Less Stuff, More Joy: Our Gifting Approach

Dec 1

Simplify the Season | Clutter-Free Holiday Tips from a Pro Organizer

This post is part of our “Simplifying the Season” holiday blog series. Don’t miss the first two posts How I Stay Organized During the Holidays as a Busy Mom and Why Decluttering Kids’ Toys Before the Holidays Matters. Stay tuned for the last post in the series coming soon!

Thoughtful Holiday Gifting: Why We Prioritize Experiences Over Stuff

It’s easy for families to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toys that accumulate after the holidays. At Sort It Out, we try to minimize the post-holiday clutter by embracing thoughtful, intentional gifting—especially when it comes to our children.

Why We Choose Experiences Over Things

Whenever possible, we ask family members to gift our children experiences rather than more toys. One of my favorite examples was for my son’s birthday: instead of buying traditional presents, both sets of grandparents and our immediate family pooled our gift budgets to bring a reptile show to our home through Jason Levinson & Co. Despite my fear of snakes, I’ll never forget my son’s amazement when turtles, snakes, and even a small alligator arrived at our door.

We’re part of a large extended family, and even when everyone tries to keep gifts modest, it adds up quickly. When choosing what to give, I always keep in mind that our kids are likely receiving gifts from multiple relatives—and that helps limit me. We also make a point to let family and friends know that our children are truly content without additional gifts. When hosting birthday parties, our invitations always include a gentle reminder that no presents are necessary. This helps set expectations and keeps the focus on celebrating together rather than accumulating more stuff.

During the pandemic, when we were limited to staying home, we skipped traditional gifts and instead pooled our funds to buy a used rock wall for our basement. It’s been five years and our kids are still climbing on it weekly, often paired with their Nugget cushions for even more creative play.

Whether the gift is for a child or an adult, experiences and services tend to have a lasting impact. Over the years, we’ve gifted cleaning services to our parents or even contributed toward travel for milestone birthdays.

We’re lucky to live in the Washington, DC area, which offers countless opportunities for memorable, enriching experiences. Below are some of our favorite local experience gifts to consider for children of all ages.

Local Experience Gifts for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Elementary-Aged Kids

The Toy Nest (Falls Church, VA): A creative toy library where kids can borrow toys and return them when they’re ready for something new. A dream come true for parents trying to minimize clutter.
Little Towns Children’s Museum (Bethesda, MD): A beautifully maintained, imaginative play space that our kids adored when they were younger.
Ice Skating Adventures: We make a seasonal family bucket list every year. In winter, we love skating on the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden Ice Rink in D.C.. During the rest of the year, we visit MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington or SkateQuest in Reston.
Children’s Science Center Lab (Fairfax, VA): Located in Fair Oaks Mall, this interactive museum is a hit with preschool and elementary-age kids. Birthday parties here are especially fun!
Glen Echo Park (Cabin John, MD): One of our most magical play dates was seeing a children’s performance at this historic arts and culture park.

Local Experience Gifts for Tweens and Teens

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park (Springfield, VA or Rockville, MD): A ropes course among the trees—my son’s favorite outing and a great gift for adventurous kids.
KID Museum (Bethesda, MD): Open on Sundays, this nonprofit offers hands-on STEM learning in coding, woodworking, textiles, and robotics.
Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour: This year, we’re taking our oldest on a walking ghost tour through historic Old Town. It’s spooky, fun, and perfect for older kids.
Inside Ski Training Center (Leesburg, VA): Once a year, we splurge on a parent-child date here. It’s a great way to prep for ski season without ever leaving the DMV.
Top Golf (Ashburn, VA, Springfield, VA, or Germantown, MD): My kids love the snacks at Top Golf almost as much as the golfing.

Final Thoughts

This holiday season, consider skipping the plastic toys and leaning into experiences that create lasting memories. Whether it’s a family outing, a museum membership, or an unforgettable birthday surprise, experience-based gifts bring joy long after the wrapping paper is gone.

Looking to declutter before the holidays or prepare your home to receive new gifts in a more organized way? We can help! Contact Sort It Out to schedule a consultation and start the season feeling refreshed and ready.

This post is part of my holiday blog series, Simplifying the Season.
Catch the full series here: