I hate to sound all first-world here, but sometimes too many toys during the holidays can be a problem. We really try to focus Christmas on the birth of Jesus, so the overload of toys can seriously distract from that. Not to mention they take up a lot of space and clutter up our house. I won’t say no to a relative or loved one wanting to bring a toy over during Christmas {and I really don’t want to sound like a jerk}, but sometimes an experience or something a little different can be just as great … or maybe even better!
Of course, our shopHTX holiday shopping guide has tons of unique gift ideas for the whole family, but here are a few more non-toy gift ideas ideas to add to the mix as well. And by all means, share this with the grandparents to give them a few ideas too!
Memberships
- A Houston Zoo membership
- A membership to the Children’s Museum
- The Houston Museum of Natural Science membership
- A family membership to the closest YMCA
- A punch card for Sky High Sports or passes to Urban Air
An Experience
- An all-day adventure pass to the Downtown Aquarium
- How about a kid’s paintball experience?!
- Tickets to Kemah Boardwalk
- Check out a kid-friendly performance at AD Players Theater
- A trip to Galveston’s Pleasure Pier {with rides, games, and more}
- A roll of quarters and passes to Main Event or Dave and Busters
- A mini golf experience {or go-karts would be fun as well!}
- Paint your own pottery at Mad Potter or Glazed over Ceramics – just to name a few
- An Owl Prowl at Armand Bayou Nature Center {This sounds seriously cool!}
- Tickets to an upcoming event or favorite performer {Monster Jam, anyone??}
- A weekend away at Moody Gardens
Classes
- A few months worth of classes with our friends at The Little Gym
- Give the gift of music with crescendo family music
- Learn a new language with Language Kids
- A cooking class at Sur La Table who offers hands-on kid and teen classes too!
- Spark imagination with Mad Science
- Experience the joy of dance with the Houston Ballet’s Preschool Classes
- Get ahead of the swim season with classes at Goldfish Swim School or British Swim School
- Have an arts and craft lover? {I do!} Michael’s offers classes for everything from painting to jewelry making
Tickets to a Local Sporting Event
- Houston Rockets
- Astros
- Dynamo
- Dash {Houston’s female soccer team}
- …and of course – our beloved Houston Texans!
A Day of Play
- A day of play at Pump It Up
- Some play time at Houston Party Playland
- A trip to Chuck E. Cheese {include a wrapped roll full of coins too!}
Winter Fun
- Enjoy all of the lights at Christmas Village at Bayou Bend or Sugar Land Holiday Lights
- Ice skating at The Galleria, The ICE at Discovery Green, or the Aerodrome
- Tickets to Sleeping Beauty and her Winter Knight or The Nutcracker
- Visit The Grinch’s Holiday Workshop at the Children’s Museum of Houston
- All aboard The Polar Express in Palestine or The Christmas Train in Alvin
Subscriptions
- For pregnancy to preschool :: Bluum
- For toddlers :: Little Pnuts
- For crafty kiddos :: Kiwi Crate or Green Kid Crafts
- For Lego lovers :: Pley
- For budding chefs :: Kidstir
- Magazines :: National Geographic Kids or Highlights Magazine
Special Treats
- Gift certificates for their favorite places to eat {Chick-Fil-A, Reginelli’s Pizzeria, etc.}
- Ice cream gift cards – Coldstone, Amy’s, Ben & Jerry’s, or another ice cream shop near by!
- Tickets to catch a movie {Fandango and Movie Tickets are just a few places to buy tickets online}
- Nail salon gift card. What little girl wouldn’t love a mani/pedi?
Can you guys think of anything else to add to the list? Let us know!
The Houston Aeros moved to Iowa at the start of the 2013-14 American Hockey League season.
whoops! Thanks for letting us know! I’ll remove that.
Great list. Thanks!