Holidays

Free Printable Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe Game for Kids

Whether you are looking for a fun Valentine’s printable to hand out as cards, or for a heart-themed game, these Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe printable games are a perfect fit!

They are full of festive Valentine’s Day graphics and their pink & purple colors are definitely traditional Valentine’s colors.

Keep reading for ideas on how to use the tic tac toe game printable, as well as how to print it out.

Valentine's Day Tic Tac Toe printable card

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Uses for the Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe Game

There are several ways that these printable tic tac toe games can make the Valentine’s Day holiday much easier.

First, there is the fact it’s a free printable so that makes it the ultimate in frugal-goals.

Next, you can use it pretty much anywhere. Your kids can even reuse it over and over; more on how to do that later!

Plus, it has the ability to entertain your kiddos. So if you have willingly (or even begrudgingly) signed up for party games, this is the perfect intro or snack-time activity.

USE THE PRINTABLE AS A FUN CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

The printable would be perfect for a fun classroom activity during the week of Valentine’s Day. If you wish to keep the cards to avoid waste, you could easily laminate them.

Once laminated, the children can use dry-erase markers for the “X’s & O’s” instead of writing on the cards.

USE THE PRINTABLES FOR A CLASSROOM PARTY

Are you in charge of the games & activities for your child’s Valentine’s Day party this year? If so, the tic tac toe games would be a great activity to plan during games that don’t involve the entire class, or while you are setting up another one.

Want another easy Valentine’s Day party activity? Then check out our Conversation Heart STEM Challenge. It requires very little set-up & can be done frugally too.

Conversation hearts and craft sticks structure — Conversation Heart STEM Activity

USE THE TIC TAC TOE GAMES AS CLASSROOM VALENTINES

Another fun way to use these printable games would be as classroom Valentines. If you are in a hurry, you can simply write to & from on the back and be done.

Or, you could drop a game card along with some conversation hearts into a fun cellophane bag for a Valentine treat to hand out. The conversation hearts work great as a snack or markers for playing the game!

USE THE TIC TAC TOE GAMES… ANYWHERE!

Truly, you can use the tic tac toe game cards in so many places.

You could add them to your child’s travel binder during the week of February 14.

Or you could use them at home while celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family.

They would also be fun for use at children’s church activities or during Girl Scout or Boy Scout meetings.

Ideas to make the Cards Reusable

If you are wanting to be able to resue the cards there are several options to do so.

First, as mentioned you could always laminate the cards. If you do not have access to a large laminator, these self-adhesive laminating sheets would do the trick.

If you go this route, I recommend cutting the 4 cards out and laminating them individually to make sure the sides seal properly.

Of course, you could also just have the children use something as markers for the traditional X & O we all know goes with tic tac toe games.

One frugal idea for markers could be conversation heart candy where the children use the colors to differentiate the game pieces.

Take a stroll down your stores Valentine’s Day candy aisle and look for anything that has at least two colors. Or for two different shapes that would allow the children to differentiate their game piece from another.

A few candy ideas would include:

Valentine’s Day Hershey Kisses

Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans

Wonka Sweetart Conversation Hearts

If you don’t want to go the candy route, you could also use red & pink buttons! Buttons would look really cute inside a bag with game cards!

How to print out the Tic Tac Toe Cards

These tic tac toe card printables are available as a pdf so you will need a program, such as Adobe, to open and print them out.

They are available for any non-commercial use; meaning as long as you won’t profit from their use you are free to use them.

Simply click on the download button below and you will be able to print out your copies.

Not near a printer? That’s ok. Simply save them to your Pinterest account or share them on Facebook! You’ll be able to find them easily later, and you will help our blog grow. Win-win!

Valentine’s Tic Tac Toe Printable Download

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Activities for Kids Valentine's Day

Conversation Heart STEM Activity for Valentine’s Day

This Conversation Heart STEM Activity for Valentine’s Day is perfect for a February STEM challenge in the classroom or as a fun building project at home.

It also works well as an easy Valentine’s Day activity for school parties. It’s common to think of only using games at a class party, but fun STEM challenges with a heart theme are the perfect quiet activities for kids!

I was hesitant when planning something less traditional for my son’s Valentine’s Day party, but this was a huge hit with the kids. A few of the adults at the party even got in on the building fun!

Whatever way you are planning on using the Conversation Heart STEM Activity there are tons of ways to make it adaptable for all ages. You can keep the STEM project simply a creative building experience for preschoolers, add the tallest tower challenge for Kindergarteners, or make it even more advanced for middle schoolers.

Keep reading to find out the supplies you will need, as well as the many ways you can change up the challenge to keep kids building.

Conversation Heart STEM Activity for Kids

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Where to use the Conversation Heart STEM Activity

There is no limit on where you could use the STEM Activity. It’s easy preparation and low cost means that you can use it for a large group of children, or only one child at home.

USING THE ACTIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM

This is a great activity to include a little Valentine’s fun into your normal classroom routine. You could request parents to donate the conversation hearts and keep costs minimal too.

A SIMPLE VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITY AT HOME

No matter if you homeschool or are just looking for a fun weekend project, this is a great STEM activity at home.

There’s minimal mess and the supplies can be found at your local chain or dollar store.

USING THE ACTIVITY AT VALENTINE’S DAY SCHOOL PARTIES

My favorite way to use this activity as a classroom party game is to pair it with an active game. This lets the kids get their wiggles out with an out-of-their-seat game, then they can refocus on this activity.

A tip for making the process smoother is to use paper plates for the children to keep their building supplies contained. They can all build on their desks this way without making them too messy or having supplies fall onto the floor.

Another idea is to pre-make the kids’ bags of supplies. Simply place a handful of hearts and 20 to 30 craft sticks in a ziplock or fun Valentine’s Bag and you’ll have an easy way to hand everything out.

This bag also lets the children easily take all of their building supplies home if you aren’t wanting them back.

You can always keep extra conversation hearts & crafts sticks on hand if children request more supplies.

Want another easy game for the kids at a Valentine’s Day Party? Then take a peek at our Valentine’s Day Tic Tac Toe Printable.

OTHER PLACES TO USE THE STEM ACTIVITY

You can use this Conversation Heart STEM Challenge anywhere you wish!

It would work great for Girl Scout or Boy Scout February Meetings, Kids’ Church Events, or even simple playdates.

Supplies Needed for the Activity

The supplies needed for the Conversation Heart STEM Activity are super easy to find and fairly inexpensive. First, you will need the classic Conversation Hearts of course.

Next, you will need wood craft sticks. These are also known as popsicle sticks or as my boys call them, doctor sticks.

Yep, that is all you need for the activity!

People have asked how many of each you will need per child and that is a hard question to answer. It depends on how long the children will have to do the activity, as well as their ages.

Older preschool children aren’t going to build as quickly as a group of third-graders would. If you want to save money, I highly recommend having the children work in small groups. This cuts your supplies needed down drastically.

Also, you can simply let the children know that the materials they have on hand are all they have for their challenge so they will have to plan accordingly. Another great skill for kids to practice!

If you want to provide the kids with bags to take their supplies home, then check out my favorites! These Colorful Hearts Bags are adorable!

There are tons of options when it comes to finding cute Valentine’s bags! Just make sure you check the sizing so that the craft sticks will easily fit into the bag so you can fold it over or staple it shut.

A few more supplies that go beyond Conversation Hearts

If you are thinking of using something besides the conversation hearts, there are a few things to consider.

First, if you are thinking about chocolate hearts, be prepared for the children to eat their building materials. Also, chocolate melts quickly in little hands, so the mess factor will be high. Chocolate typically comes individually wrapped, so there will be some prep work for the kids too.

Second, you need to make sure that the candy you pick has somewhat of a flat surface. For example, building with Hershey’s Kisses would be an extremely difficult task for younger children in first or second grade. But it could be just the challenge children in middle school need.

Here are a few fun heart-shaped candies that won’t melt and still have the flat surface needed for building easily:

Wonka Sweetart Conversation Hearts

Jelly Bean Hearts

Candy Jelly Hearts

JuJu Hearts

Another thing to consider would be using a variety of different hearts for the building challenges. More on this later!

Tons of Conversation Heart STEM Activity Challenges

There is nothing wrong with giving the children the supplies and letting them guide their learning and fun.

If you want this to be more of a STEM challenge, however, here are a few ways to do so easily.

INDIVIDUAL VS. GROUP WORK

First, this activity works great as both individual and group work. Perhaps having the children work individually on challenges and then slowly combining them into teams is an option.

You could go from having one small structure built by one child to massive structures built by half the group!

TO BE TIMED OR NOT TIMED

Another option that works great with older children in middle school would be to make the challenges timed.

You could give each individual or group a certain amount of time, like 5 minutes, to create the structure.

This is also a great way to keep the supplies you need to a minimum.

TALLEST BUILDING CHALLENGE

When I did this activity with my son’s fourth-grade class this was by far their favorite challenge. The children had to decide if they were going to risk it toppling over by using minimal structures, or go safe and make the structures sturdier, but not as tall.

You will see the children adapt to the toppling towers and begin again with a little more thought. There will be those making triangles and squares, as well as kids debating the best placement of the conversation hearts in relation to the edges of the craft sticks.

You can either measure with a ruler or use the simple method of counting how many hearts & sticks tall each building is before it falls or they run out of supplies.

STRONGEST BUILDING CHALLENGE

Unlike the tallest building challenge, the strongest building challenge is a little harder to pick a winner. However, the point is to encourage the children to make a structure that when under pressure could handle easily.

Therefore, anyone whose building doesn’t crumble under the weight would be a successful build.

The pressure can be applied by placing anything heavy on the top of the structure. For example, you could use a heavy textbook or if you have a lot of faith in your students, you could even bring a brick or something truly having some weight.

DESIGN CHALLENGES

Sometimes it’s fun to have a challenge that appeals to the creative side along with the engineering aspect of building.

For this Conversation Heart STEM challenge, the goal isn’t to make the tallest or sturdiest structure but to design a unique building or structure.

This is a more low-key way to enjoy the activity since there is less focus on competition and more focus on building something artfully.

Taking it a step further, the children could even use markers to draw on the craft sticks to make their designs even more unique.

USING MULTIPLE HEARTS FOR BUILDING

Earlier I hinted at using more than one type of candy hearts for the kids to build their structures.

This works best for older children simply because the different heights of the candy can make the structures less stable.

With less stability, the building of the structures becomes just a little bit trickier.

More Valentine’s Fun for Kids

I know you are probably wanting to head out and grab some supplies so you can tackle this Valentine’s Day STEM challenge, but take a peek at a few of our other fun Valentine’s Day posts first!

We have this super cute Chocolate Teddy Bear Bites snack that is easy and perfect for kids’ Valentine’s Day parties!

Also, we have these delicious Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisp Hearts that not only do kids love, but adults find them addicting too!

Heart shaped tortillas covered in cinnamon and sugar

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below. You’ll know about all of our fun activities for kids (including free printables), as well as our tips for being a more productive mom!

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Activities for Kids Magical Christmas Printable

Free Printable Christmas Word Scramble PDF for Kids

There are so many fun ways to use this free printable Christmas Word Scramble for Kids.

Christmas always seems to be a busy season so there are plenty of times when a quiet Christmas activity for kids is nice to have on hand.

Let’s be honest, if the kids are home on winter break and you are trying to finish up all those Christmas to-do’s, having a fun worksheet for them to tackle is a step towards you getting more done!

Keep reading to see all of the great ways you can use this Christmas worksheet during the holiday season.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Uses for the Christmas Word Scramble for Kids

Let’s take a look at a few fun ways to use this Christmas worksheet. If you have a fun way you are planning on using it, please drop it in the comments below!

Use the Christmas Word Scramble Game at a Class Party

Are you in charge of the games this year at your child’s school Christmas party? If so, then this is a fun activity to include in your plans for a festive holiday bash.

If you want to do this as a Christmas Word Scramble Game, then there are two easy ways to do so.

First, you could have all of the children start the worksheet at the same time and the first one to complete it would be the winner.

Or you could also give the children a set amount of time, let’s say a minute, to try and complete as much of the word scramble as possible.

If you aren’t wishing for this to be a competition activity, then the worksheet would be great to give to the kids while they are enjoying their snacks.

Fun Christmas Activity on the Road

If you are traveling this year around the holidays then this would make a perfect addition to a child’s travel binder.

If you don’t have a travel binder already, consider creating one for your child. They are simple to make with printables, like our Car Color Search Worksheet, and your child’s choice of markers, crayons, etc.

They are a great way to keep your child entertained on long or short holiday drives.

Use the Printable at Family Gatherings

If you have a lot of kids at your holiday gatherings, consider printing out the word scramble for a fun activity for the group.

It works great for placing at the kids’ table with a few pencils or crayons.

Quiet Time Christmas Activity at Home

The word scramble worksheet works great for a simple Christmas activity at home too. Use it for a fun Christmas Eve activity. Or you can use it to maybe catch a few minutes to get some items off your Christmas to-do list.

Use the Christmas Worksheet in the Classroom

Yes, the Christmas Word Scramble is great as a classroom party game, but it can also be a fun quiet time activity during class time too.

A few more fun Christmas Activities

Make sure you check out a few of our other fun Christmas posts like our gift guides. We have gift guides for kids who love LEGOS, dinosaurs & football that are super popular.

Plus we have tons of Elf on the Shelf Posts too. Like our free printable Elf Scavenger Hunt or our Elf Survival Plan for Busy Moms. Yes, it has tips to make remembering to move your Elf so much easier!

Here’s the Christmas Word Scramble

Will you do us a favor and share this post on Pinterest or Facebook? Your shares help our blog grow and continue to offer free printables. Also, it helps shares the fun with other busy Moms.

This worksheet is available as a pdf download. Therefore you will need a program, such as Adobe, to open and print it.

The Christmas Word Scramble printable is available for any non-commercial use. As long as you aren’t profiting from its use, you are good to go.

Simply click the download button below and print out the worksheet.

Christmas Word Scramble for Kids Download

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Magical Christmas Printable

Printable Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt Cards & Ideas

If there’s one thing that can make Christmas go smoother, it’s having a few easy Elf on the Shelf ideas. That’s where these free printable Elf Scavenger Hunt Cards come in super handy.

These are easy to use and since they are blank you can customize them to work for your own home. But don’t worry if you are Christmas-busy and don’t have time to think of fun clues, we have some below for you to use.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

How to Use the Elf Scavenger Cards

It is truly easy to use these cards. You will simply need to print them out and write in the scavenger hunt ideas that work for your family or home.

If you are worried about your child recognizing your handwriting, here are a few tips to take care of that issue.

First, you could write the clues in all uppercase. Also, you could write using a crayon or marker to help disguise your handwriting too.

Since my boys are older, one of my favorite ways to make the clues is to write them using a pattern of uppercase and lowercase letters. This one really helps keep them from guessing that Mom is in on the Elf game!

Elf Scavenger Hunt Ideas for your Printable Cards

These first Elf Scavenger Hunt Ideas are perfect for setting up this Elf on the Shelf idea quickly. They are fast to write down & easy to hide around your home.

Here are a few of our favorite easy scavenger hunt clues.

You hang ornaments on this.

You would hide the next clue in your Christmas tree.

I wish my home was a stocking.

This clue would go in the stockings.

Orange you going bananas trying to find me?

The clue would go near your bananas or oranges.

Candy Canes are my favorite treats.

Hide the Scavenger Hunt clue near your candy cane stash.

As you can tell, these clues are simple & easy to guide your child on their adventure. You can simply state anything in your home, but making it Christmas-themed is super fun.

A few more ideas in case you are stuck could involve mentioning your child’s toothbrush, shoes, backpack, favorite book, gaming console, electronics, toys, or pictures of your child or family.

Keep reading for longer Elf Scavenger Hunt clues with a little more Christmas flair!

A little more creative Elf Scavenger Hunt Clues

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using simple clues like the ones above. They are great for if you want to leave several clues, or especially if your child is a new reader.

However, the clues below have some extra Christmas cheer to add to your hunt!

Christmas Trees are green, candy canes are red. If I were you, I’d look under where you lay your head.

Oh, Christmas Tree. Oh, Christmas Tree. What is that in your branches I see?

Jingle Bells. Jingle Bells. Man, these things you wear on your feet smell!

Ribbons & Bows. Ribbons & Bows. On these are where all those bows go!

Near the big guy in red who says “Ho Ho Ho”, is where you should next go!

A few more Elf Ideas before you go!

Before you print out your Elf Scavenger Hunt Cards, make sure you take a look at some of our other fun Elf & Christmas posts.

We have a free printable Elf Planning Calendar where you can write down all of your Elf ideas to stay organized.

Also, we have an Elf Survival Plan for Busy Moms. It has 4 easy steps to help you stay on top of your Elf game.

4 Easy Steps to rock your Elf on the Shelf

Finally, we also have a collection of favorite Elf on the Shelf Accessories. It is an easy way to step-up your Elf game for sure.

How to Use the Cards

Once you print the cards below, you will need to cut them out and write the clues you wish to use.

There are 6 cards on each printable. One of the free printables has an introduction for starting the scavenger hunt. Make sure you only print this one once if you are having a hunt with more than 12 clues.

Now you just need to place the cards around your home in the order you wish to have the hunt.

Here’s the free printable Elf Scavenger Hunt Cards

Before you print these out, would you please take a moment and share this on Pinterest or perhaps Facebook?

Your shares help our blog be successful as well as help other busy Mom’s survive the crazy Christmas season.

These printables are acceptable for any non-commercial use. Meaning as long as you aren’t making a profit from them, they are usable.

There are two printables of the cards. The first one below has the introduction to the scavenger hunt on it.

Elf Scavenger Hunt Clues with Intro Download

The second is exactly the same, without the introduction on the first card. If you are going to do a long scavenger hunt, this is the one you will want to print more copies of.

Elf Scavenger Hunt Clues Download

These are pdf downloads so you will need to open and print them using a pdf program such as Adobe.

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Magical Christmas Printable

Free Printable Watercolor Christmas Gift Certificate Template

Sometimes there just isn’t a great way to wrap an experience gift or show your appreciation with something physical under the tree. That’s where this watercolor Christmas Gift Certificate template saves the day.

It’s full of adorable Christmas illustrations that make the certificate festive and beautiful for gifting to someone you love.

Free printable Christmas Gift Certificate Template

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Uses for the Christmas Gift Certificate Template

There are so many ways that this Christmas Gift Certificate template can be put to use at Christmas.

Let’s take a look at a few and if you don’t see your use for the certificate, drop it in the comments below and share your great idea with us.

We could all use a little help during the craziness that is last-minute Christmas gifting.

USE IT TO GIVE EXPERIENCE GIFTS

Are you giving out experience gifts this Christmas?

Perhaps a fun sleepover at your house for the nieces and nephews, or maybe it’s a day spent ice skating with your family?

Not sure what experience gift to give this year?

Then make sure you check out our 50+ Experience Gift Ideas for Kids. It has tons of ideas for kids with all kinds of interests.

Either way, this certificate is perfect for gifting those experiences. Simply print and fill in the correct information.

A few other ideas to use the certificate for experience gifts would include:

A Night Out with their Adult Kids for your Mom or Mother-In-Law

One Night of Free Baby-Sitting for a friend or family member

A Day of Golf with your Dad or Father-In-Law

One Movie & Spa at Home Night for your Best Friend

Truly, this list could go on for days! There are simply so many ways to use the certificate for experiences.

TEACHERS CAN USE THE CERTIFICATE TOO

The certificate is perfect for gifting to your students as a Christmas Homework pass or a free movie day in the classroom.

Feel free to print the certificate in black & white and make copies if you have several children you are wishing to gift the certificate.

Looking for a Christmas gift certificate that is a little less colorful?

Or maybe you need two certificates to give out?

Then take a look at our black & white Christmas Santa Certificate.

Don’t worry, it’s a free printable too!

USE IT FOR YOUR SPOUSE OR SO

Now if you are really struggling with a gift for your spouse this certificate is a great solution.

Or maybe you have agreed to not do gifts, but you would like to still do a little something.

Give your husband a free afternoon with no kids. Or your wife a day with no kids. Pretty much a guilt-free block of time with no kids makes for a great gift. And yes, I love my kiddos. But I also love a little free time.

Or maybe there is a certain task around the house that you could gift a month of not-doing? Or a date night with childcare prearranged.

PIN THIS TO PINTEREST

SO YOU CAN FIND IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR!

Here’s the Christmas Certificate Printable

I highly recommend printing the certificate out on cardstock. I use this cardstock from Amazon for the majority of my printable projects.

Also, you could use laminating sheets or even place the certificate in a small frame if you wish.

Just make sure if you go the frame route that not too much of the certificate will be covered by the matt or by trimming it to fit an 8X10 frame.

Want a few more fun Christmas ideas?

Then take a peek at our Christmas Eve Traditions for Families.

It has tons of fun Christmas activities to not only make great memories, but to celebrate another pandemic Christmas at home.

Ready to print the certificate? Then simply click on the download button below.

But before you do, will you share this on Pinterest or Facebook? Your shares help us grow & allow us to keep offering free printables.

On mobile, simply click the grey buttons below to share away!

Want another free printable? Then make sure you print out our Christmas World Scramble for Kids. It’s a fun activity for school age kiddos.

Here you go – just click the link below to print out your certificate.

Printable Christmas Gift Certificate Download

Your printable should open up as a pdf and you are ready to go!

Please note this printable is only available for non-commercial use. This means as long as you aren’t profiting from it’s use – you are good to go.

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Activities for Kids Magical Christmas

Our Guide to the Best Educational & Fun STEM Gifts for Kids

There is nothing better than a gift that is both exciting and educational! These fun STEM Gifts for Kids are perfect for surprising the child in your life with a little learning while they explore and play.

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) toys below are all perfect Christmas or Birthday gifts for kids. There is something for everyone with all kinds of interests.

Need a fun STEM gift for a 6-year-old? It’s below! Or maybe a STEM gift for the teenager or tween in your life? Yep, there’s an idea for them too!

Keep reading to see the fun list of STEM gifts for girls and boys.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

STEM Gifts for Kids

There has been such an increase in the last few years in STEM toys & activities for kids.

There is so much more to explore and give with specific interests represented so well.

So with that being said, here are my boys’ and some of their friends’ favorite STEM toys & activities. We will start with our 2019 favorite: Magformers!

Magformers are the best gifts for Kids who Love to Build

What are Magformers? They are magnetic building blocks that come in various shapes, colors & sets perfect for kids of all ages.

Most of their sets are for ages 3+, but they have sets that would make the perfect STEM gift for preschoolers, like the My First Animal Jumble Set.

Older kids would enjoy something like this Construction Set or Walking Robot Car Set.

Our favorite Christmas 2020 STEM Gift

Another year has passed quickly and it’s time to start thinking of more fun STEM Gifts!

This year, my boys are all getting Gravitrax – the Interactive Track System! If you haven’t seen these, check them out for sure!

They’re like a marble run & construction site all wrapped up into one.

Time to Check out the Marble Runs!

Marble Runs are another fun gift for kids who are builders at heart but love a good puzzle or maze too. This Marble Run Deluxe Set is for kids ages 3+ and has chunky building pieces making it perfect for younger children who are still working on fine motor skills.

Finally, there’s this JOYIN Marble Run Premium Set. It’s got smaller pieces and more intricate mazes possible, which make it perfect for 6-9-year-olds and even tweens.

Science Kits & Labs

There are some super fun science kits and labs available for kids with all kinds of interests. National Geographic has an entire line like this Mega Crystal Growing Lab.

Other kits they offer include:

If you are looking for a true science kit, this My First Mind Blowing Science Kit is the perfect starting place.

This Microscope is the perfect next step for kids who want to dive deeper into their exploring.

Math Gifts for the Mathmetician on your List

Perhaps you have someone in need of a gift who is fascinated with numbers? Maybe they love playing number games or puzzles? Then these gift ideas will be right up their alley.

First, is this simple Math Dice Junior Game. It was even a Toy of the Year Nominee.

Now this one seems simple, but these Plastic Pattern Blocks are super fun for creating everything kids can think of out of shapes.

Want a strategy game that is fun for the whole family? Then check out Blokus. It’s easy to learn the game with various levels of challenges for kids of all ages.

This last math game is perfect for tweens and teens to develop their math skills. Check out Prime Climb and see what the game is all about.

My Favorite STEM Gifts to Give

Here are just a few of the STEM toys that rank as favorites. First is this Klutz LEGO Chain Reactions Kit. Kids will be able to design moving machines using the classic LEGO blocks they love.

The next item is the Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit. It has 30 plus electronic parts that allow kids to make over 100 fun circuit projects.

Next, we have a kit that combines robots and solar power! It’s the CIRO Solar Robot Kit and it has 190 pieces that let kids build 12 different robots. With its solar power component, no batteries are needed!

This next one is a Light-Up Terrarium Kit. I remember making these out of mason jars as a kid and this kit takes it to another level with its light you can turn on at night.

Even More STEM Gift Ideas for Kids

Before you go, make sure you also check out our gift guides that have some great STEM gift ideas too!

Gifts for the Dinosaur-Obsessed Kid

The Ultimate LEGO Gift Guide

Also, we have a fun Christmas STEM Building Challenge using spice drops; as well as a Jelly Bean STEM Building Challenge for spring or Easter.

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Activities for Kids Magical Christmas

Unique Ideas for the Best Experience Gifts for Kids

This epic list of ideas for the Best Experience Gifts for Kids is going to help you find the perfect present for all on your list.

Use these ideas to take the stress away from searching for a gift for the kid who has everything. Simply give the gift of a new experience, adventure, or hobby.

As a bonus, you will have less clutter around your home too. If you fall into the category of having kids who have too many toys, this is a great way to lessen the mess.

Another perk to doing non-toy gifts is that you can be extremely frugal. We have ideas for those Christmases when money is tight or when you simply want to skip the expensive electronics.

If you are on the fence about giving experience gifts, take a peek at our Tips to Make Giving Experience Gifts to Kids a Success. It has tons of helpful information to make sure you are choosing the best experience gift. As well as ideas to make the transition to experience gifts smoother.

The Best Experience Gifts for Kids

There are so many ways that you can gift an experience. You can give the tickets or print out a pamphlet about the event to wrap up for the child. Typically the experience is enough of gift in itself, but occasionally you might want to add an accessory or extra so they have something small to open as well.

The choice is totally up to you, your budget, and what your family has chosen. I will mention extras in the post so that if you do wish to add something you will have handy ideas.

If you don’t want to do any extras with the gift, think about using our printable Christmas Gift Certificate. It has adorable watercolor illustrations & spaces for you to record the gift you are giving!

Now it’s time to get to the experience gifts. Let’s start with the Entertainment Experience Gift Ideas.

Experience Gift Ideas to give to Kids who have Everything

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Entertainment Experience Gift Ideas

There are so many options when it comes to entertainment gifts for kids. However, depending on where you live, like a rural area or in a big city, your options might be very different.

Here are some great ideas to skip the gifts this year, and give your kids a day of being entertained, or even a night out on the town.

CONCERT TICKETS

Do you remember your first concert? Mine was Alabama on vacation in Tennessee and I will never forget it. Let’s just say my first concert was a very patriotic affair! Do some research and see if any of the child’s favorite bands will be in concert near you soon. If you find one, think about gifting it with a Concert Ticket Stub Album.

SYMPHONY TICKETS

Maybe a concert isn’t exactly what you had in mind, but you still want something musical? Symphony tickets are a great compromise. The young music enthusiast on your list would definitely enjoy seeing musicians live on stage. Plus, getting dressed up for the symphony is part of the fun!

A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

Have a movie buff on your list? Give them a night at the movies to see a new flick. Take it a step further and upgrade for the 3D experience, recliner seats, or mega-butter popcorn. If you are wanting to add a little something, check out this Ticket Stub Organizer.

DRIVE-IN MOVIE EXPERIENCE

Depending on where you live, you can put a little twist on a night at the movies and find a local drive-in near you instead.

THEATER TICKETS

One more musical idea would be tickets to the theater. We live close to the Fox Theater and there is nothing more magical than the old grandeur and glitz of theater productions. This blank Theater Journal would be a fun add-on to this gift.

ARCADE EXPERIENCE

Grab your quarters, or better yet see if the Arcade or Gaming Center offers deals if you purchase in advance, and head out for a day of classic fun. From newer electronic games to classics like the claw machine, arcades have a little something for everyone.

A NIGHT AT A HOTEL

This one works really well for whole families: the gift of a hotel stay. Find a hotel with an amazing pool, and possibly other fun things for kids, and book it for a night. Jumping on the beds, staying up late, and junk food for snacks makes this idea one of my kids’ favorites!

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS

This is truly an experience gift for kids that continues to give all year long. Pick a magazine based on their age, interests, or hobbies and gift it easily. Popular ones include:

Highlights for Children

National Geographic for Kids

Sports Illustrated for Kids

HELICOPTER RIDE

As far as experience gifts for kids go, this one flies to the top of the list. Look for a local helicopter company to schedule an adventurous flight. Just make sure the child isn’t deathly afraid of heights.

AMUSEMENT PARK PASSES OR DAY TOGETHER

Do you have a local amusement park that is a hit with your kids? Then think about gifting a day of fun or even a yearly membership.

WATER PARK

This is another fun idea, which works best in the summer of course unless you have an indoor water park near you. Plan a day of one-on-one fun, or make it a family or friends affair.

ZOO

A day at the zoo is a perfectly great gift in itself. But if zoo trips are common for your child, you can think outside the box with this gift. Perhaps purchase a kid’s membership that allows them access to special areas of the zoo. Or add a gift card to the zoo gift shop.

AQUARIUM

The same ideas as the Zoo apply here too. Look into memberships, or maybe even special classes or events occurring at the Aquarium. How cool would a night be camping out at the Aquarium!

CIRCUS & TRAVELING EXHIBITS

Check your local venues for upcoming events that might interest your kids. For example, Monster Jam, Dinosaur Exhibits or the Circus.

MONTHLY BOXES FOR KIDS

There are some really fun subscription boxes out there for kids! A simple google search will help you find ones that apply to your child’s interests, but here are a few ideas:

KiwiCo – STEM, STEAM & Science Kits for Kids 0 to16+

Little Passports – Educational Gift Subscription for Kids 3 to 9+

We Craft Box – Arts & Crafts Activities for Kids 3 to 9

Sports & Active Experience Gifts for Kids

Do you have an athlete on your list? If so, here are the experience gifts for kids that are perfect for the ultimate sports fan!

TRAMPOLINE PARK OR BOUNCE LAND

Check your local trampoline park for specials on memberships or bundles on daily passes.

NINJA WARRIOR COURSES

If you have an adventure-seeking, full of energy kiddo on your list, then definitely look into Ninja Warrior courses. They do make American Ninja Warrior T-shirts that would pair well with this gift.

ROCK CLIMBING

Another fun activity for kids who love to try new things & use their muscles. There are indoor facilities that have climbing walls for various levels of climbers, even specific ones for kids. Gift the experience with this fun National Geographic Kids: Rock Stars Book.

DAY AT THE GOLF COURSE

Grab your golf clubs, or borrow a kids’ set, and head out for a day of fun at a local golf course. Spring for a golf cart rental. It’s not only super fun but will keep everyone from getting exhausted walking a course.

PUTT-PUTT ADVENTURE

Not interested in a day at the golf course? Then think about planning a fun day of putt-putt or mini-golf.

ULTIMATE GOLF

Don’t want to battle the weather at all, but still want a fun golfing adventure? Then look for an ultimate golf experience near you. These are simulated golf ranges, typically with food service too. A great experience gift for the teenagers on your list.

BOWLING

What’s not to love about a fun night of bowling? Check out your local Bowling Alley to see if they have any special events such as Glow in the Dark Bowl. If you have a Dollar Tree store near you they have fun Finger Bowling Sets that would be great for this gift. They are very similar to this Finger Bowling Set.

ICE-SKATING

Whether you bundle up and head to an outdoor rink, or choose an indoor rink, ice skating is the perfect Christmas experience gift.

HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS

Do you have an animal-lover on your list? Think about doing horseback riding lessons as an experience gift.

INDOOR SKYDIVING

They’ve seen the videos on YouTube, now give your child the chance to skydive without actually jumping out of a plane!

TICKETS TO A PROFFESONIAL SPORTING EVENT

Your kids have watched their favorites athletes on tv, but seeing them play in person is like nothing else. Make sure you search through ticket dates for events just for kids. For example, free bobblehead nights or cheaper ticket events.

DAY AT MINOR LEAGUE \ SEMI-PRO GAME

If you have never been to a minor league game then you are truly missing out. The prices are typically much lower and your kids will have a better chance of interacting with players.

COLLEGE EVENTS

If you are lucky enough to have a large University near you, take advantage of their musicals, productions and sporting events.

Also, most colleges offer programs in the summer for children ranging from cooking classes to athletic camps to STEM experiences.

Outdoor Adventure Gifts for the Nature-Loving Kid

The best thing about outdoor adventures as experience gifts for kids is that you can typically keep them frugal. Take advantage of your local city or state parks for the following ideas.

GO ON A CAMPING TRIP

Whether you tent it in the backyard or rent an RV, camping is a right of passage here in the Midwest. A camping trip is a great way to not only explore the outdoors but make family memories too.

SURVIVAL SKILLS CLASS OR ADVENTURE DAY

Perhaps it’s the popular zombie movies or apocalyptic books that are all the rage, but survival skills have never been cooler in my boys’ books. Consider gifting a Survival Skills Camp Experience. Do a simple search to find camps close to your location.

TAKE A HIKING TRIP

Skip your usual quick hikes and plan a full out adventure day of hiking. Perhaps you could go somewhere you’ve never been before, or tackle a place that you thought was too hard in the past.

PLAYGROUND HOP DAY

So what is a Playground Hop Day? It’s when you make a plan to visit every single playground within a certain distance of your home! You pack up the bikes, scooters, skateboards and other park paraphernalia and spend the entire day, or as long as you can last, hopping from one park to the next. Bonus points if you pack the good drinks & snacks!

PICNIC AT THE PARK

While it would be a nice addition to a Playground Hop Day, an elaborate picnic in the park could be a gift all to itself. Make it a big deal with a fun blanket to sit on, yummy finger foods on cool plates, and special desserts. Of course, time playing at the park is included in this gift idea.

A NEW PET… BUT ONLY IF YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT

You want to talk about an experience… give your child their first pet! Start small with a fish or gerbil, or go big and gift the dog of their dreams. Just remember, a word from the wise, this gift will mean a lot of work for not only your child but for you too.

50+ Experience Gift Ideas for Kids at Christmas

Lessons or Membership Gift Ideas for Kids

Encourage your child’s current interests, or perhaps introduce them to something new with lessons or membership gifts.

MUSIC LESSONS

Check with your school music teacher to see about finding music lessons in your area. The options are endless, but piano and guitar lessons seem to be the most common ones available.

THEATER CLASSES

Turn those tween dramatics into something useful with theater or drama lessons. Check with your school, local college, or Art Guild for tips on finding classes for your child.

POTTERY CLASS

If you have a creator in your midst, think about pottery classes to encourage them to be imaginative all while getting their hands dirty.

DANCE CLASSES

If there are nightly break-out dance sessions going on in your home, consider dance class or even a few lessons to encourage your child. Also, dance doesn’t just mean tap, jazz or ballet. Search for other dance options if the above is something you know wouldn’t line up with your child’s dancing moves.

POETRY OR WRITING CLASSES

Writing is a powerful tool and providing writing classes as a gift for kids will go along way in helping them not only in school but in life too. Look for creative writing classes that cover a wide range of topics, or one that focuses solely on your child’s interests. There are tons of writing journals for kids that would work great with this gift.

MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP OR DAY PASS

If you are lucky enough to have a Museum near you, purchase an annual membership for the child. Or, see if they offer any children’s programs that you could give as a gift.

CHILD’S MUSEUM / PLAYHOUSE MEMBERSHIP

As with regular museums, look into the programs available from any local children’s museum or playhouse.

SWIM LESSONS

If you are planning a big trip around water or simply wanting to keep a little one safe, swim lessons are a great experience gift. It’s a valuable life skill to learn, along with opening a door into so many other fun experiences. Give them a fun pair of swim goggles or a beach towel to go with their swim lessons.

COOKING LESSONS

Not only is this a fun gift for the future chef or baker, but it’s also a great way to teach some kitchen-based life skills. Make this gift even better by also planning a special night for them to showcase their special skills for you or their family. Giving them a fun children’s cooking book or apron with this gift would be perfect.

Creative Experience Gift Ideas for Kids

Do you have a crafty or creative kid on your list? Consider giving them a gift that lets them explore that creative side even more.

SCRAPBOOK OF AN ADVENTURE

This is a great gift idea for older tween or teens who love photography. Gift them a scrapbook of their past adventures. For example, you could scrap their athletic events, school functions, or just general life.

SUPPLIES TO MAKE THEIR OWN SCRAPBOOK

If the idea of making a scrapbook isn’t for you, then give the items that they would need to do it themself. You could give them an album kit, colorful paper, fun pens, & accessories like stencils.

ULTIMATE CRAFT SUPPLIES KIT

If you have a craft lover think about finding local craft classes. If those aren’t available you could gift an awesome craft kit.

Frugal Gift Ideas for Kids

If you are wanting to keep your experience gifts frugal, then these experience gifts for kids are perfect for you.

SLEEPOVER/ SLUMBER PARTY

If the child doesn’t live with you give them a sleepover at your house. Or, offer to let your child have a slumber party with all of their friends. Keep it frugal by making frozen pizzas and serving ice cream or cookies. Bonus points if you send any siblings to Grandmas for the night.

MOVIE NIGHT KIT

Going to the movies can be super expensive, so gifting a fun movie night at home is much easier on the pocketbook. Simply hit up Redbox and let your child pick out a movie of their choice. Then make popcorn & serve it in fun popcorn boxes to really set the mood. If you don’t mind spending a little more, gifting a CraveBox is a fun addition to any movie night!

ICE CREAM DATE TICKET

This is my favorite gift for Aunts and Uncles or family friends to gift to my boys. It’s simple, but one-on-one time to go eat ice cream is a hit in our home.

COFFEE AND BOOK STORE DAY

Have a bookworm on your list? This Book Store Day is an easy way to spend some time together with your favorite little reader. Make it even better with a special coffee or hot chocolate while you look through all the glorious books.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT

Take a Family Game Night to the next level by making it a huge competition. Use poster board to make a Leader Board and keep track of who wins as you play various games. Load up on snacks & sweets & you have a perfect gift for the gamer kiddo.

THRIFT STORE SHOPPING SPREE

Take the kid who loves shopping for a thrift store shopping spree. Give them a set limit and let them enjoy searching for treasures.

A few more Christmas Ideas

Hopefully, you found the perfect gift! Take a peek at a few of our other fun Christmas ideas below:

Easy Ways to Save Money at Christmas

Christmas Eve Traditions for Kids

If you are in need of a fun Christmas Activity check out our Spice Drop STEM Challenge. Or an easy Christmas Game – Christmas Catch.

Also, sign up for our email newsletter below. You’ll be the first to learn about all of our free printables for kids, along with our productivity hacks for busy moms.

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Magical Christmas

Fun Elf on the Shelf Accessories & Clothes Ideas

Do you know what makes your Elf on the shelf even more fun? Having a few Elf on the Shelf Accessories to make those funny ideas & antics just a little bit better.

There’s something that makes an Elf seem more believable when he’s rocking a jersey while playing with your kids’ football guys! Or how about wearing a sparkly dress while playing Barbies?

Keep reading to see all of the fun Elf on the Shelf Accessories & clothes to take your Elf to the next level.

Also, if you are struggling with keeping up with your Elf, check out our Elf on the Shelf Survival Plan for Busy Moms. It has 4 easy steps to help you take charge of all the Elf duties like remembering to move him!

Or maybe you wish you had a way to organize all of your Elf ideas? If so, make sure you take a peek at our free printable Elf on the Shelf Calendar. It’s an easy way to keep track of all your Elf plans.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Elf on the Shelf Clothing

I remember when the Elf on the Shelf was a new concept and he simply moved from one spot in our house to the next. Over the years he has become something so much more.

One big thing is that you can now find tons of Elf on the Shelf clothes. There is everything from fishing gear to bathrobes.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Jingle Jam Hoodie & Headphones

North Pole Rock & Role

Sweater Set with Switchable Decals

Sometimes you can even find “sets” of outfits for your Elf. Occasionally buying a set can let you find an outfit that is no longer easily available. Or it can be a way to save a little on purchasing outfits for your Elf.

These two both have outfits from previous years:

Elf on the Shelf 2019 Accessory Pack

Elf on the Shelf Outfits

There are so many fun outfits for your Elf. They seem to release outfits yearly, so as mentioned, a few have become hard to find. However, here are a few still available:

Elf on the Shelf Accessories

Using Elf on the Shelf Accessories is another fun and easy way to make your kids’ eyes light up when they find your Elf.

Like the clothes, there are really fun options like this sleeping bag below. We have it and our Elf tends to use it to take a nap under our Christmas tree.

Elf Sleeping Bag & Teddy Bear Set

Fishing Set & Hut

Elf on the Shelf Pets

Did you know that there are also Elf on the Shelf Buddies? These are fun animals that are the perfect companions to your little red visitor.

In our home, these pets are touchable, unlike the Elf, so it makes not being able to handle the Elf a little easier.

St. Bernard Pet

Reindeer

Arctic Fox

A few more things to make the Elf Easier

There are a few other miscellaneous items that can make all your Elf ideas easier to pull off.

My favorite is the Elf Flex, which you use to make your Elf bendable and flexible. It does take a little work to do, but it makes posing your Elf so much easier.

Another is the Elves at Play Paper Crafts. This is a paper craft book that you can use to create 3D Elf Scenes.

There you go! You now have a ton of options to choose for making your Elf just a little bit merrier this Christmas.

Make sure you check out our free printable Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt Cards too! They are blank so you can write in what works for your home and for your kids ages!

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Activities for Kids Thanksgiving

Free Printable Thanksgiving Word Scramble for Kids

We have the easiest way for you to entertain the kids this Thanksgiving! It’s our free printable Thanksgiving Word Scramble.

It’s the perfect quiet time worksheet for large groups of children in a classroom setting. Or it works well as a fun learning printable at home.

Make sure you also check out our other free Thanksgiving printables for kids! We have a Thanksgiving Tic Tac Toe Game Sheet, as well as our Turkey Coloring Page.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Uses for the printable Thanksgiving Word Scramble

There are tons of ways to use the Thanksgiving Word Scramble. My plan is to use it in my son’s second-grade class, but that doesn’t mean first graders or even middle school children won’t enjoy it.

Here are a few suggestions on ways to use the printable:

IN THE CLASSROOM

This printable would make a fun Thanksgiving activity for kids in the classroom. It would also work great as an activity to send home over the holiday weekend.

If the printable being in color is a concern, simply change your printer settings to black and white before you print & copy it.

A FUN LEARNING ACTIVITY AT HOME

The holidays are a busy time and having handy activities around the house can be perfect for giving you a few minutes to get things completed. Print out a word scramble and offer it up to your kids when you need to catch up on your holiday to-do list.

Also, if you home school, this Thanksgiving activity page is a fun way to change up your normal routine & celebrate the season.

AT YOUR THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS

Do you have tons of kids at your holiday celebrations? Then using fun Thanksgiving games and printables is a great way to keep them entertained.

Use our free Thanksgiving printables, a few boxes of crayons or markers, and you have a fun kids table all ready to go!

You could also add to your kids’ table a few pre-made Thanksgiving craft kits, like these below. The scratch-off cards are my favorite. There is something fun about scraping away and making a beautiful design appear!

USE THE PRINTABLE WHILE TRAVELING

If you have travel plans, then this makes for a great addition to your child’s travel binder. If you don’t have a binder, simply print out a few Thanksgiving activities and place them on a clipboard. Finally, attach a marker with a string to avoid losing it and you are set!

Here’s the Word Scramble

Before you print out the worksheet, we do have one more Thanksgiving printable that is perfect for older children and especially adults.

Take a look at our Count Your Blessings printable to use during the holiday season.

Simply click the download button below to open the worksheet.

Thanksgiving word scramble Download

Before you go…

One last thing before you go enjoy your holidays! Sign up for our email newsletter below so you’ll always know about our upcoming free printables, hacks for moms and so much more!

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Magical Christmas

Tips to make Giving Experience Gifts to Kids a Success

Have you made the decision this year that instead of toys you are going to be giving experience gifts to kids instead?

As the gadgets and gizmos pile up, it becomes a question a lot of people, parents particularly, begin to ponder.

So maybe this is the year you have made the decision and are ready to take the plunge at either ditching the traditional gifts all together or just really scaling back on them to give more experiences instead.

Either way, this quick list of tips and hacks is going to help you successfully give an experience gift. If you need some ideas for experience gifts, check out our list of 50+ Experience Gift Ideas for Kids. It has ideas for kids with all kinds of interests: sports, arts, theater, adventures & more!

These ideas will work well no matter if you are the parent giving the gift, or the cool aunt, uncle, grandma, etc.

Tips for Giving Experience Gifts to Kids

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Tips & Hacks to Make Giving Experience Gifts Easier

It sounds appealing to switch out the long store lines for a day of fun with your favorite little one.

However, there are a few things you need to consider. Therefore, before you jump right in and purchase those tickets or season passes make sure you take a peek at our suggestions.

Let’s break it down below and discuss everything you need to think about before going the experience gift route.

Check with the Parentals

Thinking about taking your nephew zip-lining or sky diving? Check-in first and make sure that any super adventurous plans are ok with the parents. Yes, it sounds amazing and yes, it might be the gift of a lifetime. However, if you are shot down by the parents after giving it, it’s no longer an amazing gift.

Talking with parents can also give you ideas if you are struggling to think of some of your own. They are the ones who are going to know that their child has been dying to do a pottery class. Or that the kid on your list just isn’t a fan of the Zoo.

If you are the Parents

If experience gifts are going to be something new for your children there is going to need to be a little prep work done.

Simple conversations with your kids about the transition away from piles of presents under the tree, to making memories on adventures, will need to occur.

A transition might be the best word since you might want to not take away all the gifts the first year. But slowly work your ways towards less under the tree to more experiences for everybody.

Are you making Time with You part of the Gift?

There are tons of experience gifts for kids; we could list them for days! But before you find the perfect idea take a minute to think about whether your time will be part of the experience.

Are you thinking more along the lines of an experience for the child to do all year long? Like a membership to a Discovery Playhouse that they could use frequently.

Or are you thinking of a kind of Buddy Day Adventure with you and the child?

Perhaps you could even combine them both by using the membership for the first time with the child!

Check the Date of Events

Planning on doing a trip to the theater to see a play? Then make sure you find a date that works for your companion kiddo.

Or maybe you are planning a trip to the pop-up ice skating rink in your town? Double-check that the venue you are hoping to make an experience will still be available after Christmas.

The point of checking the date is to make sure your experience gift will work from a calendar perspective.

You simply don’t want to plan a trip on a date that won’t work for the child. There would be a lot of sadness to receive a gift and then not be able to enjoy it.

Consider the Likes & Age of the Child

Make sure you are keeping the child’s interest in mind. This means not gifting your toddler nephew who still naps an all-day adventure rock climbing.

Plan your day accordingly, so that everyone has fun, but doesn’t become too exhausted. This way you don’t have a tantrum-waiting-to-happen exhausted child at the end of the day.

Also, your first time gifting an experience might not be the time to try and take young children outside of their comfort zones.

You might also consider that it isn’t the time to try and convince them that they really would enjoy something if they give it a chance.

Waiting on those types of things for after you have established your adventures together might mean they trust the process more, as well as you, and will be more willing to give it a chance.

The Distance You Will Need to Travel

There is nothing that puts a damper on an exciting adventure, then having to drive forever to get there. Can we say, “Are we there yet?”

Even if something seems perfect for the child, don’t try to squeeze an overnighter into a one-day round trip. Unless you really know the child can handle it.

My oldest could sleep and read for a long drive and be perfectly fine. His 5-year-old little brother, not so much. So when giving experience gifts to kids, make sure you consider the drive or travel time involved.

Do a Little Prep Work

Are you planning an adventure that will require some gear or specific items? If so, ask in advance if the child will have any of the items they might need. For example, appropriate shoes to go hiking or a nice dress to wear to the theater.

If you aren’t prepared to make these part of your gift, avoid pushing this responsibility off on the parents.

Now, if the parents are willing to make these needed items part of Christmas, then totally go for it.

Multiple Kids? One Experience or Individual Events

Did you think this one through? Are you going to do experience gifts for all the kids? Do you have a plan for this?

Maybe you could make experience gifts something special once they reach a certain age? Or maybe everyone gets one experience to themselves with Mom & Dad?

Or maybe you decide to do family experience gifts! It’s your family, your Christmas traditions, and your budget, so create a plan that is personalized with what works for you.

How to Wrap & Give the Gifts

One last little tidbit of knowledge when it comes to giving experience gifts to kids.

Go ahead and wrap up or put in an envelope the tickets, a note, anything. This way they will still get to unwrap a package.

If you aren’t sure what exactly you could wrap up, try using our printable Christmas Gift Certificate. It’s full of fun watercolor graphics and has spaces for you to write the experience gift!

Or we have a black and white Christmas certificate perfect for gifting those experience gifts!

That’s how you make giving experience gifts to kids a success

Hopefully, the tips and tricks above will help you make your adventures and fun days out go smoothly. Do you have any tips for planning experience gifts? Please share them below in the comments so we can benefit from your expertise.

Don’t’ forget about our Experience Gifts Ideas too!

If you’ve got to this point and are thinking maybe the experience gift thing isn’t for you, or just need a few filler ideas, check out our other gift guides too.

We have LEGO, Dinosaur, and Football Gift Guides for kids. I’m officially a #boymom over here if you can’t tell by the topics of the gift guides.

Also, don’t forget to sign up below for our newsletter. You’ll be the first to know about all of our free printables, mom hacks, productivity tips for the busy mama, and so much more!

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