“What was your favorite gift this year?”
How many times have you asked that to your son, daughter, husband, niece, or nephew? Maybe they remember a big-ticket item, like a computer, a smartphone, or Xbox. But it’s just as likely that they remember nothing at all.
Why? Because too often, we end up buying for the sake of buying. Of course, our intentions are good, but don’t we want to give gifts that are fun and useful? As the shopping list gets longer and the shopping season winds down, it’s easy to fall back on tried-and-true items like toys or clothes.
A HOLIDAY OF THINGS SOON BECOMES A HOUSEFUL OF STUFF
The average 10-year-old in the developed world owns over 200 toys – and likely play regularly with just a dozen of them. Then there’s the clothes: the average family spends over $1,500 on clothes annually, but gives away or donates over 200 pounds of them a year.
To be sure, holidays aren’t the only causes of this crisis of clutter, but they’re a big part of it.
THIS YEAR, TRY FILLING SPACE IN A HEART, A MEMORY, OR A PHOTO ALBUM INSTEAD
Interestingly, researchers have found that a person’s joy with material gifts diminishes over time. Even the nicest phone or hottest toy becomes commonplace as we get used to it. But special occasions and experiences? Our memories of those times seem to grow fonder with time.
Several research studies have concluded that shared family time and experiences have even more important long-term benefits, like:
· Closer family bonding
· Fewer behavioral problems in children
· A stronger sense of identity
· A sense of security for children
· Higher rates of academic success
Sure, that’s a lot to ask of a holiday gift! Hey and no one’s saying to ditch the wrapping paper and only give experiences this holiday. Still, replacing a few store-bought gifts with some cool experiences is worth considering.
Here’s a bonus: Experiences turn out to be a great gift for you, too. It can mean quality time with your kids – or a welcome respite during that long holiday break from school.
DO EXPERIENCE GIFTS HAVE TO BE EXOTIC (I.E., EXPENSIVE)?
We’re not talking Disney World, Caribbean cruises, or tickets to the Super Bowl. Experiences can be affordable. Just be creative. Need inspiration? Consider gifting a day with us! Here at Supercharged
Entertainment Edison, our Multi-Level Indoor Karting Track is the World’s Largest, and great for older kids and adults alike. Or give the gift of Luxury Axe Throwing, Arcade Games, or our Drop & Twist Tower or Bionic Bumper Cars. No midnight mall crawls on Black Friday. No website glitches on Cyber Monday. Make it easy & purchase our experiences right here at https://www.superchargednj.com/gift-cards/
START AN EXPERIENCE TRADITION WITH YOUR FAMILY
Even if you’ve already purchased gifts for this year, consider adding some experiences as well, or slowly transitioning to more experience-based gifts over the next few years. The family time and memories are worth so much more than gifts, and statistically speaking, giving experiences may help reduce your stress levels and contribute to family bonding.
Not to mention, gift experiences can be a whole lot more fun to unwrap and who wouldn’t love to receive the gift of the WORLD’S LARGEST!