No idea what to get them? Experience gifts are the answer

If you’re struggling to find a gift for the person who has everything, or if you’re just looking for a super unique option, experience gifts are the way to go. Why? Because even if they have every single thing on your list of possible ideas, you really can’t go wrong with something for them to do.

Experience gifts are totally customizable. You pick the place, the adventure, the theme, and these 11 websites let you create the perfect gift for your loved ones. Whether it’s a spa experience, a ride in a racecar, virtual classes, or mystery picnics, there’s literally something for everyone—kids included. Some options send vouchers straight to their email, and others allow you to pick out physical packaging so they have something to open, if you prefer. Plus, you’re able to select your recipient’s location, so you can check out availability before you buy. No matter what your favorite people are into, there’s definitely some fabulous experiences packed into these websites. Take a look at our favorite picks.

Giftory

Giftory

Giftory lets you book by location (including virtual/from home). You select the gift, then the recipient receives a voucher that allows them to pick the date and time of their experience. Pick from cocktail classes, hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours, sunset cruises, Porsche driving, and even baking with the stars of the Great British Baking Show virtual masterclass (shown above).

Giftory—Shop Here!

Xperience Gifts

Xperience Gifts

Candle making classes, axe throwing, cat yoga, and stock car ride-alongs (pictured) are all available across the country with Xperience Gifts.

Xperience Gifts—Shop Here!

Virgin Experience Gifts

Virgin Experience Gifts

Virgin Experience Gifts include in-person experiences as well as virtual options. Zombie scavenger hunts, bungee jumping, horseback riding, and spa experiences are all potential gifts (including an ARTECHOUSE Immersive Art Experience in NYC, pictured here).

Virgin Experience Gifts—Shop Here!

Cozymeal

Cozymeal

In-person or virtually, Cozymeal experiences are perfect for foodies. Classes, private chefs, food tours—whatever your favorite home chef or aspiring cook could dream up, it's on Cozymeal.

Cozymeal—Shop Here!

Wonderbox

Wonderbox

We're big fans of how Wonderbox packages their experience gifts—these cute boxes hold the key to weekend getaways, Broadway shows, holiday-based experiences—all across the country. Plus, Wonderbox lets the recipients choose how they want to use their vouchers.

Wonderbox—Shop Here!

ClassBento

ClassBento

Fused glass? Macrame? Ceramics, acting classes, and calligraphy. ClassBento is all about creative classes and workshops for the artists in your life.

ClassBento—Shop Here!

Groupon

Groupon

You know Groupon is one of the best places to save on local outings, so why wouldn't it also be a great place to pick gifts out for the holidays? Escape rooms, restaurants, amusement parks, and more. Just pick the location of your recipiant and select 'Give as a Gift' under 'Add to Cart'.

Groupon—Shop Here!

AmazingCo

AmazingCo

Add a little mystery to your experience gifts with AmazingCo's mystery picnics (for couples, friends, and families), or pick from challenge parties, game-a-palooza, sip and solve events, and more.

AmazingCo—Shop Here!

Tinggly

Tinggly

From spa packages to classes and workshops, sightseeing cruises and bike tours, Tinggly has everyone covered. Each individual experience 'collection' has a ton of options for your recipients to pick from, plus we're not mad at the cute packaging.

Tinggly—Shop Here!

Classpop!

Classpop!

Gifting a new skill is the present that keeps on giving. Classpop! lets you choose from pottery classes, art classes, dance classes, and more. Classes are offered in over 70 cities nationwide.

Classpop!—Shop Here!

Uncommon Experiences by Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods

One of our favorite destinations for unique gifts, Uncommon Goods offers a whole page of giftable 'Uncommon Experiences'. Each gift comes with the supplies for an upcoming class, with multiple dates and times to choose from.

Uncommon Experiences by Uncommon Goods—Buy Here!

 

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

It’s no secret that a mobile baby is a busy baby, and a busy baby is a happy baby. But if the crawling, creeping and scooting hasn’t yet begun, there are still plenty of ways to engage with your little one—and have a little fun yourself. Here are our favorite ideas for infant games you can play with your stationary sweetie.

1. Bubble Blowout

Something about the rainbow swirls and fanciful movements are endlessly alluring for babies and grown-ups alike. An inexpensive bottle of bubbles—or the homemade variety, if you prefer—will keep your mini-me fixated and, depending on age, may allow your child to exercise hand-eye coordination, too, as he tries to grasp at the floating orbs.

2. Song Sesh

There are plenty of studies showing that babies recognize and respond to human voices—especially their mama—but did you know that researchers have found that babies can hear and remember music even while in the womb? And that they enjoy concerts as much as their parents? It’s no surprise, then, that songs (especially when sung by mom!) are a sure thing when it comes to entertaining your wee one.

While lullabies are great for setting the mood for bedtime, more upbeat tempos are better at keeping baby amused during wakeful hours. To really capture your little one’s attention, choose interactive songs that include motions or silly sounds. (Think: sneezing, animal sounds, or surprise responses, like “peek-a-boo!”) Make up the lyrics as you go, or stick with tried-and-true classics like “Wheels on the Bus” or “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

Related: Your Month-By-Month Guide to Activities During Baby’s First Year

3. Fancy Footwork

Babies who haven’t mastered the art of being on the move just yet still do plenty of kicking and squirming. Keep your squirmy worm endlessly entertained by tying a helium balloon to their foot. Your baby will love watching the colorful balloon bounce above them in response to their movements, and you’ll love watching this newfound excitement.

photo: regina_zulauf via Pixabay 

4. Head Outdoors

Let’s be real. There’s only so much excitement that can happen indoors. A simple change of scenery can do wonders in keeping a non-mobile baby entertained, and getting outside your usual four walls into the fresh air and sunshine can soothe even the crankiest infant. Get in a few minutes of tummy time by positioning baby on the edge of a blanket to explore the grass. Or simply lay back together and watch the leaves swaying peacefully in the wind or the clouds floating by.

5. Master Mimicry

While the jury is still out on how early babies can mimic adult gestures, expressions, and sounds, what we do know is that infants benefit from intentional face-to-face interaction at every age. Bond with your baby by focusing on maintaining eye-to-eye contact (that means putting that distracting smartphone aside!) and exchanging facial expressions, such as sticking out your tongue, wrinkling your nose, or showing various emotions, from surprise to sadness. These interactions will not only result in cognitive benefits for baby, but you’ll both enjoy the intentional one-on-one time.

Related: 10 Games to Encourage Baby’s First Words

6. Picture Perfect

If you’ve had your fill of reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear for the day, give baby a mini art tour through your own home. Carry baby around and show them the photographs or paintings that grace your walls. If you have family pictures or portraits, tell baby about the people in the photo. If abstract art is more your thing, point out the colors and shapes.

7. Hands On

There’s a reason why simple games like “This Little Piggie” elicit baby smiles and giggles over and over again. Combining the cadence of rhymes with physical interaction is a guaranteed win when it comes to keeping little ones amused. Our favorites include actions that point to baby’s body parts (eyes, nose, fingers, feet, tummy), and offer a gentle tickle where appropriate. If you need a refresher course on rhymes, a simple Google search for “action rhymes for babies” will offer lots of inspiration.

Christmas decorating spikes dopamine, which makes you feel good

The tree. The tinsel. The teeny tiny blinking lights that adorn your windows. Christmas decor is an annual reminder of the joy and excitement that jolly ol’ St. Nick brings.

Even though Halloween is still more than one month away, you’ve already got Christmas on the brain. If you find yourself sketching a green and red lighting design or dragging the plastic Santa’s out of storage, don’t worry—some experts say early decorating can actually make you happier.

“It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness,” Psychologist Deborah Serani tells TODAY. “I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the normal day in, day out … signals our senses, and then our senses measure if it’s pleasing or not.”

Paige Cody/Unsplash

Thank you, dopamine, a feel-good hormone that’s increased as you hang the colorful lights and sip hot cocoa. But it’s not just the sights and sounds, it’s the good memories that bring an extra level of happiness.

“Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement,” Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told British website Unilad. “So putting up those Christmas decorations early extend the excitement!”

Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author, echoed this sentiment to Unilad. “The holiday season stirs up a sense of nostalgia. Nostalgia helps link people to their personal past and it helps people understand their identity. For many putting up Christmas decorations early is a way for them to reconnect with their childhoods.”

Matthew Henry/Burst

But do we decorate for more than just our own internal motivations? Or perhaps do we slap up the Santas and reindeer to get approval from others?

The Journal of Environmental Psychology looked into how people “may use holiday decorations on their home’s exterior to communicate friendliness and cohesiveness with neighbors.” Participants in a study responded to photos of decorated versus non-decorated homes and whether or not they had the appearance of a home with friendly residents.

Overall, researchers reported that respondents ranked decorated homes as having inhabitants that are more sociable and cohesive with the community, while homes without decor were thought of as nonsociable.

Regardless of your motivations, its definitely a fact that decorating puts you in a happy mood. So why not drag out that fake Christmas tree for a few extra months of joy?

Christmas is so much. It’s busy, it’s loud, it’s joyful, it’s frustrating, it’s a lot. I love it though. I love it for religious reasons, I love being with family, I love yummy treats, and I love presents. I get so caught up in it.

I have so many deep-seated memories when it comes to Christmas that I want to recreate them for my kids. I want them to have it all and sometimes I forget to slow down.

My five-year-old son Johnny is on the autism spectrum and is a sensory seeker. This often slows us down. He wants to stop and touch everything. He touches the walls, grass, everything on the shelves at the store, he’s been known to lay on the ground in public and rub his hand over whatever is below him. He appreciates the little things, he feels and sees the world through the smallest details.

I often get sad he doesn’t get excited about Christmas in the traditional ways. He likes it. He likes to say “Santa” and sing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” but when it comes to the actual day he’s not a big fan.

Johnny doesn’t love hustle and bustle. He’s not big on people coming and going. It’s a loud day with too many expectations. He’s not big on Christmas morning, because he knows he’ll have to sit through opening presents, one of his least favorite things.

This year though instead of pushing the things children usually enjoy on him I’ve been celebrating through him. Watching how he enjoys all the small things.

Johnny examines every branch on the tree. He touches and feels each ornament. He lays under the tree and takes it all in. His favorite thing to do is watch the toy train go around and around the tree.

He loves decorations. Especially the big tacky ones I can’t stand, he knows where all the inflatables are in the neighborhood. He stares out the window and looks at all the beautiful lights on people’s houses. He loves his grandmother’s little nativity set and listing all the major players.

He loves snow. When we get that first heavy snow with the big flakes he and I go stand outside and watch them fall. We stare up and watch as each one of them hits our faces. Johnny will jump for joy and then become completely relaxed. I have to limit him so we don’t freeze but he would stand there forever. It is his heaven on earth.

He may not like us loud but he loves his family being together. You can see he loves everyone else’s excitement. He’ll come to me to point out who’s there whether or not he dare ever greet them. He feels the spirit of family and friends.

So this year I am loving seeing the Christmas season through his eyes. Slowing down to take in every detail. I am finding a new way to celebrate and a new way to create memories. I can’t make him enjoy it the way I did and do, but I can join him in enjoying it in the way he does.

 

This post originally appeared on Johnny’s Spirit. Photo via Jaime Ramos.

Jaime Ramos, is a mom from Colorado. She's married to Isaac and has two kids, Amelie and Jesse. Jesse, her Johnny, is on the Autism Spectrum. She went to school to be a filmmaker, but now spends her days mainly as a stay at home mom.

 

An elf’s four major food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. General Mills holiday cereals are hitting shelves now and that includes the return of your coveted Elf cereal.

To add to the excitement, everyone’s winter favorite, Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is back by popular demand.

Elf Cereal

This maple-flavored cereal (Buddy’s favorite flavor) offers delicious green and red holiday tree marshmallows and maple-flavored corn puff cereal pieces in every spoonful.

You can find Elf Cereal in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time this holiday season. Boxes retail for $2.50 for a mid-size box and $3.99 for the family size.

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is returning to shelves again for another sweet and festive winter season. Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch brings its classic holiday flavor to Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a whole new way to enjoy the delicious taste of sugar cookies – perfect for a festive breakfast or cozy afternoon snack.

You can find Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time. Boxes retail for $2.50 mid-size / $3.99 family size.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of General Mills

 

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It’s a no-brainer that kids want to do everything that you do, including those cycling classes they see you so pumped about. The Little Tikes Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle nails it: It’s the kid-sized version of that super popular cycle…we’ll just say it rhymes with “Sweataton.” 

This bike is like a cycling or spin class for kids, personality-pumped trainer included! One of our editors, Jamie Aderski, and her son, Watson (5), tested out the new Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle. Read on to learn more about the hot new bike that is sure to be on every kid’s (and parent’s) wish list! 

The Review

I am a huge spin class fan (but only at home where people can’t see what a mess I am!) and I love my at-home cycling setup. When the Pelican arrived, I have to admit, I was a little jealous… of my five year old—This. Is. COOL! It’s a mini-version of my favorite ride to nowhere plus a full sensory experience—nothing “stationary” about it. Here’s what blew us away about the Pelican:

1. Motivating & Fun Trainers + Adventures

Much like that other bike, Pelican's trainers are full of energy and excitement! I love the ease of access to the vids: Just head to YouTube and hit play. Not only are their trainers top-notch, but the visuals of the videos take kids on adventures! You can experience the thrills of mountain biking or snowboarding (no real skills required) and even a roller coaster. Watson said it best: “It’s like going to another world!". Pelican, take me away...

 

2. Adjustable!

Jamie Aderski

The bike itself has adjustable seating and handlebars—perfect for kids of all sizes and if you have more than one rider, it can be easily adapted to their height. What we thought was really cool is that there's a lever that adjusts the pedal intensity, with three different levels. Hey, sometimes you wanna ride pedal-to-the-metal and sometimes you just wanna coast—Pelican gets it!

 

3. More Than Just Pedaling

Hot (and unexpected!) feature alert: The Pelican tilts back and forth to add to the thrills, minus the spills! Not only that, kids can "steer" the front wheel which makes for a good time. My two year old is too little to pedal the bike, but loved that she could just sit on it and go for a "ride". Watson said: "I love how bouncy it is!"—agreed! The Pelican is stationary, but not sedentary and it's pretty darn awesome!

4. Bluetooth Speaker 

Jamie Aderski

This feature feels grown-up and cool. Watson is a big music fan and now can play his favorite jams while riding along to the beat. Favorite songs of the moment? Anything by BTS, Imagine Dragons or that Parry Grip guy—the forecast is always calling for tacos, y'all.

 

5. No Tablet, No Problem

That’s right. You don’t even need to part with your smartphone for this ride. The Pelican comes with built-in audio adventures to cruise along with. You get excitement right out of the box with or without a screen! 

 

6. Surprise—You’re Exercising!

Gotcha, kiddo. Pelican made it so simple for our son to get active and have fun!

 

—Jamie Aderski

 

 

 

It’s been a year, and we need savvy parents like you to help local families navigate the ups and downs of life in San Diego, CA!

Do you love exploring your city with your family, uncovering local hidden gems, and then dishing to your friends about your awesome weekend? Are you a parent or caregiver living in San Diego with kids between the ages of 0-10? Are you active in the digital writing/blogging community? If you answered yes to these questions, then Red Tricycle & Tinybeans wants you!

Red Tricycle/Tinybeans is looking for talented San Diego-based writers to join our team and contribute stories to our San Diego metro market. Ideal candidates must:

• Have a firm grasp of the English language, excellent grammar and punctuation skills.

• Be active in the writing and blogging community with published work (either print or online).

• Possess an intense curiosity and excitement to explore the city and dig deep (both online and in the real world) to find off-the-beaten-path story ideas and insider tips.

Our mission is simple: to help busy parents have more fun with their kids!

Good luck!

To apply Email Us at aimee.dellabitta (at) tinybeans.com your cover letter, resume, and writing sample with “San Diego Writer” in the subject line.

If you’re looking for a fun way to get the kids outside for their daily dose of sunshine and exercise, how about a treasure hunt? Create an adventure deep into the wilds (of your backyard or even indoors) following a map that just might lead to something grand where X marks the spot. From how to set the stage to how to create a map, we’ve got everything you need to know. Gather up the little mateys; it’s time for a pirate treasure hunt!

Set the Scene

Meghan Rose

The first thing you need to do is set the scene. If you’re a born storyteller, you can make up a wild tale to spin at bedtime. Something about how you’ve been waiting for them to finally be old enough to hear the tale of how you came to be the owner of a secret pirate map that you suspect might lead to a treasure. Then let your imagination lead you! Perhaps you were exploring an old pirate ship and found this old map tucked away in a hidden nook on the ship.

If your kiddos are young, you can go crazy with a tale of having been taken captive and held hostage by a brand of brigands and narrowly escaped with your life, and you happened to tuck this map in your boots as you got away. Or, if you’re no Meryl Streep, the story can be simple and just as effective. Perhaps you bring out an old book that looks dusty and musty—as if it might hold a few secrets, and let them discover the map for themselves.

Create a Map

Meghan Rose

Next, you’ll need to produce a map!  It’s pretty easy to make one that looks fairly authentic.  You can either draw one (with specific clues about where you’ll be hunting) or print one out that you find online.  Then to age it, follow these steps:

  1. Tear the edges off in a ragged shape.
  2. Crumple the paper up and smooth it out.
  3. Steep a couple of black tea bags in a cup of hot water.  Pour this over the map in a baking dish and let it sit for about 15 minutes, or until the color you like is reached.  Pour off the tea.
  4. You can let it dry naturally, or add a layer of “age” to it by drying it out in a low (200 degree) oven.  Watch to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Not feeling crafty?  Inexpensive maps are readily available online.

Where ‘X’ Marks the Spot

Meghan Rose

Where does this treasure hunt take place? The short answer is anywhere! It can be your backyard, or a park, the woods or even at home. You can tailor or draw your map to fit the location, but unless your kids are older and more sophisticated, it won’t really be necessary. Kids are so much better at suspending belief and playing pretend than we are, they’re usually willing to play along. Some imaginative kids will even start embellishing the story for you (Or digging out a compass and spyglass to help hunt.)!

Don’t Forget the Treasure  

Pirate Treasure Hunt
Meghan Rose

Of course, you’ve got to have a treasure! Again, this can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. The Oriental Trading Company, a drug store, discount store or craft stores are all great places to get treasure and pirate goodies. Mix in a bag of “gold” (aka pennies) and some “gems” (rhinestones from a fabric store), and you’re good to go!

Don’t forget something to hide the treasure in. It could be a treasure chest if you happen to have one lying around, but a wooden box, cloth bag or old tin works just as well. Rub it up with dirt, hide it in a backpack (or bury it in the backyard), and away you go! If you're doing this outdoors, don't forget your shovels for digging. 

The Hunt Is On

Pirate Treasure Hunt
Meghan Rose

You can guide the adventure, or let little mateys lead the way … they’ll follow even a made-up map and find their own markers (if the map shows two trees, kids will spot two trees, or a big rock, etc). If you happen to drop a "doubloon" or "gem" for kids to find and realize they're on the right path, their excitement level will only increase. As soon as excitement wanes or tired feet set in, it’s time to scout ahead and dig a shallow hole and hide the treasure. Mark the spot with an ‘X’ and shout to the kids that the treasure must be near.

RELATED STORIES:

Life Skills! Here’s How to Teach Kids to Read a Map

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Pirate Treasure Hunt

Vacationing with kids: stressful, unexpected, but also pretty great. In fact, a new survey found that 52% of parents think trips are more enjoyable if the kids can come too. It’s part of a larger study focusing on family vacations as summer travel season comes to a close.

SWNS, in conjunction with OnePoll and Apple Vacations, surveyed more than 2,000 Americans about their travel preferences and 59% also said that they don’t mind a bad day of vacation, as long as their kids get to enjoy it! That may relate to happy family trip memories—half of respondents who traveled growing up said the excitement will never go away. And despite the headaches of planning and packing, 80% plan to continue family vacations to build strong bonds.

Speaking of packing, respondents ranked it as the least enjoyable part of vacationing (relatable). Once families reach their destinations, there’s plenty of water activities they’re eager to experience. Over one third (35%) said they’re excited for kids to try swimming, visiting a water park (29%) or fishing (28%). Don’t forget those swimsuits when you’re filling those bags!

Finally, it’s no surprise that Americans prioritize price when booking a vacation destination, followed by Wi-Fi access and a pool. Luckily, we have the perfect, budget-friendly ideas no matter where your fam is headed next, from Portland (Oregon) to Portland (Maine)! And if your travel is done for the year, you’ll have plenty of time to snag that hot reservation for next summer!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash

 

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