Give the gift of tradition

Start a holiday tradition with your gift to a new grandbaby ​

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Is there a new grandbaby in your family this year? Why not start a holiday tradition of a special gift that will show you have cherished them from the start? Starting a collection on their behalf, and adding to it each Christmas or Hanukkah, can make gift buying easy! Even better, it will provide them with something special when they are grown.

Just be careful to choose something that will be easy to take care of and store, and that won’t be outgrown. In other words, a new stuffed animal each year is not the best idea!

​Here are four ideas that grandchildren and their parents will love:
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Holiday books
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Buying a holiday-themed book each year is a popular tradition. There is as much fun in selecting one as there is in the opening! What’s more, these books will be read and enjoyed year after year. Start with a board book like Babies Love Christmas  or the classic The Night Before Christmas. We love the versions from Hollie Hobby and Mr. Boddington’s Studio,   but keep going back to the classic with illustrations by Christian Birmingham. You can find our suggestions for Hanukkah books for babies here. 

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Holiday ornament

​Choosing an ornament for your grandchild each year is another special way to celebrate. You can select one personalized with the year, or one that represents what they are interested in at each age. Either way, when they are all grown up, they will have a meaningful collection to decorate their own home. Check out Etsy  or Hallmark  for a wide variety of ornaments.
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​Commemorative coin

​One grandfather I know buys each of his grandchildren a commemorative silver dollar each year. The twist here is that he doesn’t give it to them. He keeps them safely stored, and when each child reaches 18, they will get the whole collection. They’ll know that Grandpa was thinking of them every year since their birth, and they’ll have something with a little value as they start their adult life. Find a local coin shop, or order directly from the mint in your country.

• United States: US Mint 
• UK: Royal Mint  
• Canada: Royal Canadian Mint 

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Memory Quilt

​If you are a crafty grandparent, another idea for a long-term gift is to start a quilt. Each year, ask mom or dad to give you something the child has outgrown, or choose a print that showcases something about them. Then create a quilt square with that fabric (or start an old-fashioned crazy quilt!). When your grandchild grows up and goes out into the world, they can wrap themselves in memories and love.
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Have you started a gift tradition with your grandchildren? Please share in the comments!