10 Experience Gifts For Kids That Will Let Them Explore This Big and Beautiful World

Places like trampoline parks, indoor rock climbing walls, bounce houses, and obstacle courses have been popping up all over suburban towns in recent years. Most of these places offer gift certificates for a day pass, a pack of visits, or membership and are a great way to get kids out of the house and doing something physical. A youth visit to a rock climbing wall is around $15 and adventure center entry fees are usually an $8 one-time fee or $32 for a five-visit pass. Monthly memberships run around $50 to $60.

Take a look at their website to see how to purchase a gift card or membership, depending on how much you want to spend. At around $15 for a one-time entry fee and up to $150 for a yearly membership, you could split this gift with another friend or family member to give the birthday kid something to look forward to all year.

Has your niece been wanting to try ballet? Have a friend whose child loves to cook or bake? Gifting a session of classes is a great way to help nourish the little one's passions. And this one doesn't have to break the bank, either. A lot of towns parks and recreation offices offer classes for children, whether it's ballet, photography, cooking, or even a holiday workshop! The costs will be lower than dance studios or other facilities. For a town resident, cost is about $70, while it can be $80 for nonresidents.

Places like KiwiCo offer science and art crate subscriptions or one-time deliveries that include hands-on projects for kids. They also range in age from 24 months to 16+, so you'll be covered for many birthdays to come. A one-time gift is $25, or you can choose from monthly subscriptions, which discount the monthly cost the more months you choose; $20/month for three months, $18/month for six months, and $17/month for 12 months.

Who doesn't want to take a trip to the batting cage, ice skating rink, or mini golf course? Some towns even have indoor water parks or pools if you're looking for an indoor activity during the Winter months. These activities can range in cost from $6 for a game of mini golf to $30 for an hour in the batting cage.

One great gift is a trip or membership to an aquarium. If there isn't one very close to the birthday child, you could make a day out of it and offer to take a trip with them at another time. Children's entry pricing is usually lower than adults, at around $15, or up to $100 for a membership if there's one nearby they can visit any time!

Paint nights aren't just for adults and wine! Drop-in art studios have become more and more popular over the last few years, and you can usually choose any amount for a gift card that they can put toward their visit. Studios offer things like ceramics painting, canvas painting, and other crafts. The child can pick out a pottery piece to paint, bring a picture of a pet and learn how to paint it on a canvas, or decorate any number of crafts!

Lots of towns have nature centers, petting zoos, or farms that allow the public to visit. It's a great way to get the kids outside while also learning about nature and animals. A one-time visit is typically around $5 for children and $10 for adults.

Introducing children to live shows at a young age is a great way to get them interested in the arts. Look for local theaters or concert venues and you're bound to find something they'll enjoy. Town-run theaters or high school shows will usually cost you around $10/ticket, or you can splurge a bit for a bigger concert venue where tickets are usually priced anywhere from $40 to $100.

Movie tickets are a great gift because they allow the child to get excited about a film they've been wanting to see. Movie tickets for children 11 and under are $10 to $13, and popcorn and a drink is around an extra $10, so you could put $25 on a movie theater gift card and be good to go!