Northwest Arkansas Shopping Guide: Experience Gifts

If your house is already full of “stuff” that the kids don’t play with nearly as much as you’d hoped, consider giving a few “gifts of experience” this year. These types of gifts will give your kids experiences, memories and skills that can last throughout their lifetime.

Kaleidoscope

The Gift of Dance: Our bodies are designed to move, so give your kids the gift of dance in 2017. Purchase a package of lessons, a summer dance camp or even individual lessons with a private instructor. Kaleidoscope is a Mom-Approved Winner for “Best Dance Studio” and is known not only for its outstanding instructors but also for its commitment to values that are important to parents (which means no inappropriate dance music, costumes that are too revealing, or choreography that isn’t age appropriate.) The studio offers lessons in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, contemporary, acrobatics and more. (There are adult classes available, too, and this studio is home to a very strong group of male dancers.)

Having seen this place in action ourselves, the atmosphere at the studio is welcoming, upbeat and absolutely committed to the proper teaching techniques. Click here for more info about the studio.

Studio location: 900 SE Village Loop, Bentonville, Ark.

How to contact: Call studio owner Laine Harper at 479-464-5977 and ask about pre-purchasing lessons. Click here to get updates on Facebook.

The Jones Center

Left: Did you know that you can give your kids ice skating lessons at The Jones Center? The rink is huge and the instructors are amazing. There are several different classes available for various age groups. Cost is about $50, if you register early. (The next session starts in January, so this would be a perfect Christmas or Hannukah gift!) If your kids are already great skaters, consider giving them an ice skating party with their friends. It’ll be something fun to look forward to after the excitement of the holidays is over.  Click here for info on ice skating lessons and ice skating parties.

Center: This could be the gift that your kids flip for — literally. Wrap up a gift certificate for gymnastics classes in 2017. (Or you could purchase a 90-minute gymnastics party at The Jones Center and invite up to 25 friends!) Kids as young as preschool up through ages 8 and older can take lessons or do parties. Click here for info on gymnastics lessons and gymnastics parties.

Right: This is a gift idea your kids will never see coming. Give them a gift certificate for a swimming party in the middle of winter! Because The Jones Center pool is indoors, it won’t matter if there is snow on the ground when your kids and up to 25 friends want to go swimming (and sliding down that awesome yellow water slide.) Again, it’s a great way to give your kids something fun to look forward to after the holiday excitement begins to fade. Click here for info about swim parties at The Jones Center.

The Jones Center location: 922 E. Emma Ave., Springdale, Ark.

How to contact: Call 479-756-8090; Visit the website; Follow on Instagram; Visit on Facebook; Follow on Twitter; See more on Pinterest; Watch on YouTube.