I don't buy my kids gifts to unwrap - I buy them experiences

"We splashed out on a Whitsundays family holiday; which sounds a little extra in this current economic climate, but it wasn’t just a whim."

I don't buy my kids gifts to unwrap. Don’t get me wrong - I like a shiny gift wrapped in colourful paper and a matching card just as much as the next person.

However, what I truly value more than any material item is having fun and making memories.  My family laugh when they see this has filtered down to my daughters, who now also prefer experiences instead.

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Yes, my girls won’t turn down a new dress or barbie… however the gifts that have really left a lasting impression are the experiences.

Blame it on their mum being an ex-travel agent, their dad being a big kid at heart and our family having been touched by cancer.

This combination of life experiences and traits has made us even more determined to instill these values into our kids.

So, what do we do instead of wrapped gifts are these things?

Whitehaven beach and a fancy pants homemade High Tea. Image: Anjelica-Hazel Toutounji.

We love the chance to get away as a family  

This could mean spending the night at a local caravan park, hiring a campervan, pitching a tent in our backyard to watch the stars or going next level boujee at a nice hotel.  

It's not about the thread count or the star rating for our family, it’s the time spent together.  We have forgone expensive kid’s birthday parties to spend the weekend at a seaside holiday park.  We have taken advantage of a Jetstar Kids Fly Free offer combining three birthday celebrations in one at Paradise Resort on the Gold Coast.  

We even managed to sneak away two weeks after my single mastectomy for a birthday celebration, thanks to a cabin gifted to us by an incredible cancer charity, Camp Quality.  

We have done the multi-generational travel thing, cramming my mum, grandmother and two kids in the one room for a sun soaked one1night staycation.  

Most recently though on the travel front we splashed out on a Whitsundays family holiday.  Whilst this sounds a little extra in this current economic climate, it wasn’t just a whim.  

It was a combined trip for my 35th birthday, my daughter's 4th birthday and a celebration of finally being cancer free.  After a rough year it was the perfect antidote and gift for the entire family.  

A safari experience. Image: supplied

Experiences other than travel

Travel fun aside, there are many other ways to gift an experience for kids.  

One year I purchased my daughters an annual membership to the zoo, wrapping up their lanyards in safari themed paper. This was the gift that kept on giving as we were able to visit the park an unlimited number of times.  

Last year, I took my eldest for a mummy daughter birthday spa date.  We spent the whole afternoon just us two.  We explored op shops, had a babyccino date and then were treated to a foot spa, massage and facial.  I have also recreated this experience at home for both my daughters, soaking their feet in flower filled buckets and painting their tootsies barbie coloured pink.  

Whilst not as luxurious, it was still every bit as special for them.  

Special experiences for the win. Image: supplied

This year my best friend surprised my daughters and I with a birthday high tea that she created for us in her garden.  Not only was it thoughtful, it was also kid friendly and catered to all of our dietary requirements.

In my opinion and since going through cancer, the most valuable thing that I have are my memories and the people in my life.  If you are feeling the pinch this festive season, I invite you to think outside the box.  

Take your kids on a picnic, set up a treasure hunt in the garden with op shop items or pitch a tent in the backyard and roast marshmallows.  

Just because we are bombarded with marketing enticing us to spend money and shower people with expensive items, always remember that the best gifts come from the heart.  

Originally published as I don't buy my kids gifts to unwrap - I buy them experiences