The Best Gifts for Grandchildren
You Give the Best Gifts
Isn't that what you want to hear?
No matter what your grandchild's age, gift giving can be a tricky subject. Take time to ask their parents what sorts of gifts will be welcome and what they'd like to avoid. Read on for our gift suggestions for both grandsons and granddaughters, all approved by both parents and grandkids.
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Gifts for Babies and Toddlers
We know, we know, you’ve been waiting to be a grandparent for a long time and half the fun of that is buying all those cute outfits and stuffed animals. And while we don’t want to discourage you from having fun, we do want to suggest some gift options that will be more useful and make their parents much happier.
Every baby needs Lovevery.
Lovevery: If we could equip every baby with one kind of toys, it would be a subscription to Lovevery. Lovevery toys are designed by child development experts to give children the best play experiences for their developing brains. They offer both age-appropriate subscription boxes and single gift items like this 5-star rated play gym that will entertain baby for a full year. Read our full review here.
Start a savings account while they are young.
College fund: One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give your grandbaby is the chance at a college education. Start a fund now and contribute to it regularly, and the dividends it pays will be far beyond financial.
Make sure to invest in a program that will cover the cost of trade school or apprenticeships--not every child will want to go to college.
Create a personalized board book.
Custom Photo Book: Babies adore looking at pictures of faces, and what could be better than the faces of the people who love them? Pinhole Press creates high-quality board books out of the photos you send them. You can customize the text on every page, so the book you order is as special as your grandchild. It’s a great way to help your grandchild know you if you are at a distance. Order one here.
Photo Session: Hiring a professional photographer to capture these precious days is a gift for everyone. While the baby won't appreciate this gift this year, they will treasure it one day. To find a photographer near your grandchildren’s family, search on Photo Sesh.
Mommy and Me: One of the best gifts you can give is a set of parent and child classes. There are classes in music, swimming, yoga and more, all designed to help your new grandchild develop age-appropriate skills and strengthen the bond between parent and child. They are also a great way for new parents to meet other families. Check with your grandchild’s parents to see if they would enjoy something like this.
Books: Yes, babies need books, too. Reading to your baby or toddler builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills that are crucial to communication. There are so many wonderful books for this stage of life! Colorful pictures and simple storylines are key. Some of our favorites are:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
everything by Sandra Boynton
Moomins
Babies
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Gifts for Preschoolers
From ages 2-5, children are in a developmental explosion, and thoughtful gifts can help them as their language, motor skills and emotional intelligence develop.
Dress-ups provide hours of play.
Dress ups
Pretend play explodes around the age of three, and nothing is more fun than pretending to be someone else. A good dress-up box will contain elements that can be imagined in multiple ways, and the basic pieces might be lurking in your own closet. Hem an old party dress so it’s short enough for a little one. Check thrift stores for costume jewelry and hats, fancy shoes and clothes. Another great option is to purchase a kit of basics.
Good toys help develop motor skills.
Toys that Develop Motor Skills
Fine motor skills, like grasping and manipulation, develop rapidly if the right tools are provided. We love the moon balancing puzzle by Fuyage, which has multiple ways to play depending on the child’s age and skill.
This is also a key stage for developing large motor skills, so anything that gets the whole body moving is ideal. Look for a right-sized scooter, balance bike, or tricycle (don’t forget a helmet!). Or if your grandchild’s parents have the room and would like one, a slide or climbing gym is a great gift.
Zoo memberships make a great gift.
Memberships
A membership to the zoo, aquarium or children’s museum is a gift that will provide a year of enjoyment for the whole family. Again, check with your grandchild’s parents to see if this is something they’d like. To find a zoo or aquarium near your grandchildren's family, check the American Zoo Association directory. For other museums or activities, search for children’s activities in your grandchild’s hometown.
Books: Picture books allow a child to develop concentration and language skills. The best ones make reading them a pleasure for the adults in the family. We could recommend books all day, but our favorites include:
Unicorn (and Horse)
Pirate Stew
Silly Sally
Frog on a Log
The Hidden Rainbow
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza
Gifts for ages 5-10
Most children between ages 5 and 10 are fairly easy to please. The challenge lies in finding toys that enrich their imagination, activities that expand their horizons, and books that leave them wanting to read more. Here are a few ideas for this age group:
There is a subscription for every age & interest.
Subscription boxes: There is a subscription box for every age and interest! Green Kids Crafts delivers fun, creative and eco-friendly craft and STEM activities (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Think Outside offers a monthly box filled with outdoor gear and resources that will get your grandchildren away from a screen and outside exploring nature. Get 10% off your first box with coupon code THINK10.
Art supplies inspire creativity.
Arts and Crafts Supplies: The act of creating can keep a child absorbed for hours if they have the right tools. You can put together your own collection of craft supplies, or purchase a ready-made kit like the Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Library Set or the Crayola Inspiration Art Case.
Legos are a perennial favorite.
Legos: Legos are a perennial favorite for a reason. In addition to being a great toy, they help develop life skills like concentration, persistence and constructive problem solving. You can pick out a set that appeals to one of your grandchild’s interests, like the LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle or the LEGO Friends Olivia's Cupcake Cafe, or one of the open ended kits like the LEGO Classic Brick Set.
Lessons: Talk to your grandchildren and find out what they’d like to learn to do. Play piano? Ice skate? Speak a new language? If their parents give the okay, the gift of lessons in a new skill will build confidence and give pleasure for years to come.
Books: In our digital world, books may not seem as important to some. But storytelling is integral to the human experience, and nothing is better than sharing stories you loved as a child with your grandchildren. Some of our family favorites are:
Charlotte’s Web
Because of Winn Dixie
No Flying in the House
Where the Sidewalk Ends
The Boxcar Children
Gifts for Tweens and Young Teens
It was so much easier when they were younger. Once your grandchildren turn 10 or so, it’s harder and harder to find a gift that will excite them. Or even please them! But before you resort to the gift card cop-out, read on for some surefire ideas.
Spa time is a favorite of tween girls.
Spa time: This is another great gift at any price point. From a couple of sheet masks and a hair wrap to a full day at the spa, there’s an option for your budget. Pre-teens love the idea of indulging in these grown-up activities, but make sure their parents are comfortable with what you have planned.
Give gifts that spark their creativity.
Creativity sparks: At this age, kids are no longer expected to play with toys, but their brains still need time spent on creative pursuits. How about a book on knitting and some yarn and needles? Or a kit to build a solar robot? Or one to make your own movie?
What would they love to see live?
Tickets to something they’ll enjoy. Is one of their favorite singers coming to town? Do they love basketball or soccer? Have they ever seen a live musical? This is a great gift because it can be just as fun at any price point: you can get a couple tickets to their local movie multiplex, see a play at a community theater or splurge for a professional football game.
Books: These are crucial years to keep kids reading, and there are so many great books out there! Fantasy novels are especially attractive during the years that kids are finding that real life can be less than fun. Some of the best loved ones at our house were:
Ender’s Game
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Blue Sword
The Ordinary Princess
Uglies
Gifts for Older Teens
Older teens will like many of the suggestions above, but here are a few just for them:
Give a membership related to their interests.
Memberships: The later teen years are a great time to explore. Depending on their interests, consider giving your grandchild a membership to a local museum, amusement park or yoga studio. There are also great online options, like glo.com for fitness classes.
Cash is a welcome gift.
Cash: Though cash seems impersonal, it’s really the perfect thing for older teens and young adults. As they go off to college or start supporting themselves, having a little fun money—or enough to pay the cell phone bill—is a huge and appreciated present.
Tools for independence will be appreciated.
Tools for living: Is your grandchild starting college or moving to their own apartment? Do they have a tool kit, pots and pans, an ice cream scoop? Think of all the things you need when you start off on your own, and have fun putting together a useful gift.
Books. By the time they are older teens, books about real life can be more meaningful. There is a book for every teen out there, but here are a few that appeal to a wide range of teens:
The Power of One
The Fault in Our Stars
The Hate U Give
Geek Girl
The Crossover