Gifts for grandparents from their grandchildren are different from any other gifts you’ll buy. They’re not necessarily more expensive or more extravagant. In fact, they aren’t usually either. But there’s a certain emotional value attached to a grandparent receiving a Christmas present from a grandchild. And that emotional value is immeasurable.
When your grandparents receive a gift from you, they’re not just thinking about the physical object in their hands. They’re thinking about you, and how much they love you, and how they miss you when you’re away. This is why it’s so important to choose the right Christmas gift for your grandparents. You want something special, something that shows them how much you care about them.
That’s where we come in! We’ve compiled this list of 20 great Christmas gift ideas for grandparents from their grandchildren. We’ve broken down the list by age, location, and cost so you can easily find the perfect gift for your grandparents.
What Do Grandparents Really Want For Christmas?
If you’ve ever tried to buy gifts for grandparents, you know how tricky it can be. They’ll often insist they don’t want anything. Or they’ll tell you they already have everything they could ever want.
What do grandparents really want for Christmas? According to a 2023 AARP survey, the vast majority of grandparents rank time with family as the most desired holiday gift, well above any physical item. That means gifts like photos, memories, and handmade crafts are all very thoughtful gifts for grandparents. But there’s more to it than just spending time with family.
A National Institute on Aging report found that staying socially connected is one of the strongest protective factors against loneliness and cognitive decline in older adults. That means gifts that foster connection and stimulate the mind are also deeply appreciated.
Christmas Gift Ideas For Grandparents By Age
From Babies and Toddlers (Ages 0–3)
At this age, the gift comes from the parents — and that’s completely fine. Here are some thoughtful options that grandparents will treasure.
1. A Handprint Ornament
Your baby will only make their handprints once. So make sure you take advantage of the opportunity! Get some air dry clay or salt dough and let them press their little hand into it. Then you can bake it, paint it, and add the year to it. Grandparents love these ornaments. One grandmother even told us she puts her handprint ornament on the front of the tree every year so people see it first.
2. A First Christmas Photo
Take a cute picture of your baby on their first Christmas. It doesn’t have to be with their grandparents, though it’s definitely better if they’re in the photo. Just pick one good photo and get it professionally printed and framed. You can get a nice 8x10 frame for less than $25 and it will look great in their home. Be sure to write the date and their age on the back.
3. A Soft Photo Book
Babies get soft, board-like photo books. They’re also perfect as presents for grandparents! Put in pictures of your grandchild’s first year. The grandparents read them aloud to the baby when they’re visiting, and read them to themselves when they’re not.
From Younger Kids (Ages 4-10)
4. A Handwritten Letter or Picture
Sit down with your child and ask: “What would you like to say to Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas?” Then take it down, typos and all, or have your child draw a picture instead. Frame it. These are among the most prized possessions many grandparents own, not because they’re particularly beautiful, but because they’re genuine.
5. A “Why I Love My Grandparents” Book
Grab a blank notebook. Ask your child to write out answers to things like: “My favorite thing about Grandpa is…” “The silliest thing Grandma ever did was…” “When I go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, I love when we…” Let your child decorate the pages, too. This is something that only takes an afternoon and nearly no money, but grandparents will cherish these books forever.
6. A Homemade Holiday Baking Kit
Let the kids make a mason jar full of dry ingredients for cookies or hot cocoa. Include a handwritten recipe and a tag that reads “Made with love by [kid’s name].” If grandparents are local, it’s a great reason to bake together. If not, it makes a lovely gift.
7. A Customized Calendar
Order a 12-month calendar from Shutterfly, Artifact Uprising, or another photo printing service. Include a photo of each grandchild each month, and mark their birthdays and other important dates. Grandparents check this calendar daily, and every year, it ranks among the top gifts for grandparents in just about every survey.
For grandparents who don’t use tech to view everyday photos, a printed photo calendar or photo book can mean even more. Read our article on ways to share family photos with grandparents who aren’t tech-savvy for more ideas.
For Tweens and Teens (Ages 11-17)
8. A Video Montage
Put together a three-to-five minute montage of your teen’s favorite activities and memories from the past year: school events, games, vacations, candid moments, or a simple “I miss you, Grandma and Grandpa.” Assemble it using iMovie, CapCut, or another free editing tool, then save it to a flash drive or digital photo frame for easy viewing without having to use a smartphone.
9. A Playlist
Create a Spotify or YouTube playlist of songs that bring your teen’s memories of their grandparents to mind, songs from their generation, songs they’ve listened to together, or even songs whose lyrics relate to their relationship. Create a card that lists the name of the playlist, includes a QR code, and explains why you chose each song. If grandparents are on Spotify or YouTube, send it electronically. If not, burn it to a CD.
10. A Compilation of Their Favorite Recipes
Sit down and interview your grandparent about their favorite recipes, or pull from your memories. Print them out on nice cardstock, or bind them into a small booklet. The message behind the gift is incredibly poignant: “Your cooking is important enough to remember.” A lot of families realize that no one actually wrote down grandma’s recipes until the grandchildren started asking.
If your family’s recipe heritage is one you’re hoping to safeguard, our article on how to preserve family recipes from aging parents provides a step-by-step guide.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents from Adult Grandkids (18+)
11. A Handwritten Letter It seems almost too simple, yet most adult grandkids have not written a real letter with pen and paper, an envelope, and a stamp to their grandparents since they were young children. A letter that tells the grandparent what is going on in your life, recalls a shared memory, and explains what your grandparent means to you is one of the most powerful gifts on this list. Grandparents often re-read their letters several times, and tuck them away in a drawer to retrieve again in the future.
12. A Day Together Take the afternoon off. Bring them lunch, a cup of coffee, or nothing at all. Sit at the kitchen table. Ask questions. Listen to the stories they’ve told you many times before as if you’re hearing them for the first time. To a grandparent, spending an afternoon with an adult grandkid who is there by choice is worth more than any gift that could be wrapped. For some inspiration on questions to ask, check out our list of 50 questions to ask your grandparents.
13. A Family Photo Shoot Arrange for a half hour with a local photographer, or arrange a nice photo with a camera tripod and timer. Get everyone together, with the grandparents in the center. Make copies and have them framed before Christmas. The gift is the photograph; the framing implies: this was important enough to do right.
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents That Will Be Shown Off
The following gifts don’t need to be homemade, but they still carry the same weight because they incorporate the family’s photos, names, and memories.
14. A Photo Blanket A soft fleece blanket featuring photos of all the grandchildren will live on the couch and be used daily. Everyone notices it when they visit. Grandparents proudly point out each grandchild. It doubles as a cozy blanket and a great conversation starter.
15. A Custom Family Portrait Hire an artist on Etsy to create a watercolor, cartoon, realistic, or other-style portrait of the entire family, including grandparents. Frame it and wrap it. Portraits of the family tend to be the most talked-about item in a grandparent’s house.
16. A “Grandchildren” Word Search Blanket or Puzzle There are several companies that sell word search blankets and puzzles that are customized with grandchildren’s names, birthdates, and nicknames. They’re fun, personal, and grandkids and grandparents alike will love them.
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents in Assisted Living
Even though grandparents living in assisted living or memory care may face some unique challenges, they still deeply appreciate Christmas gifts, but some things need to be considered. Space is tight. Storage is scarce. Delicate things may not survive. Best gifts for grandparents in assisted living are small, sentimental, and easy to put on display.
17. A Framed Family Photo One high-quality photograph, printed and mounted in a sturdy, straightforward frame that can be placed on a table, bedside table, or other flat surface. Nurses will inevitably ask about family pictures, allowing the grandparent the opportunity to share photos of those he or she loves. List the grandchildren’s names and ages on the back.
18. A Practical Comfort Item A soft scarf, a throw, or a pair of slippers, accompanied by a handmade note from the grandchildren. Focus on sensory stimulation. With dementia, tactile and olfactory gifts have proven most beneficial. As the Alzheimer’s Association notes, “sensory gifts engage the senses but don’t rely on memory.”
To learn more about what works in this setting, read our full list of the best gifts for parents in assisted living.
Long-Distance Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents
If you can’t be with your grandparents on Christmas morning, it’s no longer about being there. It’s about making them feel like you are.
19. A Monthly Family Newspaper A one-time delivery is nice, but a recurring gift is better. Hug Letters sends a personalized family newspaper to grandparents monthly, featuring photos and messages from the grandchildren. Many of the seniors we’ve heard from who live far from their grandchildren, particularly those without access to a smartphone, say this is what they look forward to most. It’s something they receive in the mail, it’s physical, and it tells them “we’re thinking of you” once a month.
20. A Care Package Send a care package 10 to 14 days before Christmas. Include a few items of food (favorite cookies, hot chocolate mix, etc.), something from each grandchild (a drawing, a picture, a written message), and at least one item for comfort (hand cream, socks, a candle, etc.). It’s a classic gift format because it lets the recipient feel like they’ve opened a part of your home.
Plan a Christmas morning video chat. Instead of a quick hello, schedule a proper call with the kids, all dressed up and in their PJs, still unboxing their presents. Allow the grandparent to see the children’s excitement and let the kids show off their new toys. The call should last at least 20 to 30 minutes. It won’t take the place of visiting in person, but it gets the grandparent a lot closer to being with them.
To learn more about what works all year, read our tips for long-distance grandparenting.
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents by Price
- Free - Handwritten letter, phone call, video message, homemade card
- Under $25 - Handprint ornament, photo print, cookie jar, custom card
- $25–$50 - Photo calendar, photo book, personalized care package, playlist on USB
- $50–$100 - Photo blanket, custom portrait, framed photo session print
- $100+ - Professional family photo session, digital photo frame, monthly Hug Letters subscription
The actual cost of the gift shouldn’t be a priority. A handwritten note written by a 13-year-old for $0 will be more highly valued than a $200 gadget the grandparent doesn’t know how to operate. If you’re budget-conscious, check out our care package ideas for elderly parents post for more inexpensive, yet heartfelt gift ideas.
FAQs
What is the best Christmas gift for grandparents from grandchildren?
Handwritten letters, photo books, and homemade items tend to be the gifts grandparents cherish the most. In general, grandparents prefer gifts that reflect the involvement of the grandchild. Framed artwork by a 6-year-old or a handwritten letter from a 13-year-old tends to mean more than any high-priced gift they could receive.
What do you buy grandparents who have everything for Christmas?
Consider gifts that focus on experiences and connections over material items. Take them out for a meal, create a montage video of the year, build a custom playlist, or get them a monthly subscription to a family newsletter. These types of gifts are unique without being overly burdensome. Read our gifts for grandparents who have everything post for additional inspiration.
How much should grandchildren spend on Christmas gifts for grandparents?
There is no right answer to this question. Some of the most meaningful gifts are under $25, while others are completely free. What grandparents value is not how much money they spent, but knowing that someone cared enough to select a gift specifically for them. A handwritten letter that costs nothing is always better than a pricey gift card.
The Gift That Outlasts Christmas Morning
On December 26, the wrapping paper disappears, the snacks are consumed, and the electronics get tucked away.
But the things that grandparents talk about in February, show off in March, or hold on to when the house feels a bit lonely, aren’t necessarily the presents that cost the most. It’s the letter. The picture. The ornament with a fingerprint. The knowledge that their grandchildren, far away and decades apart, still consider them.
The best Christmas gift for a grandparent is one that goes beyond the holiday season. A gift that creates bonds. A gift that endures. A gift that comes around again, through another picture, another letter, another phone call.
Consider what you know about your grandparent, and pick an item on this list, or come up with something original. It’s the gesture that counts.
Want more ways to connect? See our how to keep grandparents involved in milestones guide for year-round inspiration.
About Martin Gouy
Martin is the founder of Hug Letters. Hug Letters is a family newsletter for grandparents. Every month, grandparents receive a heartwarming newspaper with photos and stories from the whole family.