The Many Little Joys

32+ unforgettable experience gifts for kids

If you’re wanting to gift more memories and adventures this year, rather than adding more clutter to your home, here are a bunch of ideas for experience gifts that kids will LOVE!

If you're wanting to gift more memories and adventures this year, rather than adding more clutter to your home, here are a bunch of ideas for experience gifts that kids will LOVE!

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

Let me start by saying…there is nothing wrong with giving kids toys for Christmas. I absolutely gift my kids toys each year. Toys are the tools of childhood, and carefully chosen toys can encourage all kinds of creativity and learning that is critical (and fun!) for kids.

However, after eleven years of Christmases and birthdays, there aren’t a lot of toys my kids need…or even want.

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Interactive stories and activity books your kids will love

Think your kids won’t be excited about getting books for Christmas? Think again! These fun-filled activity books and interactive stories will captivate your kids with daring adventures, mind-bending puzzles, and fascinating facts.

Think your kids won't be excited about getting books for Christmas? Think again! These fun-filled activity books and interactive stories will captivate your kids with daring adventures, mind-bending puzzles, and fascinating facts.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

If you want to buy your kids a book for Christmas, but you’re not sure they’ll be thrilled about unwrapping a thick novel, I have the perfect idea for you…Give them an interactive book filled with puzzles and fun activities to do!

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Fall Art For Kids: Beautiful Watercolor Leaves Even Toddlers Can Make

Create beautiful fall art with this easy project that kids of all ages will love. Watercolor gorgeous autumn leaves to use as fall decor, sweet gift tags, and more!

Create beautiful fall art with this easy project that kids of all ages will love. Watercolor gorgeous autumn leaves to use as fall decor, sweet gift tags, and more!

Last week, while walking with my family through the gorgeous fall leaves, I found myself in awe of the kaliedoscope of colors around me. Fall brings so many vibrant colors to the world, and it got me thinking…what a perfect time to explore color with my kids!

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Random Acts of Kindness Bingo: A powerful Thanksgiving tradition (free printable)

Make the holidays meaningful for your family with this free printable random acts of kindness Bingo game! It’s a simple way to get everyone involved in giving thanks and spreading love…any time of year!

Make the holidays meaningful for your family with this free printable random acts of kindness Bingo game! It's a simple way to get everyone involved in giving thanks and spreading love...any time of year!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November of 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated with new printables for you!

It’s November! Despite the fact that the days are growing shorter and colder, November is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s my birthday month (wahoo!), and I’m a serious fan of Thanksgiving.

Poor Thanksgiving. Smushed between the much flashier holidays of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving often gets overlooked. But, really, Thanksgiving has so much going for it.

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Thankful from A to Z: A simple Thanksgiving alphabet activity to encourage gratitude

Get your kids thinking about the many things they have to be grateful for with this simple printable Thanksgiving alphabet activity!

Get your kids thinking about the many things they have to be grateful for with this simple printable Thanksgiving alphabet activity!

As we head into the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to teach our kids the importance of gratitude. If your kids are like mine, they have OODLES of blessings to count. They’re really good at naming the obvious ones: family, friends, teachers…and those are good! But it can also be helpful to push kids beyond their first ideas and challenge them to think outside the box when considering the things they’re thankful for.

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Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt: an easy way to capture cute fall photos of kids

Do you want to get some adorable fall photos of your kids at the pumpkin patch this year? Get kids on board by turning the photo shoot into a game with this free printable pumpkin patch scavenger hunt for kids!

Do you want to get some adorable fall photos of your kids at the pumpkin patch this year? Get kids on board by turning the photo shoot into a game with this free printable pumpkin patch scavenger hunt for kids!

Visiting the pumpkin patch each year is one of my favorite parts of fall. And it’s hard to resist wanting to take some adorable pictures of your own little pumpkins as they wander through the fields.

The problem is that, if your kids are anything like mine, they have no interest in pausing to pose for your perfect photo op. They are far too busy exploring and playing to sit still and say cheese!

But what if you could let them play AND capture the perfect fall photos you dream of?

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Silly sidewalk chalk jack-o-lanterns: an easy Halloween activity for kids

Sidewalk chalk isn’t just for summer! The next time you have one of those perfect-weather fall days, head outside and get creative by making these sidewalk chalk Jack-o-lanterns with your kids!

Sidewalk chalk isn't just for summer! The next time you have one of those perfect-weather fall days, head outside and get creative by making these sidewalk chalk Jack-o-lanterns with your kids!

If there is one tradition that defines Halloween (other than trick-or-treating), it’s got to be…pumpkin carving!

Have you carved yours yet?

If you haven’t carved (or painted) pumpkins yet, this activity is a great way to get kids thinking ahead of time about how they want to decorate their pumpkins. And if your family has already decorated your pumpkins, it can be a fun way to bring to life different ideas you didn’t use for the real deal.

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Free Printable “Don’t Eat Pete” Halloween Game with Cute Friendly Monsters

Need a super easy Halloween party game? This free printable “Don’t Eat Pete” Halloween game is the answer! Low prep, inexpensive, and kids love it!

Don't Eat Pete Halloween Game for kids. Free printable party game.

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning activities for your class Halloween party or home celebration. One game that’s always a hit at our house is “Don’t Eat Pete.” Best of all, you can enjoy this classic game for free with the printable game sheet I created for you!

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Fun apple tasting activity for kids: a perfect way to get in the mood for fall!

Fall is apple season! Learn about different apple varieties and create delicious family memories with this fun apple tasting activity for kids.

September is apple season! Learn about different apple varieties and create delicious family memories with this fun apple tasting activity for kids.

Did you know there are over seven THOUSAND varieties of apples in the world?! Crazy, right? And even if you don’t count all the obscure ones that aren’t widely available, there are over 100 varieties that are grown commercially in the United States alone.

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