Whether it’s for their birthday, holiday or some other special occasion, you want to find the perfect gifts for your grandchildren. You want them to be delighted. You want them to feel special — because they are!
So how do you go about choosing the best gifts for grandchildren when there are so many options? These tips can help make the process a whole lot easier. Think of it as a “gift guide for grandparents.”
Ask Their Parents
This might seem like a commonsense step in making a good decision, but grandparents don’t always consider it. Several reasons to check with their parents before buying your grandchildren gifts:
- Your grandkids may have new interests or a new hobby you’re not aware of. Even their preferences, like favorite colors or foods, can change quickly.
- Your grandson or granddaughter may already have something similar to (or maybe the very same thing as) what you have in mind. For kids, receiving a duplicate gift is only slightly less disappointing than getting something that’s broken.
- Parents sometimes have reasons for not wanting their kids to have certain items they’ve been asking for. The last thing you want is for your gift to cause friction — or for it to “disappear” soon after you’ve given it.
- If you’re going to buy something like a uniform or gear for an activity your grandchild is involved in, you want to be sure to get the right size, color, etc.
- While many toys and games have recommended age ranges on the package, parents know whether a gift is actually age appropriate for their child.
- Before buying a large gift, whether it’s an oversized stuffed animal, a scooter or a play tent for your grandchild’s bedroom, be sure there’s enough space for it.
- This may be the best reason of all: Your grandchild’s parents may be able to clue you in on a unique gift you would never have thought of on your own!
Talk to Your Grandchild
Although it’s fun to watch kids open their presents, bear in mind that gifts to grandchildren don’t always have to be a surprise.
You can take the direct route and have a conversation with your grandson about what he’d like for his birthday. Or, you can be subtle and chat with him about what he likes to do. If you have that discussion far enough in advance, he probably won’t connect the dots when he opens his present. (But again, do check with his parents before buying the gift to make sure he doesn’t already have it or hasn’t lost interest.)
If your granddaughter shows interest in something you have a knack for, ask her if she’d like to learn how to do it. Not only will it be an activity the two of you can do together, but it can also be an ongoing source of gift ideas. Who knows? You might inspire some choices she’ll make in the future. At the very least, you’ll be creating fond memories of the times you’ll share.
Go Local or Go Online
See if there’s an independently owned store in your area that specializes in unique and educational gifts for children. If there is, stop in and talk with the owner or a knowledgeable employee who can offer suggestions. If you can’t decide on a gift, maybe a gift card is the way to go. Your grandchild can select his or her own gift. If you both live near the store, you can go shopping together!
You can also find merchants online, like Fat Brain Toys, that sell unusual items. You can shop by age, gender, price and other categories. Many online retailers offer a chatbot or virtual assistant to help you in selecting a gift. Some offer the option to have your purchase gift wrapped and shipped directly to your grandchild.
Think Beyond the Box
Sometimes the best gifts for grandparents to give their grandchildren aren’t found in big-box department stores. Instead of plucking your grandkids’ gifts off the shelf, consider giving them more intentional gifts, like an experience they can enjoy with a friend, their family (or you!).
For instance, you could get tickets for the family to visit a nearby children’s museum, aquarium, science center, water park or sporting event. If you don’t live near your grandchild, you may be able to pay for the tickets online and have them mailed, or maybe the venue offers a “will call” service. You can have some fun creating a personalized voucher to put in your grandchild’s card.
Residents at Sierra Winds can take their grandchildren to several nearby venues for a memorable experience — like catching a baseball game at the Peoria Sports Complex or a performance at the Arizona Broadway Theatre or Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.
If your city or town has an arts festival where local vendors sell their goods, that can be great place to look for one-of-a-kind gifts for your grandkids. Likewise, community holiday fairs can be an excellent source of Christmas present ideas for grandparents looking to buy gifts for their grandchildren.
Does your teenage grandson or granddaughter have a philanthropic cause they support? You could make a donation in their name and pair it with a gift just for them that’s related to the cause. As an example, if your grandchild wants to help save an endangered species, you could donate to an appropriate charity and pair the donation with a painting or sculpture of the animal they want to help.
Here’s another idea: Encourage your grandchild’s love of learning with a book or a subscription to a magazine devoted to a topic that’s of special interest to them. Or, if your grandchild’s a budding artist, dancer or musician, offer to pay for lessons.
Plan a Shopping Excursion
An advantage of being retired is having more time to shop. When it’s time to start looking for something special for your grandchild, you can spend a leisurely morning or afternoon browsing the shops at a local mall or shopping center. You never know what you might find!
Sierra Winds residents are fortunate to have Arrowhead Towne Center (a.k.a. Arrowhead Mall) about 5 minutes away, where they can find all kinds of gift ideas — like gift cards to AMC Theatres, video games at GameStop and tons of fun at the Lego® store. There’s also a Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Galactic Challenge airsoft arcade for those who want to enjoy a shared experience with their grandkids.
Come for a Visit
We hope these pointers come in handy the next time you’re looking for something special to give your grandchild. Many Sierra Winds residents are grandparents, and they appreciate having such a variety of area attractions where they can have a good time with their grandkids. Sometimes they even invite the parents to come along!
We invite you to take a personal tour of our community so we can tell you more about our convenient location and what’s nearby. To set up a time for your visit, you can either fill out our brief contact form or call 623-977-0807.
Featured Image: Halfpoint / Shutterstock
