What do you do when you don't have space for anything else in your home and the holiday season is approaching and you're already freaking out about all of the kids' triggers related to the holiday season?

Since moving into our small home we do not have room for more stuff. Just the thought of more toys, books, and other miscellaneous items makes me anxious.

So, we're doing something else this year for Christmas.

Instead of giving the children a ton of gifts this year, we're giving them family experiences.

It's our new Christmas tradition!

Giving Family Experiences-Our New Christmas Tradition

Giving Family Experiences: Our New Minimalist Christmas Tradition

Giving family experiences for Christmas will also help with managing anxieties, PSTD triggers, autism struggles, and behaviors related to Reactive Attachment Disorder.

It's amazing how the process of giving and receiving gifts affects a child's ability to function in different ways.

If you're not familiar with our story or your family is struggling during the holiday season as well, be sure to check out our book, Holidays and PTSD: A Parent's Guide to Survival.

I am so excited about this alternative with so many fewer triggers for everyone!

It also brings me great joy to embrace minimalism in as many ways as we can during the holiday season!

Giving Family Experiences for Christmas: Great Wolf Lodge

Our Plans for Giving Experiences for Christmas

Here's how we've worked it out. Grandparents are giving specific experiences aka family passes to some of our favorite places.

We as parents will be giving the kids a vacation where we will use a majority of the passes.

We will also be spoiling the kids with the luxuries a vacation can bring such as eating at their favorite restaurants, staying in a hotel, participating in special activities we wouldn't normally do.

And just in case you're wondering if the kids are on board, or if we made this decision ourselves, we let the kids decide.

Yep! That's right! They chose vacation over presents. I'm smiling from ear to ear just thinking about.

Goodbye holiday stress!

Hello fun and relaxation!

Now before you get all worried that my children will not receive any gifts for Christmas, know the agreement is that each person in the family will buy one small gift for everyone else, which will be opened on Christmas morning.

Each person will also receive their stocking filled with fun goodies which seems to be what was most important to each kiddo.

Our Christmas vacation will take place the first week in December when my husband is able to take time off and when it's least busy with kids and college students still in school.

This will hopefully make up for the fact that Daddy has to work every holiday until the end of the year.

Since deciding on this tradition, we've followed through with a vacation almost every first week in December.

No matter how tight finances are, we make it work by choosing a destination that will fit our budget.

Giving Family Experiences for Christmas: Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

How to Come Up with Family Experience Ideas

Though your family may not live where we do, we hope that these family experience gift ideas will provide inspiration for you.

Consider the following questions when coming up with family experience ideas.

Where would your family go if you could pick a mini vacation destination?
Are there special places of interest close to doctors, specialists, and/or therapist offices?
What are your children interested in currently in regards to history and science?
What places have age appropriate activities where your children will feel comfortable?

Important Reminders!

When purchasing tickets and passes, it's important to remember the ages of the children.

Be aware of varying prices for in state versus out of state residents. At some places being a resident of the city or county can provide opportunities for huge discounts.

Consider a special experience within an experience.

Most places offer an initial price for entrance but also offer other unique opportunities that must be paid for. There are so many ways to make an experience extra special!