To gift experiences rather than presents?

For an adult, yes. For a child not really. But at least it's not a goat.

My partner bought me a goat once.

And my kids.

In Africa.

We didn't want or appreciate a fucking goat in Africa.

And I bet the goat didn't even exist. Or the child who apparently had our apparent goats. Fucking expensive those African goats too. More than they are in the UK.

I guess it depends if they kids enjoy the activities or if it's about you enjoying them and thinking they should too. Or maybe combining the two- a physical gift and a ticket to an event? Depending on the age of the child, if my 5yo opened an envelope with a ticket to something he would probably be disappointed. If it was a teenage me, Id have loved it.

I much prefer 'doing' over 'having' so ever since my daughter was a teen the main present is an activity, same for my husband and me. We've gifted go ape, escape rooms, spa days, sky dives, theatre tickets, meals at fancy restaurants, driving experiences, days out, weekends away. Loads of great memories, something to look forward to after the birthday/Christmas celebrations are over. Everyone is different, but we find it hard to think of things we really want, but easy to think of thinks we'd like to do, places we'd like to go.

Age 7 or 8 if they wanted passionately to see frozen the musical or whatever...yes.

My 3 yr old would either be annoyed and want to know where her "real present" was or pulling on her shoes to "go now" at 6.52am christmas day for a show held in mid-jan 😵‍💫

Well I dont disagree as such but as a family we do experiences as they are nice to do as part of being in a family so for young kids they may not get the gift aspect, when older if it is something they would like I would have no problem with it, but to me it is what the children want not what we have decided they should have

Sounds a bit crap if your kids are young

I’ve done that for big birthdays, I feel it’s something that will never be lost or broken.

christmas - well if that’s what they asked for otherwise I think a present is better, maybe a gift and money towards or some tickets . Mind you I’m talking adults.

my GDs I always gift them annually zoo passes because their parents ask for that as a family, but they all get a gift too, a five year old wants something in paper and a bow not an envelope.

I think most young kids would be less enthusiastic as it as it would take away some of the pleasure of having a pile of presents and playing with them immediately afterwards on Christmas day. Telling kids to wait to enjoy a water park later in the holidays might be a bit less exciting for them.

If they’re little I’d definitely do presents. If they’re adults then they might enjoy experiences. One of my favourite Christmas gifts comes from my mother in law and is a gift voucher to a wonderful restaurant in a nearby historic town.

Have your DCs ever expressed interest in the kind of things you want to buy them ? If not then wouldn't do it
If they have is it the only gift they will get tbh I'd not be impressed with not having any gift to open on Christmas day and having to wait for weeks/ months for x show / event to come around .
Unless you never normally go for meals out or you are really going to splash out a meal out is not a Christmas gift imo.

Isn't it about what would give your children the most pleasure, rather than what you think they should enjoy @BigFishLittleFishy