4 Experience Gifts For The Dancer In Your Family!

Experience gift ideas will make you a hero with your children. Instead of gifts that soon collect dust, these gifts will become treasured memories.

Here's the dirty little secret of the holidays - some gifts are useless after a week. Every parent has learned this the hard way. From the moment your child rips open their bright, shiny gift and lights up a smile that assures it was all worth it, that toy or gadget will soon be abandoned and collecting dust. Your kid won't even play with it once a week, let alone every day.

So, to combat the useless gift crisis, we thought we'd compile a list of 4 great dance experiences that your child will love long after they open it up!

1 - Experiences for ages 2-5

Pre-school is a time for exploring a child's creativity, expression, and curiosity. Give your little one a 4 weeks gift card for a combination style dance class. Your child will be thrilled to try several different dance styles in the quintessential dance attire they see in their favorite books and movies.

How to Wrap it: Purchase a leotard, skirt, tights, ballet shoes and tap shoes. Attach a photo of them dancing to the gift card you purchased online.

How it will light up their Christmas morning: Your child will immediately want to put it all on. Then turn on their favorite song and watch them twirl. Remind them that in 10 days they will get to do it in a real dance room with new friends and fun music.

2 - Experiences for ages 6-9

Elementary is a time for your child to gain confidence in the activities that bring them the most joy. The challenge is to figure out what those activities are. Give your child a 4 class package that lets them try Hip hop, Ballet, Tumbling, Tap, Acting, Singing, and even Aerial Silks or Hoops. When they get to have the experience of each, they can truly know which one(s) to explore more in the new year.

How to Wrap it: Purchase a dance bag that your child will love. Inside the bag include photos of the different classes they get to try out along with the 4 class package.

How it will light up their Christmas morning: Ask them which class they want to try first. To help them decide, play their favorite song and watch them dance. If they act like a ballerina, start with ballet. If they go upside down or sing along, start with tumbling or singing. Then video them to commemorate the start of their journey.

3 - Experiences for ages 10-13

The tween years are a crucial time to develop healthy friendships and love of self. It is important to find activities that promote lifelong friendships and a healthy body image. Dance provides that and so much more. Find a local dance school that nurtures these values in their students. Give your child a year long month series of classes to allow them time to build confidence and friendships. With a monthly series they can have the chance to perform with their peer group and create amazing memories.

How to Wrap it: Print the class schedule they will join. Add the specific class attire they will need along with the gift card for Customizable Monthly Class Packages.

How it will light up their Christmas morning: Look through the schedule together to determine which class(es) they would like to join for the year. To help them decide, watch a couple of YouTube videos of each dance style. Have them write down the top 3 they want to explore this year and put it on the refrigerator. They will be encouraged to remember and look forward to starting.

4 - Experiences for ages 14-17

It's difficult to find the right gift for a teenager. They want experiences outside of the home. They want experiences that make them feel unique and comfortable. They want to hang out with friends and make their own memories. The challenge for parents is finding the experience that will let them do this, without getting into mischief. Find a dance school that offers teen only classes and purchase a gift card to a month's worth of classes. The fun part is giving them 2 gift cards; one for your child and one for their friend.

How to Wrap it: Purchase a picture frame and put the 2 gift cards inside. Print out the class schedule of teen specific classes that your child and their friend can enjoy together.

How it will light up their Christmas morning: Have your child decide which friend they would like to include in this experience. Then tell them to use the picture frame for the photo they will take during the experience. They will love you for giving them the chance to make their own memories to have for a lifetime.

There are endless experience gifts your aspiring dancer will love. So while you're searching for that special gift for your child, check out a dance experience that will continue to make them smile for years to come!

Laguna Niguel, CA