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Gifts for grandparents

Updated

The best gifts for grandparents connect them with their family: a photo calendar of the grandchildren, a planned visit, or a keepsake of their own story, such as a star map of their wedding night.

Many grandparents already have the things they need. What they value is time, news of the family, and proof that their story is remembered. Each idea below says who it suits and roughly what it costs.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A photo calendar of the grandchildrenGrandparents who love family news$25–$75
A planned visitGrandparents far from family$75–$150
A star map of their wedding nightA milestone wedding anniversaryFrom $79 per print
Their life stories, recordedGrandparents who tell storiesUnder $25
A digital photo frame the family can updateGrandparents with wifi at home$75–$150
A drawing or letter from the grandchildren, framedGrandparents of young childrenUnder $25
A family recipe bookGrandparents who cook for everyone$25–$75
Their wedding photo, restored and framedGrandparents who love family history$25–$75
A soft throw or a warm cardiganGrandparents who feel the cold$25–$75
A weekly call, set in the calendarGrandparents who live aloneFree
A bird feeder for the windowGrandparents with a garden view$25–$75

  1. A photo calendar of the grandchildren

    Print a wall calendar for next year with a recent photo of the grandchildren for each month, and mark every family birthday on it. Choose large print for the dates. It hangs in the kitchen and gets seen every day.

  2. A planned visit

    Book a date to visit with the grandchildren, or bring the grandparents to you, and give the plan in a card. Handle the travel yourself. For grandparents who live far away, this is often the gift they want most.

  3. A star map of their wedding night

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the place they married, at the time of the ceremony. Dates back to 1900 work, so it suits a golden or diamond anniversary. Ask a relative for the town, the date and roughly the time, and sign the message from the whole family.

    Wonderfully unique gift for my grandparents special wedding anniversary, lovely quality & sent promptly with care, 11/10 would recommend this well loved gift!
    Jessica P., Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: An anniversary star map

  4. Their life stories, recorded

    Sit with a grandparent and record them answering questions about their childhood, how they met, and their first home. Use a phone, or a book of prompts they fill in themselves. Make a copy for every branch of the family.

  5. A digital photo frame the family can update

    A frame that connects to wifi and shows new photos that the family sends from their phones. Set it up and add the first photos before you give it. Choose one with a simple screen and few buttons.

  6. A drawing or letter from the grandchildren, framed

    Ask the grandchildren to draw a picture or write a short letter, then frame the best one. Write the child's name and age on the back. It costs almost nothing if you already have a frame.

  7. A family recipe book

    Collect recipes from the grandparents and the wider family and print them as a small book, with a photo of each cook. Give the grandparents the first copy. Start a few weeks ahead, because recipes take time to gather.

  8. Their wedding photo, restored and framed

    Borrow their wedding photo or a picture of their parents, have it scanned and repaired, and frame it. Return the original print safely. Many photo shops can fix tears and fading.

  9. A soft throw or a warm cardigan

    A soft wool or fleece throw for their favourite chair, or a warm cardigan in their size. Choose a fabric that goes in the washing machine. It gets used every evening in winter.

  10. A weekly call, set in the calendar

    Promise a video call at the same time every week, and set it up on their phone or tablet so it opens with one tap. Write the day and time on a card. Keep the promise.

  11. A bird feeder for the window

    A bird feeder that hangs in view of their favourite window, with a bag of seed and a small guide to the local birds. It gives them something to watch every day. Choose one that is easy to refill.

What do grandparents really want as a gift?

Most often, time with the family and news of the grandchildren. A photo calendar, a visit or a weekly call can mean more than a new object.

The second thing is a sense that their story matters. Recording their life stories, restoring an old photo, or a star map of their wedding night shows that the family remembers where it began.

How do you choose a gift for grandparents who have everything?

Choose something they use up or something about the family. Photos, recorded stories, a planned visit and food all fit.

Ask a parent or an aunt what they have mentioned recently. Grandparents often say they want nothing while telling someone else exactly what they miss.

Can the grandchildren give the gift?

Yes. Young children can draw, older children can record the stories, and teenagers can set up a digital frame.

For a big anniversary, the whole family can share one gift, such as a framed star map of the wedding night with a message signed by every grandchild.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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