Christia DeShields

We just wrapped up the holidays, and it’s had me reflecting a lot on Christmases past.

I grew up in the 90s, when the tree would be stacked with gifts. My parents didn’t have much, but somehow, by God’s grace, they always made Christmas happen. Looking back, I can see the sacrifice, the budgeting, the prayers, and the effort that went into making those mornings feel magical.

As I became a teenager, though, I started to lose that gratitude. I wanted more. Different. Better. I didn’t realize what it cost my parents to give us what we had.

I still remember the look on my mom’s face the year she’d had enough. That Christmas, there were no wrapped gifts for me, just an envelope with money inside. And while I appreciated the money, I missed the magic of waking up to gifts under the tree. That moment taught me something I didn’t understand at the time, but I do now: gratitude matters more than getting what we want.

Fast forward to motherhood.

As our kids began to understand gifts and Christmas, we noticed the same trap creeping in, expectation replacing appreciation. So we started limiting the number of gifts they received. This year, they asked for very specific things, and it was so sweet to see how thankful they were when they received them.

Still, I’ve always been an experiences-over-things kind of person. And that’s a gift I want to give my kids.

We’ve gone from a world where we waited for everything to a world where everything is at our fingertips. We can buy almost anything instantly. It feels like we already have it all.

We don’t really need any more things.

We need experiences.
We need perspective.
We need to explore how others live, see new places, and create memories that last longer than toys.

Here are 10 meaningful experience ideas you can give your family, during the holidays or any time of year.

1. A Family Adventure Day

Plan a full day with no distractions—no phones, no schedules. A road trip, hiking trail, beach day, or city exploration. Pack snacks, play music, and let the day unfold naturally.

Memory > material.

2. Classes or Lessons Together

Think cooking classes, pottery, music lessons, dance, or even swimming. Learning something new together builds confidence, connection, and shared memories.

3. Annual Tradition Experience

Instead of more gifts, start a yearly tradition: ice skating every winter, apple picking every fall, or a yearly family getaway. Traditions become anchors kids remember forever.

4. Museum, Zoo, or Aquarium Membership

A gift that lasts all year and encourages curiosity, learning, and spontaneous family outings.

5. Serve Together

Volunteer as a family at a food pantry, shelter, or community clean-up. Let your kids see how others live and how much impact kindness can have.

This one builds gratitude in ways no gift ever could.

6. Travel Somewhere New (Even Close to Home)

You don’t have to go far. Explore a nearby town, historical site, or state park. Seeing how others live opens hearts and minds. I remember my first mission trip out of the country to Jamaica at 17 opened my eyes to the world and I’ve been a world traveler since.

7. Creative Experience Night

Host a family paint night, baking competition, DIY project, or music jam session at home. Let creativity lead the way.

8. One-on-One Parent Dates

Give each child a “date” with mom or dad—coffee, breakfast, bookstore browsing, or a simple walk. These moments say, “You matter.”

9. Outdoor Challenge or Goal

Train together for a family 5K, complete a hiking challenge, or spend a season exploring local parks. Experiences that challenge us help us grow together.

10. Faith-Focused Experiences

Attend a retreat, conference, or family worship night. Or start a new rhythm at home. It could be weekly devotion nights, prayer walks, or gratitude journals or a family gratitude wall.

These moments plant seeds that last far beyond childhood.

The older I get, the more I realize that what we remember most isn’t what we opened, it’s how we felt.

In a world overflowing with stuff, choosing experiences is a way of slowing down, reconnecting, and reminding our kids (and ourselves) that life is meant to be lived, not collected.

Less things.
More moments.
More gratitude.
More memories.

And those? Those are the gifts that truly last.