Give the Gift of Experience in and Around Genesee County

As Christmas draws near and the excitement grows to see what Santa will leave under the tree, I can’t help but think, “we are going to add more toys to this chaos!?”. I try to switch out toys or put things away that aren’t played with very often. But somehow, every night I find myself picking up the contents of the toy box even though my daughter spent most of the day playing in a box from Amazon. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful for all the gifts my daughter receives from people who love her.  She, of course, loves every single one!  And on Christmas morning, I can’t wait to see her excitement when she opens up her new doll and all the other exciting things Santa will bring her. 

But the truth is, most of these things will lose their excitement and eventually end up in the bottom of the toy box. 

So if you ask me, the most valuable gift you could give, may not be something that is only played with every once in awhile. When the grandparents (or other family members or even yourself) ask “What do the kids want for Christmas?”, you might consider something that will last a lot longer than the hottest new toy.

The gift of experience. The gift of family memories. A gift that teaches them a new skill or helps them learn. What could be more valuable than that? And bonus – you won’t have to find a spot to put it. 

I value these experiences and the time spent together making fun memories so much more than all of the “stuff”. I’d be so grateful to receive these gifts for my family or my daughter because often times during the year, these things may not fit into our budget. I want my daughter to have the opportunity to experience so many things. So during this time of year, when many people are eager to spend money on the “best gift ever”, consider this gift of experience. Consider the impact it could make on a young child and the fond memories you will make as a family!

Give the Gift of Experience In and Around Genesee County

Annual Memberships 

Flint Children’s Museum Membership – The family membership includes unlimited free admission and free or reduced admission to hundreds of other great museums. Several in Michigan!

Sloan Longway Membership – The family membership includes admission to Sloan Museum, Buick Automotive Gallery, and Longway Planetarium, along with many other benefits!

Zoo Membership or Gift Certificates – Check out Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw or The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak.

Classes 

Grand Blanc Gymnastics Company – Classes available for even the littlest crawlers!

Sew Sassy – Sewing classes available for ages 8 & up and. Located in Grand Blanc. 

Dance Classes – There are so many dance studios in the area! Terry Matlock Dance has studios in Grand Blanc and Flint. Children as young as 2 can be enrolled!

A Joyful Noise Music Studio – Private and group music lessons are available for all ages! Located in Fenton.

Events and Activities

The Whiting – Several great shows are coming to Flint next year, such as Cinderella the Musical! There are even shows for the little theater lovers ages 3 and up at the Flint Youth Theatre. 

Fox Theatre  – Sesame Street Live, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live, and Annie are among some of the family-friendly shows coming next year to this Detroit Theatre!

Fort Clarkston – Gift cards and monthly memberships are available to purchase. Located in Clarkston. 

SEALife Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center– Located at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills. You can purchase Gift Tickets that can be used anytime within 6 months of purchase! 

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday filled with love, joy, and togetherness! Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Do you have other ideas I should add to the list? Let me know below!