Are you tired of buying toys for your kids every holiday? Their rooms pile up with forgotten gadgets, right?
But gifts don't have to mean more stuff. As parents with years of gifting experience, we know experiences create deeper joy and lasting memories.
Discover our curated list of 65 unforgettable alternatives to toys:
Post-COVID, some activities suit vouchers for safer times. Others are ready now with advance booking and precautions—always verify locally.
1. A subscription to a children's magazine.
2. A family visit to a castle or fortified chateau.
3. A day at a trampoline park.
4. A cooking kit with a children's cookbook (or build a homemade kids' kitchen).
5. Exploring stunning natural sites like the Verdon Gorges, Hérisson Waterfalls, Cassis Creeks, Pilat Dune, Canal du Midi, Ardèche Gorges, Mer de Glace, or Aiguille du Midi.
6. A bookstore trip to pick new books.
7. A visit to a national park.
8. A train ticket to see a special loved one (grandma, aunt, cousin, etc.).
9. Museum admission.
10. An online cooking class.
11. A stay at a nearby farm.
12. An intro to meditation or yoga (online or in-person).
13. Jersey or cap from their favorite sports team.
14. A plane ticket for an overseas trip plus lodging (for extra generosity).
15. Swimming or horseback riding lessons.
16. Art lessons in drawing, painting, pottery, ceramics, or singing.
17. A bike for family adventures.
18. Subscription to a music platform (Deezer, Spotify) or video service like Disney+.
19. Summer camp, sports camp, or language camp.
20. Family movie night at home with homemade popcorn.
21. Zoo or animal park outing (Zoo de Peaugres, Zoo de la Flèche, etc.).
22. Climbing or indoor soccer session.
23. A camera for capturing adventures.
24. Horseback—or donkey—ride.
25. A kit to start a veggie garden (in the yard, balcony, or room).
26. A donation to charity, chosen by the child.
27. Mini-golf outing—or set it up at home.
28. Online music lessons.
29. Voucher for a dance show, concert, comedy, or event (like Holiday on Ice).
30. Local water park admission voucher.
31. A musical instrument (check Leboncoin for affordable second-hand options).
32. Camping gear for a weekend getaway.
33. Hot air balloon ride.
34. Membership for a new sport (gymnastics, soccer, tennis, dance, etc.).
35. Terrarium-building kit.
36. Voucher for via ferrata or treetop adventure.
37. Voucher for a board games or movie night.
38. Seasonal pass to an amusement park (Disneyland, Parc Astérix, etc.).
39. Family pass to a theme park (Futuroscope, Puy du Fou, Vulcania).
40. Cinema gift card (with reservations where available).
41. A day at the lake, forest, snow, or beach.
42. Painting kit.
43. Gear for their favorite sport (soccer boots, pony brush kit, dance shoes, skates, racket).
44. Intro course in paddleboarding, kitesurfing, surfing, or diving for summer.
45. Photo album from your last family vacation.
46. Professional family photo session.
47. Mini cruise by boat or barge.
48. Bowling or ice skating tickets.
49. Family circus evening voucher.
50. Adopting an animal—after thoughtful consideration.
51. Day at an iconic site: Eiffel Tower, Mont Saint-Michel, Pont du Gard, Palace of Versailles.
52. Online coding course.
53. Dog sledding adventure.
54. Aquarium visit voucher (Monaco, La Rochelle).
55. Exceptional site visit: Cité de l'Espace, Chauvet Cave or Lascaux, Cité des Sciences, D-Day beaches, Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval.
56. Stargazing night in the backyard with family.
57. August shooting stars viewing night.
58. Budding chemist kit with baking soda experiments.
59. Go-karting voucher.
60. Snowshoe hike or toboggan run.
61. Paintball or laser tag game.
62. Bird park day.
63. Guided nature discovery tour.
64. Children's theater season subscription.
65. A one-on-one day with mom or dad.
Have a magical holiday season... with fewer toys! ;-)
