It’s the holiday season and I’m stressed! I know that after Christmas morning, my kids will be flush with new toys, stuffed animals, books, games, and clothes. Yet…our house is already full of that stuff. Every toy crate, dress-up bin, and bookshelf is covered and a disposal of any of it would cause a coupe. So what can we do about it? Reduce the amount of “stuff” with one of these 5 experiential gifts for a Seacoast kid.
Some of the benefits of an experiential gift are…
- Anticipation – it extends the holiday season beyond December and gives your child something to continue to look forward to after the highs of Christmas morning.
- Family time – Many experiential gifts can build memories outside the home together.
- Skills and confidence – Gifting lessons helps your child become more well rounded, confident, and builds identity.
- Less stuff and less waste – Instead of a bunch of little stuff that won’t have a place in your home, you’ll have memories from the experience.
Here are 5 experiential gifts for a Seacoast kid:
1. Lessons
Help your child learn a new skill by giving lessons! Here are some ideas for experience gifts on the Seacoast that are lessons.
- Dance: Is your kid interested in dance? Give a set of sessions to one of the many dance schools on the Seacoast including: Steppin’ Out Dance Academy, Joy of Dance, The Block Collaborative, Revele Dance Academy, Adagio Dance Academy, Musical Arts Academy of Music & Dance, and more!
- Skate: Is your child interested in learning to ice skate? Help them on their way to figure skate or play hockey with a session at The Rinks in Exeter, Rochester Rec, and Dover Rec.
- Surf: Give a gift that they can look forward to in the summer. Surfing lessons are offered by Summer Sessions Surf Shop, Dingo’s Surf School, Aquaholics, and Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co.
- Music: Is your child interested in learning an instrument? Sign up for lessons at Exeter Music or Portsmouth Music and Arts Center.
- Gymnastics: Help your child learn balance and have fun with gymnastics sessions at Atlantic Gymnastics, or Action Kids at Brentwood Commons.
- Art: Encourage your child’s love for art with art classes at Seacoast ArtSpot, Sonatina Center, or The Art Room.
2. Theater
The Seacoast offers awesome opportunities to see plays and musicals – many of which are child appropriate. Take a look at these Seacoast-area theaters 2023 line up and treat your child to a live show! It’s a great experiential gift for a Seacoast kid!
- The Music Hall – Portsmouth
- Ogunquit Playhouse – Ogunquit
- Players Ring – Portsmouth
- Seacoast Repertory Theatre – Portsmouth
- Epping Community Theater – Epping
- Hackmatack Playhouse – Berwick
- And if you’re willing to drive – the Boston Theatre District!
3. Sporting Events
Gift tickets to a game! In winter, enjoy some hockey and basketball or gift the promise of tickets to spring sports. Here are some ideas for some live sporting events:
- UNH Hockey
- UNH Men’s Basketball
- New Hampshire Fisher Cats Baseball
- Portland Sea Dogs Baseball
- And if you’re willing to drive, watch a Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, or Patriots game!
4. Nights Away
Gift a kid-friendly night away (or longer)! Exciting gifted weekends include indoor waterparks, ski resorts, theme parks, and more. I’ll never forget as a kid when I opened a box with a note saying my parents were taking us to Disney in February – better than any toy! Nights away can make the perfect experiential gift for a Seacoast kid. Here are a few ideas:
- Indoor Water Park – Check out Great Wolf Lodge, Skyventure, and Hampton Inn and Suites North Conway.
- Get a ski package weekend at a local ski resort. Don’t ski? Try tubing, go for a sleigh ride and enjoy the snow. Check out ski and stay packages at Sunday River, Attitash, and Waterville Valley. If your child is new to skiing, learn how I introduced it in my family here.
- Boston – ride the train, visit museums, and enjoy the aquarium. Check out your local library for discount passes.
- Go Big – Surprise the whole family with a big trip – New York City, Florida, or even overseas!
5. Live Show
There are a lot of really great experiences that travel through the Seacoast area. Here are a few ideas for kid-friendly live shows that are sure to bring a smile on Christmas morning!
- Disney on Ice – Coming January 2023 to Manchester
- Bluey Live Show – Coming to Boston in April 2023
- Laura Berkner (children’s singer/songwriter) – Coming to Beverly, MA in March 2023
- Monster Jam – Coming to Manchester in May 2023
- Blippi the Musical – Coming to Concord, NH in June 2023
- And many more! You can always search for “live kid shows nh” or follow eventbrite.
Experiences Keep Giving
I have a feeling in ten years my son won’t remember the 5th Lego set he opened on Christmas and my daughter won’t recall the 10th unicorn stuffed animal she added to her collection. However, they might recall a family trip, concert, play, classes, or sporting event. The goal of experiential gifts is to build core memories. The added benefit is you’ll have less stuff to keep in the house. What’s your idea for a perfect experiential gift for a Seacoast kid?
