The How-to Guide on Holiday Gifting: Experiences and Secondhand Treasures

Christmas: that magical season when kids are vibrating with sugar and excitement and parents are quietly wondering where on earth the new avalanche of toys is going to go. If your home already feels like a cross between a Montessori classroom and a LEGO crime scene, you are not alone.

I grew up in a family whose love language was gift-giving, and sometimes it's physically painful to recondition myself away from over-consumption. Giving you something means I love you, right? If I don't give a gift they'll think I don't care, right??? Well... I think we all know where this is going. Say it with me: Stuff does not equal love.

So if you're anxious about cutting the consumer cord, here's your permission to give them a hug, or tell them you love them instead. Here's permission to tell them that's what you want too, or that your kids will be delighted with a secondhand treasure, if they must buy something. 

The good news: when it come to experiences and secondhand, Geneva is amazing for gifting experiences and finding beautiful secondhand treasures that won’t contribute to the Big Plastic Mafia. 

But how to do it without killing the joy?

1. First Things First: Set Expectations. 

When talking to kids about what they want for the holidays, get them excited about something other than gifts: decorating the tree, making cookies, seeing family. And when it does inevitably come around to gifts, get enthusiastic about the idea of a class or an experience. We’re not saying don’t gift anything at all, but maybe tell kids they can ask for three things. Anything more is sugar on the Gingerbread house.

Tell family members too! Take the awkwardness away and give them concrete ideas about where to get secondhand toys or, that the promise of a trip to the trampoline park at Le Moll is what they really want. 

2. Gift Experiences Kids Actually Want (And You Won’t Regret)

Art & Craft Workshops
Association les Createliers, Maison de la Créativité, and Kids and Family Friendly are great options. They offer workshops where children can paint, sculpt, or craft something gloriously messy. And (toot our own horn) we’re offering Upcycling Classes for kids 8-12 in January for aspiring eco-fashionistas!

Sports
Totem offers kids’ climbing classes and introductory passes. Or maybe it’s time to try Judo! Breakdancing class? A day with you at Bains de Cressy? A “ticket” to go sledding in the Jura. There are a zillion great activities for kids to release all that energy. Maybe you were going to do these activities anyway, but gifting them is a great way to amp up the excitement.

Animal Adventures
Because nothing beats spending an afternoon looking at snakes, giant spiders, and lizards, offer a trip to the Vivarium. Or a poney ride at Blackyland. Or the chance to see lemurs at the Biopark in Versoix. 

2. Where to Find Secondhand Toys in Geneva (The Good Stuff!)

I'm going to tell you a secret - your kids do not need new toys. They do not care if the toy they get is new. I promise. There are SO MANY good toys out there just waiting to be loved again. Here’s where to find them:

Treehouse Circular (obviously!)
Yes, we’re biased, but we’re also right. Thoughtful, gently-used toys and books curated for quality, not clutter. No broken puzzles or sad stuffed animals—we promise.

The Marche de Noel des Enfants on Dec 10 (14-17h) at Bastions. Join the fun and let your kids sell their old toys and pick up some pre-loved treasures. 

CSP (Centre Social Protestant)
Their boutiques are treasure troves. You have to dig a little, but the gems are there: wooden puzzles, dolls, scooters, train sets, all at very fair prices.

The CSP Renfile in Plan-les-Ouates will host the Eco-Marché on Dec 12 where there will be tons of pre-loved toys, books and eco-friendly gifts for everyone.

Emmaüs Geneva
A classic. The toy section can feel a bit overwhelming, but the bargains are unbeatable.

Association Babyloop in Geneva stocks both new and pre-loved toys. A bit heavy on plastic, but at least it’s not new plastic. 

Ricardo, Anibis, Facebook Marketplace
Great for finding larger items in your area — LEGO sets, Playmobil kits, dollhouses.

3. Make it Interactive.

Let’s face it, kids still love to unwrap stuff. But unwrapping is often 90% of the gift joy. So go ahead and wrap up a little symbol of that experience - a tiny toy snake or pony, a pre-loved Ninja Turtle. HeyBossMama has a lovely new book out that helps you and your little collect and keep these experiences in an interactive way.

Or check out our tutorial on Instagram for how to make pop-up gift cards that are huge crowd-pleasers (and fun to make!).

And if you're really on a roll, paint some of those millions of half-colored drawings you have lying around and wrap them in that! 

Let us know your own tips and tricks for making the holidays less about stuff and more about creating memories together!