Looking for experience gifts for teens or tweens? Our guide will offer you lots of ideas for experiences for teenagers.
Experience gifts for teenagers make a fantastic alternative to material gifts.
Finding experiences and activities for teens can be a challenge. It’s often tricky to encourage teens and tweens to step away from the familiar and engage in new things. They often become more self-conscious and scathing about whether something is ‘cool’ and whether they’ll look silly doing it.
Nevertheless, in today’s digital age, it’s essential to encourage teens to step away from screens and explore the world around them through activities which might inspire creativity, have opportunities for teamwork, and boost their confidence. And let’s not forget the importance of simply having fun.
That’s where this guide comes in. We have some great ideas for you when it comes to experience gifts for teens. They’ll provide memories which will last a lifetime.
Outdoor Experience Gifts for Teens
Outdoor gift experiences for kids are a fantastic way to encourage exploration and adventure while also encouraging a love of nature.
Engaging in outdoor activities such as camping trips, hiking, or water sports at the beach ensures teens have time away from screens while also boosting physical fitness and mental well-being.
Outdoor experiences teach teens important life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. They’ll develop confidence, self-reliance, and a deeper appreciation for the environment that surrounds them. Outdoor experiences can also strengthen social bonds: teens will often get to share memorable moments and build friendships during these activities.
Make sure they get a break from their phone with these outdoor activity gifts for teens:
1. A camping trip
A camping trip is a wonderful gift idea for teens as it offers a chance to disconnect from screens, connect with nature, and build essential outdoor skills like setting up a camp and cooking over a fire.
If you’re interested in outdoor experiences for teens, I have some great outdoor gift ideas for teens in my post on the best gifts for teen boys.
2. Rock climbing
Rock climbing is an exciting gift idea for teens that promotes physical fitness, boosts confidence through conquering challenges, and encourages teamwork when climbing with friends or family. Choose from an outdoor experience or an indoor climbing wall.
Rock climbing is one of my picks for birthday party activities for teens and tweens.
3. Watersports at the beach
Watersports at the beach (or a lake or river, if you’re not near a beach) are thrilling gift experiences for teens. Choose from surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing, sailing or scuba diving. These activities are certain to encourage a love for the ocean and outdoor adventure.
4. Sports masterclass
A sports masterclass is an excellent gift for teens passionate about sports and fitness. They’ll get access to expert coaching in order to enhance their skills, learn new techniques, and ignite a deeper love for their favourite sport.
Sports are also a great choice when it comes to summer camps for teens.
Creative Experience Gifts for Teens
Creative gift experiences are excellent for teens as they encourage self-expression, boost happiness and well-being and offer a break from study and phone use!
Whether you have an arty, creative child or not, creative activities such as art workshops, music lessons, or writing classes will allow them to develop new skills and potentially discover new talents.
Creative experience gifts for teens will also encourage problem-solving and offer the chance to use the right side of their brain (the ‘artistic’ side) for a while!
5. Painting workshop
A painting workshop is an ideal gift for arty teens offering an opportunity for self-expression and developing fine motor skills and spatial awareness too. It can also be a relaxing and therapeutic outlet for teens, promoting mindfulness.
6. Pottery class
A pottery class makes an excellent gift for teens interested in arts and crafts – or those up for trying something new. It offers a hands-on experience where teens will also have a tangible item they can take home with them afterwards.
7. Photography class
A photography class is a fantastic gift for teens passionate about creating and sharing images. It’ll teach fundamental photography skills like composition, lighting, and editing, so teens can start capturing and sharing their unique perspectives through the lens. One of my top picks for teenager experience days.
8. Cookery class
A practical and fun gift for teens who want to expand their culinary skills. Hopefully, a cookery class will share essential cooking tips, skills and lessons but will also instil a lifelong appreciation for good food and healthy eating habits.
Not only are they likely to have lots of fun and feel a sense of accomplishment, but a cookery class will also set them up to become more independent and have some recipes in their repertoire for college or university.
9. Creative writing workshop
This is an inspiring gift for teens who love storytelling and language. With support, teens can find their unique voice, develop characters, create engaging plots, and express their thoughts and emotions creatively.
New Experiences for Teens
New experiences are incredibly valuable for teens as they promote a deeper understanding of the world around them. They’ll encourage teens to step out of their comfort zones and develop important life skills such as adaptability, problem-solving and independence.
By trying new things, teens will develop a deeper understanding of different cultures and backgrounds, make new friends and be more prepared for future challenges and opportunities. New experiences are character-building.
10. Festival tickets
Festival tickets make one of the most incredible experience gifts for teens offering an immersive experience filled with music, art, and culture. Attending a festival on their own or with friends may or may not be appropriate, depending on their age. If your teen is younger, you may want (or need) to accompany them.
If they’re older, make sure you have a chat with them first about how they can look after themselves and also look out for their friends.
11. Concert tickets
An exciting gift for teens, tickets to a concert they really want to go to is a memorable and exhilarating experience. This experience will create lasting memories for sure.
12. City break
A city break is one of the best teenager experience gifts for teens who enjoy adventure and exploration. It offers a chance to discover new places, experience different cultures, and try new activities and food! A city break will broaden their worldview and hopefully, they’ll get bitten by the travel bug and be planning their next trip soon.
Check out my post on travel gifts for teens if you want to add a physical gift to your city break experience.
13. Dining at a famous restaurant
Dining at a famous restaurant is a special gift for teens who appreciate culinary experiences (and the high life). This is a gift which will inspire teens to appreciate fine dining and develop a sophisticated palate (perhaps).
14. Zookeeper for a day
One of my personal favourite teenager experience gifts, becoming a zookeeper for a day is a unique and educational gift for teens interested in animals and conservation.
It’s a hands-on experience that will allow your teen to work alongside professional zookeepers and learn about animal care and behaviour. Plus, they’ll be able to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts – you never know, it might encourage a desire to become a conservationist as an adult.
Check out the best animal experience days in the UK for ideas.
Activity Gifts for Teens
Activity gifts for teens are a great way to encourage a sense of exploration and curiosity, actively engaging with the world around them. Activity gifts promote social interaction and potentially teamwork, helping teens to build relationships and communication skills.
Activity gifts provide teens with opportunities to learn, connect, and gain experience in various aspects of life.
15. Escape room
Choosing an escape room experience for your teen will have them testing their problem-solving skills and teamwork abilities. They’ll have to decipher clues and work together to escape within a set time frame. Hopefully, it’ll be good fun, and create opportunities for bonding (and not too many arguments)!
16. Theme park
For those adrenaline junkies, a visit to a theme park is an exciting gift. From exhilarating rides and attractions to themed lands, a day out at a theme park will be an unforgettable day of fun and adventure.
17. Go Ape
Go Ape, an outdoor adventure course featuring zip lines, treetop obstacles, and challenges, is a perfect gift for teens who love outdoor activities and thrills. They’ll definitely feel a sense of accomplishment once they’ve finished.
18. Theatre trip
A theatre trip is a great idea for teens interested in the arts and performance. It’ll spark their imagination, broaden their horizons and they’ll get to experience the magic of live theatre. Big productions in the West End or on Broadway are a real treat, but smaller, more intimate productions can be really special too.
Tech Experience Gifts for Kids
If you have a teen who is into tech, a tech experience gift will go down well. Engaging in tech activities such as robotics workshops, coding classes, or virtual reality experiences introduces kids to new concepts and hands-on learning, preparing kids for a potentially technology-driven future.
Tech experience gifts might also ignite a passion for innovation and experimentation and offer insights into the rapidly evolving world of technology, preparing them for future opportunities.
19. VR experience
A VR (Virtual Reality) experience is an exciting gift for teens who enjoy technology and immersive entertainment. Your teen will be able to step into virtual worlds and play interactive games in a way they probably haven’t experienced before. VR experiences can be both thrilling and educational (it’ll depend on what you choose), but either way, it’s likely we’ll see much more of virtual world experiences.
20. Robotics workshop
If your teen is interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), then a robotics workshop may inspire them further. They’ll have hands-on experience building and programming robots, problem-solving and working as a team. A great option if you’re looking for experience gifts for teen boys.
21. Coding class
A coding class is a valuable gift for teens eager to learn computer programming and software development. It offers teens the opportunity to acquire coding skills, create their own applications or games, and understand the fundamentals of computer science. Coding classes empower teens to become proficient in a highly sought-after skill that opens doors to endless possibilities in the digital realm.”
22. Karaoke session
A karaoke session is a fun gift for teens who love music and enjoy singing. It’s sociable (and entertaining). It makes a great party idea and also comes highly recommended as one of the best experience gifts for tweens.
23. Immersive art exhibition
Art exhibitions have changed – while teens might not want to go to a traditional art gallery, they’ll probably love an immersive art exhibition. An immersive art exhibition may feature interactive installations, multimedia displays, and innovative artworks that engage the senses and inspire the imagination. We loved visiting Delight in London recently – au media art exhibition featuring lights, sound and beautiful visuals.
Experience Gift Ideas for Teens: The Verdict
Experience gifts offer more than just material items—they provide opportunities for growth, exploration and well-being. Plus they’ll also provide lasting memories.
Whether you book a creative workshop, plan an outdoor adventure, or find some fantastic tech or cultural experiences near you, these gifts will ignite curiosity, build important life skills, and ensure personal development.
Experience gift ideas for teens will encourage teens to step out of their comfort zones, connect with others, and discover new passions. By prioritising experiences over possessions, we can support teens to embrace life’s adventures, make meaningful connections, and help shape them into confident, well-rounded individuals ready to take on the future with enthusiasm and purpose.
