The Gift of Experience: Meaningful Gifts to Give Your Kiddos that Won't End Up in a Landfill

It’s super cool that your kid is so loved, and everyone (you included) wants to pitch in to make the day super special for them. What isn’t cool is the overwhelming amount of toys and clothes they don’t really need and six copies of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

How can we make the day special without the waste? Here are a few of our favorite gift ideas that are guaranteed to make the day special and won’t end up in a donation box that lives in the trunk of your car (or… your nanny’s car).

‍A ‘Yes! Day’: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE? It’s incredible and the premise is super simple: let your kiddo be the guide on their special day. Cupcakes for breakfast? Yes! A dance party at the park? Yes! A playdate with friends and ice cream? Yes! A smidge later on bedtime routines? Yes! If your kiddo is extra imaginative and has the potential to come up with some extravagant or just impractical ideas, try making a list of some things they would enjoy and allow them to pick 3, 5, or even 10. As the adult in the room, it’s your responsibility to curate the experiences so your day can actually be full of “yes-es,” fun with minimum meltdowns. Be sure to define what a “yes” day is, how it works, and when it’s over. Setting boundaries is super important when setting up for your perfect “yes” day. Planning your “yes” day ahead of time with your kiddo can help establish the expectations and give you some framework to reference back to throughout the day. Overachievers: make a fun chart/poster and hang it on the wall!

‍A trip to a special museum or attraction: Check out that interactive special exhibit at the art museum or the Imax movie on dinosaurs. Pack a picnic or grab a special lunch to-go. Explore a local animal, veggie or fruit farm for some hands-on animal cuddles and food-picking!

‍Consumables: Paint, chalk, slime, clay, or an interesting craft set... there are so many good ones out there. KidMadeModern has some really cool and unique materials that are sure to inspire a ton of creativity.

‍Tie-dye Party: On those pretty spring and summer days, get the materials set up in stations out in the yard and work some colorful magic. Shirts, socks, sweatshirts, sheets that can be used for your next rainy-day fort. You can even add the sprinkler to the mix for some fun cleanup and cool down. Bonus points for popsicles and watermelon.

‍Take a fun arts & crafts class: ceramics, cooking, painting, yoga, a craft workshop, or head out to a tumble or circus gym. This can be something fun to do one on one or with a friend or two!

‍Build a treehouse or fort together: Okay, this one may not be for everyone. But we’re picturing this really cool opportunity for collaboration and imagination. I mean… who doesn’t want to be a part of dreaming up their private outdoor retreat? Talk about what features it should have, what materials will be best for your climate, and steps to making it a reality. The quality time together goes beyond a single weekend and that’s kind of the best part. For those that take on this ambitious (yet highly rewarding) journey, please send pics to our team so we can add them to this blog.

Grow something together… like a pizza garden: Find a spot in your yard for tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, onions, and sunflowers to set the table. Add all of these, some of these, completely different ingredients, or just start out with one. It’s your garden (and party) and you’ll plant what you want to! This one builds on itself: the time planting them, watching and helping something grow, and in the end, you get to enjoy a pizza party all together and enjoy the fruits of your labor. We can dig it.

‍Cash: Everyone loves it, but depending on the age of your kid, they might not be able to fully wrap their mind around it. For younger kids, you can use the opportunity to introduce or explore the value of this random green paper. You and your kiddo can talk about how much you have and what the options are. They could spend $5 on an ice cream cone or decide to ride the train 5 times. As the adult, try to make suggestions that bring out experiences. Maybe collectively, they could have a day at an amusement park or a hayride at the pumpkin patch. Cash + Creativity + Life Lesson = Win x3.

We hope this list sparks some creativity and sustainability for you and your home as we continue to navigate a life of birthdays, graduations, holidays and countless reasons to celebrate. Cheers to another trip around the sun and a life jammed full of experiences!

Written by: Kristin Sarmiento Geary, 2022

Edited by: Austin Macfarlane, 2023