Introduction
Gift-giving can be stressful. What do you get for grandparents that already have everything?
What is the best gift to give grandparents in your life? This is a tricky question, especially when they are in their seventies, eighties, nineties! A rule of thumb I use when buying gifts for my grandmothers who live in different parts of the USA is to buy something that would be difficult or impossible to get in their area. We all want our loved ones near and dear to us to feel special.
If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you have a grandparent who is close to you and important in your life. You probably look forward to seeing them on holidays or just taking them out for lunch. You might even send them a card or some flowers occasionally. One day, the inevitable will happen– they will pass away. Whether it’s tomorrow or decades from now, Thanksgiving without Grandpa is just unimaginable, but unfortunately also inevitable. It can be difficult to know what to do when someone we love has died because while some people might want cards while others prefer flowers there isn’t one universal way of grieving their loss.
10 Best Gift Ideas For Grandparents
1. Art
Some people get into art for a hobby, some for fun and others it is their escape. Whether they are an artist or just like to appreciate the arts buying an original piece of art can be a great gift idea. It’s the gift that will keep on giving as they can look at their new piece of art every day.
If your grandparents like to paint themselves, you might want to buy them some paints or other art materials so they can make something nice for the house or give them a voucher for lessons so they can learn how to paint properly with the help of an actual professional.
2. Apparel
A great gift idea is clothing. This makes for a thoughtful gift for a loved one that also shows their taste in style. A funny thing about clothing is that if you buy something too nice it can make your grandparents feel under-dressed. So although you might want to give them the best you can afford, it’s important to remember that they might not like the gift because they don’t dress up often.
A great second choice is accessories. For instance, they might have earrings and bangle bracelets in gold, but not so much in silver or other metals as well as a watch or a necklace made of real pearls and diamonds.
3. Home Decor
If you’re in doubt about what to give, a nice home décor is always a safe bet.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so a great wall art can be the perfect gift idea. But don’t forget that the frame is important and it needs to match the walls and/or décor of their home.
Another great gift idea, especially if they live all alone, is some sort of pet whether that be fish or some small animal like a hamster or a bunny. Pets are good company for our grandparents and they need someone to look after them as well as to take them for walks and feed them!
4. Tools
Does your grandfather have a hobby where he tinkers around with tools like model trains or cars? He might have a lot of tools on his workbench but if you buy some tools for them, this will definitely make the gift seem more special. It’s not just about what the tool does but how it looks on their workbench too so you can use a woodworking tool to help them look more professional and store the gift in their workshop.
5. Books
If you’re having a difficult time thinking of a gift that someone close to you will really enjoy make it a book. Giving them a book that has to do with their hobbies, interests or family would make for an interesting gift. Think about books they have in their bookshelves that they might not have read in years but which you know they would love to re-read now. Books on the topics of art, gardening, music or reading are a great choice as well!
6. Hobbies
The best gift for our grandparents is something that shows their personality and is something they will enjoy doing, like golf or tennis. If you know them well and you have their preferences for different kinds of music, try to get them a CD set that matches their tastes. A great second choice is if they have a hobby like stamp collecting or painting, then why not choose a gift that shows their passion for the hobby?
7. Plants
A plant has many practical uses but it can also be a great gift for someone who loves plants or is just interested in gardening. You might even consider getting them some seeds so they can grow some flowers themselves in their garden!
8. Photos
Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words. If they have some great preserved photos of their family and children, you can make a beautiful collage with the photos and frame it. This is a perfect gift idea for grandparents who have lost their children or grandchildren too much as they can always remember them by looking at their pictures. Of course, this isn’t the only gift you could give them when they lost someone special, but it’s probably one of the most unforgettable ones!
9. Memories
It’s all about making your grandparents smile again, even if it lasts just for an instant. So if you have something relevant to their memories, there’s no point in choosing anything that you think they might need/want right now, but instead find a special keepsake or memento and make them smile– even if just for a minute!
10. Appointment Reminder Card
If they love to look at the newspaper or read it online regularly and you know this, then why not get them an appointment reminder card that they can stick on the kitchen cabinet so they won’t forget any upcoming appointment? They’ll undoubtedly look at this every day and be reminded of important events around their house as well as outside of it.
Conclusion
Our grandparents are important to us and so it is our duty to make them happy. A great way of doing this is by giving them the perfect gift because they are often appreciated more than we think.