Make your own gift experience vouchers
Why not create your own little book of coupons for special treats that your kids can redeem and enjoy throughout the year? You can personalise it to include the things that your kids love doing with you like a night at the cinema, bowling, lunch at their favourite restaurant or a trip to the seaside.
You could even call it the 12 months of Christmas. Each month you could arrange an outing or an experience, where the kids get to open the envelope on the 1st day of the month.
If you’re feeling crafty you can make them yourself (see image, have a look on Pinterest for some ideas!), or you can download and edit a digital version online and just print them yourself.
Give the gift of kids classes
There are so many classes available locally for kids of all ages to get involved in – and if your kids are like mine, they want to do it all!
Why not gift a term of music lessons, dance classes or a sports club? Often you can even buy gift vouchers for kids classes and clubs, check out our listings of baby & pre-school classes, or school age classes for ideas depending on what your child likes.
Plan some special days out
Make plans to create some fantastic family memories in 202, by giving tickets or passes for days out.
Here is a blog that lists some of the membership and family schemes near Scarborough.
Buy a family ticket for an attraction such as Scarborough Museum Trust, The Deep Ryedale Folk Museum, Whitby Museum, Beck Isle Museum and your tickets let you go back all year for free.
You can gift a session at Go Ape Dalby or Dalby Activity Centre, depending on the height and age of your child.
If you’ve got a little thrill seeker in the family, why not head for a day out at a local theme park such as Flamingo Land or Light Water Valley . Or if you’ve got younger children, why not try Sundown Adventureland near Retford. It’s specifically for children under 10 years old and annual passes are available.
Further afield ideas include Legoland, Harry Potter Studios, How Stein Gorge, Nidderdale Llamas experience/walk
Take in a show
If your kids love the big screen you could give them a special ‘date’ trip to the cinema just 1:1 with you to see a film of their choice.
If they are fans of live action & performance, why not think about tickets to a show at the theatre, from the festive panto’s to the more technical ballets, to a music concert. You’re spoilt for choice with the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Bridlington Spa, York Theatre Royal or The Grand Opera House, York.
Enjoy an animal experience
If your little ones love their furry friends, you could plan a trip to a farm, the zoo, or the wildlife park. Playdale Farm, Filey Bird & Animal Garden and Piglets Adventure Farm, are always popular destinations. If you want to get a bit more hands on, Sea Life Scarborough, Flamingo Land The Deep and Yorkshire Wildlife park run animal experiences.
Further afield, Harewood House does some good animal experiences for children 7 years and over, including penguin feeding, alpaca walking, be a zookeeper for the day. You can also adopt a bird in the bird garden!
Or if you’re thinking about an adoption package, National Centre for Birds of Prey run a great adoption scheme with more details on their website or Guide Dogs For The Blind has a lovely sponsorship package which allows you to support a puppy’s training to become a qualified Guide Dog. They’ll give you regular ‘Pupdates’ following your puppy’s journey and lots of photos to keep. WWF also offer a range of animals to adopt where you get a cuddly toy, fact pack, and regular updates.
Cook up a storm
If you have a budding MasterChef at home, why not plan some 1:1 time running your own home cooking sessions? Find some family favourite recipes and help your child build some skills in the kitchen. They will love getting messy and feel proud of sitting down to eat what they’ve made.
Take in some sport
Hopefully crowds will be allowed back in 2021 so perhaps approach with caution for the moment. If your child is more of a sports fan why not consider days at the races – York, Thirsk, Beverley and Redcar are all handy and great days out including Family Days. Or perhaps tickets for Hull City Tigers, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leeds United, Leeds Rhino’s or Yorkshire County Cricket? Some offer half-price season tickets if you’d like to take in more than one game but don’t want the cost of a full season. Or if they’re a true sports fan, what about a stadium tour?
Get a monthly subscription
There is a lot of choice out there, from comic books to activity-based magazines such as sport or a hobby. And there are even some options where the monthly subscription comes with a treat and can change from month-to-month. Ideas suggested by fellow Mumblers include:
Good luck with your Christmas shopping!
*Details correct at time of publishing, November 2023