Christmas Ideas - Activities, not stuff

[canadianjovigirl]

We too do the gift cards and tickets as my kids dont need more stuff and family time is precious and limited with busy lives so thats the route we go.

We do gift cards to favorite restaurants and fast food places. Movie tickets, sporting event tickets, concert tickets, plays etc.

We have also done tickets to some local attractions - zoo, amusement park, heritage park, go kart place, laser tag place, swim passes, public skating passes, ski passes etc.

Have also done some gift certificates for stuff a few hours from us: hot springs in Banff, gondola in banff with a hotel stay, west Edmonton mall water park passes and a hotel stay etc

My kids love it and look forward to using them......sometimes it ends up costing us more, but some of the stuff we would do without the passes and you cant put a price on family time and memories.

 

[pigletto]

Coupons that you make yourself!!
My MIL does them for my kids on the computer. Example would be "A trip to the Gocarts and your favorite supper!". She makes a ton of them, the kids only have to give her a few days notice to cash them in. They use them all year long. It's fabulous!
She's done mini golfing certificates, trips to the movies, trips to the cottage for board games, toboganning and out for a hot chocolate etc. She usually does 10 or so "certificates" for each child. They get special time together, an activity, and something fun to do with her every month or so. They just LOVE it.

 

[bear74]

you could wrap a box of movie candy and a bag of microwave with a coupon for family movie night where they choose the movie. How about a theme park pass with sun glasses or sun screen. Hot chocolate and marshmallows for after ice skating/skiing/sledding.

 

[mom2alix]

you could wrap a box of movie candy and a bag of microwave with a coupon for family movie night where they choose the movie. How about a theme park pass with sun glasses or sun screen. Hot chocolate and marshmallows for after ice skating/skiing/sledding.

Great idea for wrapping movie passes. We always pick up candy at Target before we go, so this would work great!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

what about a GC to a pottery painting place.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Watch Groupon - I am slightly addicted. DD6 and I have afternoon tea planned for the Sunday before Christmas at the Palmer House in Chicago - for $18 total.

We also have found our new love - Melting Pot. Our local one has Ladies' Night on Mondays - $16 for women for cheese, salad and chocolate. Kids are $10 for cheese, entree and chocolate. I think I might give her a gift cert in her stocking!

 

[StitchBuddy]

I haven't seen bowling listed yet and mini-golf, those were always a favorite when my DD was younger.

My friend had a cute idea for teens, a mini-shopping spree. She bought several GC's and placed them inside a cute frame. Her DD loved it and she had cute frame to hang in her room.

 

[bas71873]

We are doing something similar this year. I have booked 2 nights at the Gaylord National Harbor in D.C. for the Dreamworks Christmas Experience for our family and then on the way home, we'll stop by Tyson's Corner and have ressies for lunch at the American Girl store that opened this summer.

So, DD is getting a new duffle bag from LL Bean, and AG gift card and some AG things for her doll and some of the AG activity kits. I also want to get her some kind of docking station for her Ipod that will also charge the thing and play CDs too. I also picked up some leggings & t-shirts on clearance for her dance classes and a new racing suit for winter swim that starts in January. She's also been begging for a cake pop baking machine and I had a good coupon so I caved and bought it. I am going to put together a baking basket to go with it. DD is an only child and I have a hard time not going crazy with gifts at Christmas and I'm trying hard not to fall into the "crap toy" trap this year. I am saving some of my budget for something she really wants and ends up asking Santa for. She's 8 and I think we are on the cusp of believing vs. not believing so if she asks for something, I want to get it for her....no clue what that will be yet.

On the movie ticket note, these are my go to gifts for birthday parties these days. I buy an Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn bucket at Walmart (they are around $2.00) and then put $1 store candy boxes and movie tickets in there with some shredded paper on the bottom to "puff them up" and then wrap in see-through celophane (can get at the dollar store too in the wrapping paper section). They seem to be a hit and are reallly easy.

 

[crisi]

We do this a lot. Lift tickets are another good one (although "Santa" brings season passes early and grandma gives gift cards for the snack bar.)

 

[EllenFrasier]

So do your kids get other gifts to open too, or just the gift certificate and something related to the gift certificate?

 

[mom2alix]

So do your kids get other gifts to open too, or just the gift certificate and something related to the gift certificate?

There will probably be some things not related to activities for them to open, especially for DS as I have fewer activity ideas for him right now. Right now for DD I have planned:

Monogrammed beach towel - swim lessons
Art Supplies - Art Lessons
Movie basket - Movie passes
Baking Basket - Cake decorating class @ Joann Fabrics
Monogrammed travel kit - skin care set for girls, headband and wash cloth
Mani-pedi gift card (not sure what to put with this to make a pkg to open)
Books - Any ideas for 9-10 year old? She reads above grade level, but is not ready for mature content - She loves non-fiction

Maybe a few new Barbie outfits, or does anyone know about sewing kits for Barbie clothes? DD loves to sew and she LOVES Barbie clothes. That would be a great activity if I could find something.

For DS I have:

Monogrammed beach towel - swim lessons
Uniform - Marital Arts class
Movie basket - Movie passes

DS would also love Legos, and I guess I already have a storage box for those and clean them up all the time anyway.

Any other idea would be greatly appreciated!

An idea for others - JoAnn Fabrics has some really great sewing classes for kids as well as the Cake Decorating that I list above for DD. DD already has this, but I think a sewing basket and supplies with a GC for one the sewing classes would be a neat gift.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

You can buy patterns for Barbie clothes at any fabric store, but wait until they are on sale. Patterns can be pricey. Walk through the store and pick out some fun fabrics BUT check the back of the pattern first. On the back it will state how much fabric you need to make the specific outfit.

Also check out the ribbons, again when they are on sale. It is so easy to wrap a piece of fabric around a Barbie, tie on a ribbon, and presto instant dress or skirt.

Target often has Barbie shoes and accessories. I think this will really make the gift! Those little shoes are so darn fun!!