Exciting experience gifts for kids

If you want to gift your child something extra special and personal, consider something that can create lasting memories for your family. Gifting experiences over things is all the rage these days.  

We've handpicked a super selection of experience-based gifts to ignite curiosity, encourage exploration, and make unforgettable moments. Dive into our wide-ranging list of gender-neutral options for different age groups.

1. Adventure seekers (ages 6-12)

• Treehouse camping: How about gifting your child a magical overnight stay in a whimsical treehouse? You can discover these charming woodland retreats scattered across the country, like the enchanting Treehouse Cottages in Arkansas or the breathtaking Cypress Valley treehouses in Texas.

• Zipline thrills: If your child dreams of flying through the sky like professional athletes, you don’t have to travel to destinations like Navitat or Zipline Utah. You might not even have to leave your town! Many local theme parks, recreation centers, gymnasiums, and day camps offer kid-safe ziplining.  

2. Little Einsteins (ages 4-8)

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

• Science museum membership: Feed their scientific curiosity with a year-long membership to a local science museum. They'll enjoy hands-on exploration and discovery. For inspiration, check out mind-blowing options like the Exploratorium in San Francisco or the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

• Robotic workshop: Ignite their engineering interest with a robotics workshop. Kids can build and program their very own robot. Take a look at workshops at places like the Robot Garage in Michigan or Rolling Robots in California and look for similar offerings in your area. 

3. Creative visionaries (ages 7-14)

Pottery painting class: Unleash your child's creativity with a pottery painting session, allowing them to craft their own masterpiece under expert guidance. You can find local pottery studios or chains like Color Me Mine.

Photography scavenger hunt: Foster your child's artistic eye with an adult-supervised photography scavenger hunt, encouraging them to capture unique perspectives and moments in a safe environment. 

4. Sports enthusiasts (ages 8-15)

Surfing lesson: Ride the waves with a thrilling surfing lesson tailored for beginners. Or play off the theme with other water-related classes like sailing or kayaking. 

Indoor trampoline park pass: Let your energetic child bounce into fun with a day pass or regular membership. Check out nationwide trampoline parks like Sky Zone or Urban Air.

5. Performers at heart (ages 5-13)

Theater improv classes: Encourage your child to step into the spotlight with theater improv classes. Improv can help boost confidence and discover innate talents on stage. Look into local community theaters, schools, or recreation centers that offer courses in performing arts. Or try national chains like Second City.

Dance exploration workshop: Let your child discover the joy of movement in a dance exploration workshop where they can try out different styles and find their rhythm. It’s great exercise, too! Look for workshops at local dance academies or nationwide chains like Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

6. Tech-savvy whiz tweens and teens (ages 9-16)

Coding camp: Level up their tech skills with a coding camp. They'll learn to create their own games and solve problems through code. Organizations like Coding with Kids and iD Tech offer both in-person and online options.

Virtual reality experience (13+ only): Send your teenage tech enthusiast on an immersive virtual reality adventure to explore new worlds and spark innovation. Search for age-appropriate VR centers or arcades nearby. But make sure any VR activity you choose is designed specifically for your child’s age, as VR headsets and related accessories are usually not safe for kids under 13. Check out VR centers and gaming lounges like Sandbox VR or VR World.

7. Quirky explorers (ages 6-14)

Ghost tour: Does your child love Halloween? Do they gravitate to slightly scary movies and stories? Uncover the spooky secrets of your city with a family-friendly ghost tour, where they can learn about local legends and historical hauntings. Check out options in major cities like Ghosts of New York or Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour.

Insect discovery tour: Cater to your child's curious and unconventional interests with a guided insect discovery tour, perfect for budding entomologists. Search up local zoos, wildlife and nature preserves, botanical gardens, and local conservation organizations. 

8. For older kids and young adults (ages 14+)

• Escape room experience: Get those teenage brain gears turning and put teamwork into action with an escape room experience. Your teen and their friends will have to crack puzzles and clues to break free from a themed room. Dive into popular escape rooms such as The Escape Game and Escape the Room.

• Cooking class: Whether you want to nurture their culinary creativity or train them to cook for themselves, gift the chance to whip up new recipes and techniques under the guidance of professional chefs. Take a look at classes in cooking schools like Sur La Table, community college courses, or local restaurants with demonstration kitchens.

• Concert tickets: Let them groove to the beats of their favorite artists with tickets to an age-appropriate live show. Search ticket sales on websites like Ticketmaster™ or Live Nation™.

• Professional sports game tickets: Get ready to cheer on the home team in person. Score tickets for MLB™, NFL™, NBA™, or NHL™.

Making memories together

Each of these experience gifts for kids go beyond the typical, delivering a passport to lifelong memories and new skills. You might just light up a lifetime of passion and curiosity!