A good Christmas experience gift is something your grandchildren will enjoy and the adult at home can comfortably make happen. When you live far away, start with one of three options: an activity the family can enjoy whenever it suits them, a shared activity at an agreed time, or a local outing chosen with their parent.
You do not need to join a live call for the gift to feel personal. A few words about why you chose it can carry your part of the occasion.
Choose the kind of gift before choosing the product
If the family’s Christmas is already crowded, choose something they can use later. If you enjoy calls together, offer one specific activity. For an outing, ask their parent which nearby experience would fit.
A useful question is:
“Would the children enjoy something to do at home, a story together on a call, or an outing near you? I’d love to give them an experience, but I don’t want to add a job to your Christmas.”
Ask before booking. A surprise for the children can still be a plan the adults have agreed on.
Five experience gifts to consider
1. A personal story to enjoy when it suits them
Tell a short story about a Christmas you remember, a funny family moment, or a place you explored together. You can write it, record yourself telling it, or send a photograph with a few lines about what happened. Send it privately to their parent to review and share.
Give the story a small invitation: “Which part would you have liked best?” or “What would you have done next?” The children can talk about it at home without having to send an answer.
- What arrives: your own story or message, in a format the parent can open.
- Live attendance or travel: neither is needed.
- Parent effort: opening it and, if needed, reading it aloud.
- Who it suits: one child or siblings who enjoy hearing about their family.
- Ongoing commitment: none, unless you choose to arrange more stories together.
This is a gift you can make yourself. It does not need a paid recording service, a new app or a performance from the children.
2. A shared book session
Choose a book the household already owns, or ask their parent to help select one. Arrange a time to read together by phone or video call. If seeing the illustrations matters, make sure the children have a way to see them clearly.
You could read a chapter, take turns with a confident reader, or let the children choose which picture to talk about. Stop before the book is finished if that suits the children.
- What arrives: an invitation to read together, plus a book only if you have agreed to send one.
- Live attendance or travel: a call needs an agreed time; travel is not required.
- Parent effort: helping with the call and any reading or page-turning support.
- Who it suits: a child who likes books, or siblings happy to share the same story.
- Ongoing commitment: one session can be the whole gift. Do not make it a weekly appointment unless everyone wants that.
If arranging a call is the difficult part, choose a gift that works without one rather than making the family fit a new appointment into Christmas Day.
3. An at-home activity for the household
Give the family a reason to gather around something they already like: a cooperative puzzle, a read-aloud adventure, a drawing challenge or a game they have been wanting to try. A shared activity can be a good choice for siblings, provided everyone has a way to take part.
For a simple homemade version, send a drawing invitation: “Design the most unlikely sleigh you can imagine. Each person gets to add one feature.” The family can use supplies they already have and tell you about it another time if they wish.
- What arrives: clear activity instructions, or the access described by the seller if you buy a digital experience.
- Live attendance or travel: neither needs to be part of the plan.
- Parent effort: checking the activity, opening or setting it up, and helping where needed.
- Who it suits: a household that enjoys doing things together. Check whether a purchased activity covers one child, one household or something else.
- Ongoing commitment: choose a one-off activity unless the parent specifically wants a subscription.
4. A local outing chosen with their parent
A theatre visit, swimming session, museum visit or class can make a lovely gift when the family genuinely wants to go. Start with their interests and practical needs, then choose the venue together.
- What arrives: the tickets, booking confirmation or voucher specified by the provider.
- Live attendance or travel: you need not attend, but someone at home must take the children there.
- Parent effort: checking dates, travelling, supervising and possibly arranging transport or parking.
- Who it suits: a family that has named an outing they would enjoy.
- Ongoing commitment: check whether it is one visit, a course or a renewing membership.
Count the whole outing, not just the children’s tickets. Ask about accompanying-adult tickets, travel and any required equipment before deciding what your gift covers. A generous gift should not leave the parent with unexpected costs.
5. A contribution to an outing the family chooses
If you do not know their local options, let the parent choose. You can offer a set contribution towards a family day out and agree privately how they would like to receive it.
Give the children a personal note about the occasion: “This is towards a day out you can choose together. I hope you find something you’re all excited about.”
- What arrives: the contribution you agreed with the parent, with your note.
- Live attendance or travel: no call with you is necessary; travel depends on their eventual choice.
- Parent effort: choosing and arranging the outing, so ask whether that flexibility would help.
- Who it suits: a family with changing plans or a particular experience in mind.
- Ongoing commitment: keep the amount and any conditions clear. Avoid creating an open-ended promise.
Do not buy a venue-specific voucher simply because it looks more like a present. First check that the family can use it, wants to go and can meet any booking deadline.
One receiving household or several
When siblings share a home
Imagine two grandchildren with different reading abilities. A shared puzzle might work if one can read clues while the other points, chooses or moves pieces. An activity that makes the younger child wait through every turn may be less suitable, even if its advertised age range seems broad enough.
Ask the parent which format would involve both children. If you buy something, check the household entitlement rather than assuming “family” means every sibling is included. Make clear whether you are giving one shared experience or a separate gift to each child.
When your grandchildren live in different homes
Choose with each household separately. One family may love a call; another may prefer an activity they can use after Christmas. The gifts can be equally thoughtful without being identical.
Check each seller’s terms before buying for several homes. A purchase for one household does not automatically include another address, another device or a link you can forward to everyone. If a multi-household option is not clearly described, ask before paying.
What to check before buying an experience gift
Before paying, confirm:
- What exactly will arrive? Look for the actual deliverable: a ticket, a physical kit, an email, a download or an access link. Check who receives it and whether the parent must create an account or supply any details.
- Will it work where the family lives? Check country restrictions, currency, device requirements, internet access and whether printing or extra materials are needed.
- Can everyone take part? Look beyond the age label. Check reading demands, adult help, themes and any accessibility features the family needs, such as captions, readable text or alternatives to timed tasks.
- Who is covered? Confirm the number of children, adults or households included. Check the rules for sharing access rather than assuming a private link is a gift code.
- What dates and costs apply? Look for booking deadlines, expiry, additional adult tickets, recurring billing and any later costs the family would have to cover.
- What happens if plans change? Read the seller’s cancellation, refund and rescheduling terms. For digital gifts, check when access starts and how long it lasts.
If an important answer is missing, ask the seller before buying.
Once you have chosen the gift
The next step is a simple agreement with the adult at home about when and how the family will enjoy it. Our Christmas from far away guide has the practical handoff, a personal-message example and a fallback for a missed call.
If you would like a free place to explore first, visit the Santa’s Notes Village. Its online North Pole guide explains the free activities. Browsing together can be an occasion of its own; you do not have to buy something afterwards.
Questions grandparents often ask
What can I give if we cannot arrange a live call?
Choose a personal story, an at-home activity they can use later, or an outing arranged with their parent. A note in your own words can make it personal without a call.
Which experience gifts do not involve travel?
An at-home family activity, a personal story and a shared book session can all work without a journey. Agree any materials or adult help with the parent first.
Can I give something without a printer?
Yes. A story, a call or an activity read from a screen can avoid printing. Check any purchased game’s instructions: a digital download may still require printed clues.
Is one experience enough for several grandchildren?
Yes, if each child can join in and the purchase covers them. Children in separate homes may need separate purchases or a different arrangement.
Can I give an experience before choosing a date?
Yes, if the provider allows flexible booking or you are offering an outing to arrange later. Be clear about what has been booked, and confirm plans with the parent before announcing a specific event to the children.
Does an experience gift have to cost money?
No. Your own story, time together with a book or a small homemade activity can be the gift. Let the receiving family decide when it fits.