Not sure what to get Grandma or Grandpa? We asked our friends (and ourselves) and ta-dah, here’s the ultimate gift guide for grandparents. From practical to nostalgic, and no matter the reasons or the season, read on for our list of gifts for grandparents who have everything!
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Gifts for Grandparents Who Have Everything
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Perhaps the most difficult family members on your gift list are your grandparents, right? Let’s face it — at this point in life, we likely have everything we need. Yet we’re not going to lie — we do still enjoy receiving gifts. Especially from our families! And since grandparents range from young and active to the elderly and not so mobile, how in the world do you even start? Read on for our ultimate gift guide for grandparents who have everything.
According to American Grandparents Association, there are more than 70 million grandparents in the United States today, representing more than one-third of the population. And 72 percent think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life.
When shopping for the best gift ideas for grandparents, start by paying attention to your parents’ or grandparents’ personality, lifestyle, interests, health, and mobility. Some grandparents (like me) might be younger, more active and not retired yet. While others are well into their retirement years.
My parents (great-grandparents to my grandchildren) are still enjoying life, although perhaps not as spry as they used to be. Others have even sold their “home” and now are living the RV life, or maybe are snowbirds and have two homes.
Whatever your grandparents’ situation, consider that first and then refer to this list of gifts for grandparents who have everything — from grandparents who have everything.
1. Timeless Photos & Family Albums
Photos! Grandparents want pictures! Of the grandkids. Of you. Of you and the grandkids doing stuff. School plays. Family travels. Everything. Remember those days when we sent out Christmas letters? Well, have you heard about the Neveo app? This is an easy way to share your best photos and moments with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members.
(Click here to download the app and use DIANALROWE and receive one album free!)
Yes, it is easy. Share your daily photos (or whenever you have a few moments) by uploading from the app to the online album. It’s a simple click of the mouse. Here’s the process:
Click here to download the app and use DIANALROWE and receive one album free!
2. Give the Gift of Time
When I asked other grandparents, the one clear top choice was TIME! The best gift ideas for grandparents (no matter their age!) are activities you can do together.
Spend time as a multigenerational family creating new memories and reminiscing about old ones. One of our readers, Jeffrey says “The best gift I can get is to spend time with the family and stress over gifts. Holidays have become more about the gifts than what it should be. Just laughing and enjoying a full day with no phones going off is the best gift of all, in my opinion.”
I enjoy baking and cooking, and I want to share that with my grandchildren. Spending time with the kids while making deviled eggs for Thanksgiving dinner or baking pumpkin bread is a day well spent.
And this gift doesn’t have to cost a lot of money with these suggestions for inexpensive gifts for grandparents.
3. Gift the Gift of Experiences
To continue with the TIME theme, grandparents enjoy hanging out with their grandchildren — and adult children. Shared experiences, such as attending a local theater or event, give grandparents what they love most — time with their grandchildren AND a night out.
Consider purchasing a grandparent/grandchild season pass for a local attraction, like the zoo or a children’s museum, suggests Mary.
Janet calls these “experience gifts,” which can include tickets to a play, living history or museum that the grandchild would enjoy attending with the grandparent. (She also offers up these additional frugal gift ideas.)
One of my favorite things to do is go to the movie theater
Sure, gift cards are fun (and easy) to give, but make it more personal, by choosing the movie, the date, and adding a fun note with the movie tickets! You can even make it a dinner and movie night out by including restaurant gift cards. And we personally love Amazon gift cards too and yes, Papa is all about Amazon Prime!
4. Personalized Gifts
One of my favorite gifts from my grandchildren and daughters are personalized gifts. Last year, for Mother’s Day, my daughter gave me a framed burlap “My greatest blessings call me Grammie” with each of the grandkids’ names and birthdates. (And believe you me, I refer to this often to remind me of birthdates!)
Etsy offers a whole slew of personalized gifts, so go searching there for ideas. Some of my favorites include personalized grandma necklace
For Grandpa, how about a personalized keychain?
And several grandparents including my friend Kathy mentioned calendars. Wendy suggested a calendar with family photos for each month AND birthdays for all family members already printed on the calendar!” I agree — that is a helpful and thoughtful gift.
While Lisa says that a handwritten card in the mail from the grandkids will make any grandparent smile.
5. Personalized Grandparent Bobbleheads!
What about a couple of bobbleheads for your grandparent’s golden anniversary? These are 100% customizable to look like your grandpa and grandma. It’s incredibly easy and affordable to get a pair of these. Contact a bobblehead manufacturer now.
6. Gift Cards
Okay, again gift cards are easy peasy and a no-brainer. And several grandparents I polled added restaurant gift cards to their list. However, although I do LOVE to eat out, that restaurant gift card would be even better when my dinner companions are my adult children and/or grandchildren.
My friend and fellow TravelingMom grandmom Christine suggested that grandchildren make their gift cards better with a personalized greeting card with photos and a note, such as, “Let’s go to dinner together!”
Of course, grandparents are fans of gift cards, in general, but if you tie these into experiences with the grandkids — well, then that’s priceless!
7. Professional Photo Session with Family / Grandkids
Last year, for the first time in years, all my adult children, their spouses, and my grandchildren were together in Colorado. I made sure to include a professional photo session in their already busy schedule. But totally worth it!!
(And see #1 to read more about the Neveo App and its photo album! Click here to download the app and use DIANALROWE and receive one album free!)
8. Gifts of Service
Christine also mentions labor as an excellent gift to help grandparents to complete more difficult tasks. Another mid-life blogger Kelly Huckaby says that older grandkids can create handmade coupons to redeem rake leaves or other yard work — or offer to complete some other task around the house.
For those not as crafty, a great option is this Etsy (handmade for you) coupon book.
9. Gift of Travel
And of course, my favorite is the gift of multigenerational family travel. Many of my most precious memories include time spent when traveling with my grandchildren.
I usually include at least one Walt Disney World vacation and also road trips to Colorado ski resorts or to see my family who lives in Oregon. (Get discounted Disney tickets by clicking here.)
Travel might not be the least expensive gift, but memories made when traveling with the multigenerational family — away from your home and distractions — are priceless.
Did we miss your favorite gifts for grandparents who have everything? Please do share in the comments below.
Gift Guides for other Family Members
With a lot of help from my blogger friends, here are quick links to other perfect gift guides:
- Holiday Gifts for Traveling Families
- 16 Women’s Travel Gifts You’ll Want for Yourself
- 40 Best Travel Books to Read (and Gift!)
- Best Gifts for Women who Travel
- Almost Essential Travel Tech for Families
- The BEST Travel Gifts For Kids
OMG this is super helpful. Wait, do you remember me? I met you at social media moms last year. My little 4 yr old daughter gave you one of my business cards. lol she was passing them out at the bus stop.
Of course, I remember your daughter — and still have the business card. She is adorable — and I think you should pay her way more! LOL Thanks for your comments.
As a grandparent myself, I would LOVE to receive any one of these!
I needed this! My grandmother is seriously hard to buy for. Near impossible! But you’ve given me some new and unique ideas. Thank you tons ♡
Fabulous list here – all giving good ideas and brings apart the family too from other things that can often take the centre of attention. Thanks for the great ideas!
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