Big, Experience and Subscription Gifts for Kids and Teens

It’s so common to give experiences rather than gifts for Christmas. I’m all for it – and there are some good ideas! Here’s a great combo of big, experience and subscription gifts for kids.

Experience gifts for kids are becoming more and more popular to give. Sometimes the “stuff” associated with Christmas can be overwhelming, so try some experiences instead!

Experience Gifts for Kids:

• Kiwi Co
  • This is a great experience gift for kids! It’s a monthly box that’s full of fun and educational projects and activities. My boys have had a subscription to it for years and it’s still like Christmas morning every time it shows up. Use code MERRICK for 30% off your first month!
• Table Talk.
  • This is a really fun box of table conversation cards that the whole family can enjoy. I’ve seen things like this, but honestly, these ones are actually really good questions! We’ve been using them for a few months and the conversations that spark because of them are fantastic!
• Bowling gift certificate.
  • Everyone loves a bowling night, and it’s perfect for a family with children of any age! Find a place your kids or teens love going to and get them a gift card to go with friends!
• Savvy Reading
  • If your child is learning to read or is falling behind as a reader, Savvy Reading is an online reading class with live teachers. My 5 year old does it and in six months he’s gone from only knowing his letters to completely reading! It would be a great gift to give your child. Click here and it’ll give you 10% off at checkout!
• Netflix or Disney+ Subscription.
  • If they don’t have one already, this would be a great gift that they’ll use constantly!
• Movie theater tickets and candy.
  • If your kids love the movie theater, pack them some snacks they can stow away in a purse, and tickets to a matinee!
• Museum pass.
  • Choose a museum, aquarium, zoo, local pool, or something similar in their area and get them an annual pass or a day pass for the whole family!
• Scratch off the family travel map.
  • These are so cool for families who love to travel. It’s a piece of art and also an interactive activity for the whole family!
• A Night at Top Golf
  • Teens and kids love Top Golf – it makes for the perfect family outing. You can give your kids or teens a gift card to use!
• JackBox.TV Party Pack
  • QuipLash and other JackBox.TV games are such a fun family night activity. Any family would enjoy playing digital games all year long!
• Build a bear gift certificate
  • Go together and build the bear in the store.
• Bubble soccer
  • Have you seen these? They’re hilarious and so fun. Find a local place that does them and then buy a gift certificate!
• Monster Jam
  • Find when the monster jam is coming to town and get your kids tickets for it!
• Nitro Circus Tickets 
  • Any thrill-loving kid would love getting tickets to see these daredevils in person!

EXPERIENCE GIFTS FOR TEENS:

• Indoor Sky Diving
  • Find a local place and get them a pass!
• Laser Tag
  • Kids and teens would love this — find a local place and get a gift card or a pass so they can take their friends
• Escape Room
  • Find a local place, or create your own at home! I have a Harry Potter themed one I put together for B’s 10th birthday– all the details are right here.
• Top Golf Gift Card
  • Top Golf is a really fun place for teens to hang out, eat, and play golf. A gift card for them to go with their friends would be a great gift.
• Mini Golf Gift Card
  • We all love mini golfing — a gift card to your local place would also be a good gift.
• Guitar Lessons
  • Every girl loves a boy who can play the guitar! This would be a fun gift for guys OR for girls.
• Go Kart Racing Gift Card
  • Another fun experience gift – get a gift card big enough for him or her to take a friend or two!
• Fast Food Gift Card
  • Nothing better when you’re a teen than to not have to pay for your meals!
• Gas Gift Card
  • Every driver will appreciate this!
• Concert Tickets
  • Teens love music!
• Door Dash Gift Card
  • What teen wouldn’t love to grab delivery for their friends during a hangout?

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT |NINE | TEN 

Kids Subscription

• • KIWI CO BOXES
    
    • This is a great experience gift for kids! It’s a monthly box that’s full of fun and educational projects and activities. My boys have had a subscription to it for years and it’s still like Christmas morning every time it shows up. Use code MERRICK for 30% off your first month!
  • Other Educational Subscription Boxes
    • Little http://www.kiwico.com/merricksartPassports: Ages 3-13, a box about travel and exploration.
    • GoBox: Ages 9+, A monthly robot building kit
    • KidStir: Ages 5-10, Fun cooking kits just for kids
    • BitsBox: Ages 6-14, Teaching computer science and coding
    • Pipsticks: Ages 1-100, a monthly box of fun stickers. They have a kid’s box or an adult box!
• MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
  • This is a great gift that keeps giving because they get a new one every month! I recommend ordering now because usually the first issue doesn’t come for a month or two.
  • For little kids, Highlights, High Five Magazine, Ranger Rick Jr., and Lego Life Magazine (this one is free!).
• SAVVY READING
  • This is a seriously fun online reading class with live tutors. It’s 4 days a week with classes of 4 kids or less, and is super interactive as you learn to read. It’s geared to children 4-12. In six months my five year old has gone from only knowing his letters to completely reading! It would be a great gift to give your child. Click here and it’ll give you 10% off at checkout!
• REVOLUTION MATH CLASS
  • This is an online class that makes math super fun! If your kid loves math or hates math this is the perfect class for them. Class sizes are small, it’s all done over video chat, and your first month is only $5 right here!
• CLASSES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
  • Doesn’t it sound like a blast to take lessons altogether? How about art? Or cooking? Or maybe dance! This would be a really fun gift if your children were older and married.
• JUMP PARK PASS
  • This would be a great gift for kids and tweens. Jump parks are a great way to be social and get energy out!
• PUZZLE SUBSCRIPTION
  • Such a great gift for young kids. Would be perfect for a grandparent to give to a grandkid!
• IPSY SUBSCRIPTION
  • What a perfect gift for teenagers! IPSY bags have sample sizes of skincare and makeup. Would be great for a teen girl getting into makeup!
• RADDISH COOKING CLUB
  • If you have kids who love to explore in the kitchen, this is the perfect subscription box for them. All their meals are easy to follow and kid-friendly!
• STRONG SELFIE BOX
  • This is a box tailored to tween and teen girls that deliver monthly gifts and inspiration that teach teen girls that they are enough!

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN | ELEVEN | TWELVE | THIRTEEN | FOURTEEN | FIFTEEN | SIXTEEN

Big and Exciting Gift Ideas for Kids + Teens:

• Ice Cream maker.
  • I LOVE making homemade ice cream with my family. This is a great gift that everyone will benefit from! I have this maker and it’s fantastic.
• Family Video Game.
  • A new game is a fun gift that will bring the family together for a fun night! Super popular ones are Just Dance, Super Mario, and we got Donkey Kong a few years ago and we LOVE it.
• TEEPEE TENT
  • A teepee tent is a perfect place for imaginations to run wild. This one with feathers and twinkle lights is my childhood dreams come true.
• BACKYARD PLAYGROUND SWINGSET or TREEHOUSE
  • We bought this for the boys for Christmas last year, and it has been a huge source of fun for the last year. I did a post all about our research HERE.
• BASKETBALL HOOP:
  • Such a good fun gift for those sports-loving kids! There is also a little kid version!
• TRAMPOLINE:
  • My in-laws bought a trampoline for my sister-in-law’s family a few years ago and she said it’s the best family gift they’ve ever received. Endless entertainment for everyone! Or try a mini trampoline if you want to avoid any possible broken bones or you don’t have space.
• AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS
  • Getting my American Girl Doll when I was little was maybe the best Christmas ever. They’re such special dolls! They also have a much more affordable version (under $25!) here!
• SURPRISE FAMILY TRIP:
  • These are my favorite kind of Christmas gifts. “Guess what? We’re leaving on a family trip tomorrow!” Even if you can’t go big, it would be so fun to plan a staycation at a local hotel or a camping trip!
• PLAY KITCHEN
  • I loved play kitchens when I was little, and now there are so many really really cute ones. I love this white vintage one!
• MUSICAL INSTRUMENT & LESSONS.
  • Has your kid been wanting to learn the guitar? Surprise them with a guitar and a year of lessons!
• OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
  • Rollerblades, Ice Skates, Soccer Goals, Hula Hoops, Tennis Rackets, Bikes, Scooters, etc.
    • Our favorite scooters for little kids are the Micro Scooters, but these are a similar style for much less!
    • We also really recommend Strider Bikes for an introductory bike — they’re the best!
    • Oh, and PlasmaCars are fun too!
• CLASSES:
  • dance, cooking, sewing, cake decorating, woodworking, art, anything! This would be fun to do with your child too — I took a cake decorating class at Michael’s Craft Store with my dad in high school and loved it!
• TICKETS TO AN EVENT.
  • I mentioned this above, but tickets to a concert, the movie theater, a musical or play, a sporting event, etc would be so fun as a big final gift.
• BOUNCE HOUSE
  • A small bounce house would be so fun to inflate inside the playroom or in the backyard! Your little kids would love it.
• LASER TAG SET.
  • This is a fun gift idea if you have older kids. How fun would it be to turn off all the lights in your house and play laser tag at night with your siblings???
• AIR HOCKEY TABLE
  • My kids would love this!
• A TRIP TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (WITH HARRY POTTER LAND)
  • Reveal this big gift by having a “Hogwarts Letter” addressed to each of your kiddos. Would that not be so cool?
• CAMPING GEAR.
  • Sleeping bags and a tent would be so fun to give, and then start planning your next
• AN OVERNIGHT STAY AT THE GREAT WOLF LODGE.
  • This is a cool hotel with an indoor water park. There are slides to go down, pools to swim in, activities to do. Your kids will love it!
• DIRT BIKES, FOUR WHEELERS, or GO KARTS.
  • For the outdoorsy kind of family, this would be a great idea. Have them set up in the garage, or in the driveway so you can get dressed and go ride them on Christmas day!
• SKIS.
  • Another great idea — you could also do a ski pass gift!
• SEASON TICKETS to a local sports team.
  • Great for the family that loves a local team, if they’re allowing spectators next year! Give them team jerseys or hats to announce the gift!
• A PING PONG or FOOSBALL TABLE.
  • This would be another fun one to have set up and ready to play. Put some big bows on the ping pong paddles!
• STEP2 EXTREME ROLLER COASTER.
  • These are so fun for little kids!
• NUGGET COUCH.
  • I’d never heard of these Nugget Couches but they’re so cool! My boys would love to build them in different shapes to create a fort or a boat or a slide!
• A NEW PET!
  • I love the idea of giving them a book about caring for the pet to clue them in. My parents did this for my little sister when she was young – she got a book about cats and it had a note that told her to go look in the garage. A tiny kitten was waiting for her in a little kennel!
• INSTRUMENT
  • It would be so special to give your child a violin, guitar, trumpet, or flute for Christmas.
• SCOOTER RAMP
  • This scooter ramp would be so fun for your backyard or driveway and works for scooters, bikes, and skateboards.
• BEDDY’S BED!
  • These are zippered bedspreads that let your kid make their bed perfectly in like 10 seconds. They’re GENIUS. Seriously, the best gift for kids and moms. Also, they’d be amazing for older kids going off to college — maybe they’ll actually make their bed in college! (Use code MERRICK20 for 20% off!)
• A DOLLHOUSE.
  • There are so many cute ones out there. Target has a bunch of affordable ones!
• BIG LEGO SET.
  • This is a very obvious choice for my kids. LEGO makes so many big sets, so the hardest part is deciding which one to get.
• KEYBOARD PIANO.
  • This would be a really fun one for someone learning to play!
• TRAIN SET AND TABLE
  • A little boys’ dream! This wooden train is really cool looking and is a great price. But this train table comes with train pieces if you want the table!
• A DRUM SET 
  • Or gift them another musical instrument – whichever instrument they play.
• AIR PODS.
  • This is a great one for teenagers if there is anyone out there who doesn’t own air pods yet (raises hand…)
• A BEDROOM MAKEOVER.
  • This is a great idea for tweens and teens who need a bedroom refresh! A little paint, some wallpaper, a new bedding set, and you’re good to go!
• A NICE PAIR OF BOOTS.
  • Perfect, practical winter gift. Snow boots, Ugg boots, or Hunter boots would be perfect.
• NICE CAMERA.
  • Such a good gift for a child who’s into photography or a kid graduating soon and heading off to college.
• GOLF CLUBS.
  • We got clubs for each of the boys for their birthdays this year. These golf clubs are the ones we bought for our boys and they’re of great quality.
• APPLE WATCH.
  • An Apple Watch would be a great one for a tween or teenager!
• GABB WIRELESS PHONE
  • If you’re not quite ready for your kid to have a phone, the Gabb phone is a great starter phone. No games, no apps, no social media, not even picture texts. Just regular texts, calls, a calendar, a calculator, and an alarm. All the essentials, none of the garbage. They’re 50% off with code MERRICK during November! Also they have watches (we have one for our 11 year old) and they’re 50% off too this month. I have a full review of the Gabb watch right here.

SEE ALL OF MY GIFT GUIDES FOR KIDS