Grandparents Day Gifts

National Grandparents Day is September 13 and in honor of this very special day, we’ve compiled 6 easy and sure-to-please gifts for the favorite grandparents in your life. Taking some time to express your love and gratitude can go a long way in reminding them they are loved and appreciated!

1. Hands-On (and Feet-On) Gifts

From handprint-stamped oven mitts that read “helping hands” to multicolored footprints placed on paper to look like butterflies or hearts, handmade gifts from children that represent the size of the gifter make great remembrances to keep over the years. Not to mention they’re super-fun (and messy) for the kids to create, so it’s a win-win for both parties. Other cute hand-stamp ideas include a family tree with handprints as leaves, prints positioned to form the “v” in the word “love,” and prints going along with the tagline, “Hands Down, the Best Grandparents Ever!”

2. Fill-in-the-Blanks Love Letter

If the grandchild is young, it’s fun to capture their unique perspective on their grandparents by working together on a fill-in-the-blank letter. First, make a list of statements and ask the child to help you finish the sentences. For example, “Grandma makes the best ________________” or “I like it when Grandma ____________________” and “I love Grandma because ___________________.” Then, take these completed statements and put them into a letter form, bolding the parts that the child stated, starting the letter with a greeting along the lines of, “Dear Grandma, On Grandparents’ Day, I’ve been thinking about you and told Mommy some of my favorite things about you.” A sweet and funny way to personalize Grandparents’ Day!

3. Sweet Treats

Mason jars were once used to hold preserves or pickled vegetables, but today are often used as the perfect gift container for your grandparents’ favorite sweet treats! With a little Internet searching, you can find free downloadable and printable labels to make the gift complete. For example, fill a mason jar with Moon Pies and use the label, “Grandma, I love you to the moon and back.” Similarly, fill with Reese’s Pieces and add the label, “Grandpa, I love you to pieces!” Affordable, personalized, and delicious, your grandparent can keep and use the mason jar even after the treats are gone.

4. Photo-Personalized Everything

Stores like Walgreens or online sites like Snapfish offer easy-to-use tools for creating gifts customized with your photos. A calendar filled with family photos, a hardback book of photos from the previous year, or even a coffee mug with a photo of the grandchildren can add a little joy into the grandparents’ day for months to come. If you have a large extended family, why not try to arrange for a photo of all the grandkids together as a surprise? You’ll enjoy seeing how much the grandparents love seeing the beautiful smiling faces of their offspring, especially if they don’t get to see the entire group very often.

5. Monthly Reminders

If your grandparents live far away, or you just want a fun way to spread your gift out over several months, why not pick a “gift of the month” club? While there’s always the traditional “Fruit of the Month” basket featuring a new fresh selection of fruit delivered each month, today there are countless gift options, for everything from candles to cheesecake, from wine to bacon, from hot sauce to cigars, delivered monthly to your loved one’s doorstep. The price varies depending on how many months you’d like the gift sent, but what a fun way to keep showing your love for days to come.

6. Honor Their Names

If your grandparents have everything they could ever want or need, and you and your children are beyond the handprint-craft age, consider making a charitable donation in the grandparents’ honor, to a cause that resonates with them. Obvious choices could be the Alzheimer’s Association or American Heart Association if they have been dealing with a certain disease. Or you could contact their place of worship, their alma mater, or a local organization that aligns with their life experiences (perhaps the grandma was a teacher; make a donation in her honor to the local library). Many charitable organizations offer thank you cards and other notations of the gift, but you can simply mention the donation in a heartfelt greeting card as well, stating, “A gift in your honor has been donated to…” This gesture ensures your gift not only honors your loved one but benefits their community as well.

Take the time to show the grandparents in your life how much you appreciate and love them, and how their dedication throughout the years has made an impact on generations to come. Happy Grandparents’ Day!

Megan Hammons

Megan Hammons lives in the Central Texas countryside just outside of Austin, pursuing her love for copywriting after a career in high-tech marketing. She is part of a large, diverse family and enjoys spending time with the multiple generations living in her community.