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The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Gifts: Experiences vs Consumables for Kids
- beyondthescreenfam
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The holiday season often brings a familiar challenge for parents and gift-givers: choosing the perfect gift for kids. Should you pick something they can use up quickly, like candy or small toys, or something that offers lasting value and fun? This guide explores why experience-based gifts often outshine consumables, especially for children, and offers practical ideas to make your holiday shopping both meaningful and memorable.
Why Choose Experience Gifts Over Consumables?
Consumable gifts like candy, snacks, or single-use toys can bring quick joy but often fade fast. Kids enjoy them for a moment, then the excitement disappears, and the item is gone or they are done playing with it. For us in our house, stuffies fall into this category because they are novel at first, but then are thrown in the stuffie bin to live out their life before we finally donate it. Experience gifts, on the other hand, provide ongoing engagement, learning, and fun. They encourage creativity, exploration, and sometimes even family bonding.
Here are some reasons why experience gifts stand out:
Long-lasting enjoyment: Experiences like activity boxes or books can be used repeatedly.
Skill development: Many experience gifts promote learning, problem-solving, and creativity.
Less clutter: Unlike toys that pile up, experiences often come in compact forms or digital formats.
Memories over materials: Kids remember the fun and learning more than the physical gift itself.
Examples of Experience Gifts That Kids Can Enjoy Again and Again
Experience gifts come in many forms, from subscription boxes to books and event tickets. Here are some popular options that keep kids engaged beyond the holiday season:
1. Boredom Buster Box
The Boredom Buster Box is a hands-on, educator-designed creativity kit that turns ordinary afternoons into meaningful moments of building, exploring, and imagination. Packed with open-ended materials and playful prompts, it makes screen-free time simple, engaging, and full of fun.
2. Play Box
The Play Box turns screen-free time into purposeful, hands-on play with premium sensory materials, educator-designed activities, and 30 open-ended prompts that spark curiosity and keep kids engaged. Each box delivers hours of imaginative, independent, and connection-building play with no prep, just open and explore.
3. Books and Reading Kits
Books open doors to new worlds and ideas. They can be added to routines and are often great to read and reread.
4. Art and Craft Kits
These kits provide materials and instructions for various projects, from painting to building models. Kids can create multiple pieces and develop new skills with each use.
5. Memberships or Passes
Consider gifting memberships to local museums, zoos, or science centers. These allow repeated visits and new experiences every time.
Top 10 Small Business Gift Ideas for Kids
Supporting small businesses during the holidays is a great way to find unique, thoughtful gifts. Here’s a list of ten experience-based gift ideas from small businesses that kids will love:
Our Subscription Boxes for Kids
Monthly deliveries of our Play Box to bring purposeful play to your door.
What if You Dare the Dandelions to Sing
A book from an Indie author all about curiosity--it's one of our favorites.
Hands-on, rich sensory experiences with an alternative "sand" base.
A buddy to take on all your adventures, big and small.
Available in podcast form for free, but also available on Yoto, this podcast takes kids on an adventure with every episode.
Screen-free ideas sent each week--so life isn't controlled by the screen, but instead by experiences.
A true game for connection; this game has you getting to know others in a fun way.
Swim lessons are fun and also help your child to learn a life skill.
Learn history through cute books, boxes, and rich other experiences.
Subscription-based children's podcast. Each episode includes information and challenges.
How to Choose the Right Experience Gift
Picking the perfect experience gift depends on the child’s interests, age, and your budget. Here are some tips to help you decide:
Consider their hobbies: If a child loves animals, a zoo membership or nature kit might be ideal.
Age appropriateness: Make sure the activities match their developmental stage.
Longevity: Choose gifts that can be used multiple times or have ongoing content.
Ease of use: Some experience gifts require adult supervision or extra materials.
Support local: Small businesses often offer unique, high-quality options that big retailers don’t.
Wrapping Up Your Holiday Gift Shopping
Choosing experience gifts over consumables can transform the holiday season for kids. These gifts provide lasting joy, encourage learning, and reduce waste. Whether it’s the Play Box, a personalized storybook, or a membership to a local museum, experience gifts create memories and skills that last far beyond the holidays.
Next time you shop, think about gifts that keep giving. Your child will thank you for the fun and growth that come with every experience.
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