Experts Explain Why Vacations Make the Best Holiday Gifts for Kids; Better Than Expensive Toys!

If you’re feeling the pressure of Black Friday deals but want a meaningful alternative to high-priced toys, here’s some good news: giving your kids experiences instead of things may have a deeper impact on their well-being!

A 2017 study from The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships explored what makes people feel loved. Nearly 500 women, ages 18 to 93, were surveyed to answer the question, “Most people feel loved when…”. Surprisingly, their answers didn’t focus on receiving tangible gifts.

Dr. Zita Oravecz, one of the study’s authors and a professor of human development and family studies at Pennsylvania State University, explained, “Our research found that micro-moments of positivity, like a kind word, cuddling with a child or receiving compassion make people feel most loved,” during a conversation with NPR.

Psychological author Oliver James, in an interview with The Telegraph in 2017, made a similar observation about the simplicity of joy in children, stating “Give a 2-year-old a present and she’ll get absorbed in the box instead.”

James also noted the importance of exploration, adding, “It’s similar with children and travel. We should let them explore their own ways of finding wonder in their surroundings.”

Beyond creating cherished memories, family vacations can also foster lasting benefits to children’s growth. British child psychologist Dr. Margot Sunderland highlighted this in an article for The Telegraph, stating, “What is less widely known is that [vacations] can also advance brain development in children.”

Sunderland emphasized that vacations exercise two critical systems in the brain’s limbic area—the PLAY and SEEKING systems (as identified by Panksepp, 2016).

She elaborated, “The PLAY system is exercised every time you bury your child’s feet in the sand, tickle them on the pool lounger, or take them for a ride on your back. The SEEKING system is exercised each time you go exploring together: the forest, the beach, a hidden gem of a village.”

These explorative and playful moments, she explained, build essential skills, which later translate into creativity and problem-solving abilities, traits valued by entrepreneurs and innovators.

James added that vacations also allow families to step away from their daily pressures. “They are times when everyone can relax and be playful together,” he shared. This shared playtime, free from toys and gadgets, offers something uniquely fulfilling.

“It’s a crucial human experience, for children especially, but for adults too. Without it, life is very empty and lacking in joy,” he said.

Traveling with kids also allows them to see the world in unique and memorable ways, according to James. He noted, “Children see the world differently. Through consumption, for example: The way that French cafés have Orangina instead of Fanta is fascinating to kids, and details like that will stick with them for long after the [vacation] ends.”

When it comes to fostering joy and development, the choice between toys or experiences seems clear. A vacation, filled with play, exploration, and quality family time, might just be a gift that keeps giving long after it’s over.