults
Pipsticks - again, this subscription is technically stuff, but it’s stickers. Stickers = joy. It’s so much fun to look forward to them in the mail every month. Highly recommend
Wrap — first package!
Ages: 2-100
Storyworth - I gave this to my parents last year. It emails a question to the recipient about their life each week, and they reply to the email with their response. At the end of the year, you get a printed book of their answers. Full disclosure, my mom has done it faithfully, and my dad hasn’t. So, consider whether your recipient will be into doing it. But, I have loved reading my mom’s answers, and I can’t wait for the book.
Wrap - the gift certificate
Ages: adults, great for parents or grandparents