A Christmas to Remember: Ditch the Stuff and Give Experiences instead

Our two kids are a little older this Christmas and as they’ve gotten older I’ve come to realize that they’re not looking forward to seeing a bunch of presents under the Christmas tree as they may have done when they were younger. In retrospect I’ve also come to realize that things are changing and a lot of the toys from years past may have been played with for a little bit—if at all— and then forgotten– and in some instances they sit untouched, brand new in their boxes, forever. One lesson learned has been that what we cherish the most about our family history are the experiences we’ve shared together and the memories (some good, some not that great) that remain. And so, as the years go by, we shift our focus in creating more memories through the experiences we share together. And what better time to give the gift of experiences (and put aside materialistic tendencies not only for ourselves but for our kids as well) than during the holiday season? This way two things can be accomplished: the kids actually receive gifts and enjoy the magic of the season and then there’s also something to look forward to, something that hopefully everyone will enjoy.

And although they may not realize right away that not having “things” to play with and enjoy momentarily, hopefully in time, as they get older and mature, they’ll also come to realize how creating memories together as a family will give them the building blocks to put aside materialism for a change, build stronger bonds with one another and create memories that will last a lifetime. On the plus side, people tend to remember the good times more than they do the bad, so life will find a way to select the good moments you create as the years go by.

Here we present some ideas on giving the gift of experiences— some of them tried, tested and true— that have actually worked for our family and will hopefully work for yours as well. And a tip: go through some experiences with an open mind; some of them might not be your cup of tea but the idea is to spend time doing something together, even though the “experience” may not be to your liking or not your favourite thing to do. Remember, it’s the season of giving— so giving in this case may just be patience and tolerance for other people’s tastes and preferences.

Tickets to a Live Performance

One of the advantages of living in a world class city is the infinite number of live performances that take place on a daily basis. Young and old can enjoy comedy troops like Second City and their current holiday shows “Rebel Without a Cosmos” and “Holidazed and Confused”. Live theatre is alive and well in Toronto and there are plenty of shows to choose from, amongst them Jersey Boys at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Disney on Ice at the Rogers Centre, Potted Potter at the Panasonic Theatre and The Heart of Robin Hood at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Smaller venues like those found in Durham Region, for instance, can also bring the wonderful experience of live theatre without having to travel long distances. “The Miracle Worker” will be playing at the Oshawa Little Theatre in February of next year (tickets available right now). Regent Theatre in Oshawa, Ajax Community Theatre and the Whitby Courthouse Theatre all have a number of great shows coming up in the new year. There are also a number of musical performances that would make great Christmas gifts and once again the number of venues in Toronto and surrounding areas is as vast as the different tastes and genres in music can be.

Tickets to a Sporting Event

That’s another advantage of living in a world class city: for those who enjoy sports, the possibilities to catch a game are quite varied. This year the choices are even greater as the PanAm games come to the T-Dot for the first time in the city (and country’s) history. Tickets to the Pan Am Games have just gone on sale this week and the entire list of events is listed on their website to make purchasing tickets to the event of your choice that much easier. Another great experience this year? Taking the fan to a Toronto Raptors game, a treat this year, really, because the team is doing so great. Although there aren’t that many seats left for the next few games, the season lasts a few months and so there are more chances to catch a game or two before the season ends. Same goes for tickets to a Maple Leafs game this season.

Tickets to a Local Attraction

Visiting a local attraction is a great family outing opportunity. And Toronto has many to choose from, such as the Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Ontario Science Centre, the Royal Ontario Museum, the CN Tower, Casa Loma and the Art Gallery of Ontario, amongst others. Some of them, like the Toronto Zoo ($195—2 adults and up to 4 children), the Aquarium (Adults $125/Kids $80) and the Ontario Science Centre ($130, 2 Adults/Up to 4 kids), have family annual memberships so these can truly be the gifts that keep on giving, as you can enjoy many family outings (P.A. days, vacation days, summer days) throughout the year for the enjoyment of kids and adults alike. For movie lovers another great choice is buying dinner and a movie packages, especially around the holidays when it’s a good idea to have something to do with everyone if you took time off work to enjoy as a family.

Lessons or Hobbies

These always make great presents, as they are also a great way to discover your kids likes and passions and who knows? It may also dictate what they decide to do with their lives in the future. Cooking and music lessons may seem like a chore for them at times, but when you’re an adult, with all the stress and headaches that life can bring, being able to whip up a great meal or spend a bit of time playing a beautiful melody— trust me, your kids will thank you for the time spent learning those skills. And it doesn’t even have to be all for kids. Taking dance lessons with your significant other, or taking a wine or beer making workshop can be a great present and a lot of fun during the holiday season or even after. Or buy an exercise package (zumba, kickboxing, swimming) with a sibling or a friend and spend some time together getting fit after indulging in all that food and drinks over the holidays.

Whatever experience you choose to give or be a part of, be it with your family, spouse/partner, friends or even for yourself, remember: clothes and material possessions will give you instant gratification (it may be great for a bit but it’ll fade away sooner or later) and then they’ll be forgotten in a closet or in a box in your garage. The memories you build from the experiences you enjoy? Those will live forever. Like that famous contemporary Scarborough philosopher, Drake, once said, YOLO.