Ideas for gifts for grandchildren-what do you give or what do your kids receive?

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

We have four grandchildren, two that came into our family not as babies but through a marriage, and I'm looking for ideas of what other people do for Christmas/birthdays. So far we have been buying toys for Christmas and a toy and an outfit for birthdays. The thing is they have so many toys and I am looking for other ideas.

I thought about taking them out to have them pick out new shoes but I'm not sure the young ones would enjoy that and the older ones would probably want something over our budget ($50 per kid) and I'm not sure how we would handle that.

A lady I work with takes her grandkids shopping for new underwear, socks, etc. She has a set amount the kids can spend on anything practical. No toys at all.

We could just give money but before we go that route I thought I'd search out other ideas. What happens in your family?

 

[Planogirl]

Our son is 16 now but he's been receiving money ever since he was around 8 or 9. When he was little he often got books or bookstore gift cards but he loves to read.

 

[Pakey]

Our "big" gift is the monthly money put away for college into an education savings plan. We just get token gifts for birthdays and Christmas.

 

[disney1990]

We have four grandchildren, two that came into our family not as babies but through a marriage, and I'm looking for ideas of what other people do for Christmas/birthdays. So far we have been buying toys for Christmas and a toy and an outfit for birthdays. The thing is they have so many toys and I am looking for other ideas.

I thought about taking them out to have them pick out new shoes but I'm not sure the young ones would enjoy that and the older ones would probably want something over our budget ($50 per kid) and I'm not sure how we would handle that.

A lady I work with takes her grandkids shopping for new underwear, socks, etc. She has a set amount the kids can spend on anything practical. No toys at all.

We could just give money but before we go that route I thought I'd search out other ideas. What happens in your family?

How old are your grandchildren?

 

[NHdisneylover]

For several years running my in law gave the kids "year of fun books" They bought small (dollar store) photo albums and filled them with certificates for things to do in the summer or throughout the year. Nothing big or fancy, but the type of stuff us parents sometimes turn down for monetary reasons. Things like (and this list would run about $50--in laws spent about $75 per kid):

Gift card to the movie theatre with just enough on it for a child's ticket

Gift card for one round of mini golf

Gift card for $5 to local ice cream place

Gift card for $5 to dunkin donuts

$10 gift card for local arcade

Gift card with enough for a round of bowling and bowling shoes

Passes for the lift up to some fun hiking trails with caves in them

**My in laws also made sure to include one "speacial" item which matched each kids' personality--so DS got a gift card to a local music shop and DD got one to teh imported cheese store.

you could tailor these to the kids' ages (depending on how close you live to them you may need parents to help you buy all the cards).

My kids have also really enjoyed being taken out for a day to an amusement park, swimming, etc just them and grandparents, magazine subscriptions, etc. They have also been gifted something special for a class they were taking (like the personalized hoodie for the dance studio that DS wanted but was more than I would spend, or an optional bow staff for karate that DD wanted, etc.) and subscriptions to online games they wanted to play.

Now we live overseas which makes it harder. DD got a kindle for Christmas so the big gift was gift certificates to amazon.com so she can buy "books" and DS got certificates to lego.de (okay toys, but relaly good ones which go with what he already has) and iTunes.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

How old are your grandchildren?

Boy = 13 as of last October
Girl = turned 11 a couple of weeks ago
Boy = 4 as of yesterday
Girl = will be 3 in March

Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[1957]

I got both of my grandkids Passports when they were born. (Actually, sent the money to the parents to get them). I was so lucky to have done a lot of world-wide travelling during my life, and DD and SIL love it as well. Oldest (3 in Feb.) has already been to Japan, Costa Rica, and Cabo. Youngest (1 in late Jan.) has been to Cabo. They are planning a trip to T&C this coming March for a week at Beaches. When each turns five, they'll get the Passport renewal fee. They won't remember the Passports, and possibly not the early trips, but I'm sure they'll love and remember the future trips!

For Christmas/birthday, I used to get stuff from Pottery Barn Kids. Forget that! They now get cheap stuff that may last a week or two and then be tossed.

When my kids were little, I threatened "murder-for-hire" to anyone who got them Lite Brites!!!

 

[disney1990]

How about a Grandparents with the younger kids to take them to the movies -- a Disney movie of course. Our grandchildren always love that. Also, our granddaughters always enjoyed new Disney clothes; t-shirts, nightgowns, etc.

For the older ones, Itunes gift cards are usually a hit.

Girls usually like jewelry; especially if their ears are pierced.

 

[Ephany]

The things my DD likes best from her grandparents are things she can do with them like crafts or activities like going to the movies or picnics in the park. If grandma and grandpa can't be here, they've been giving her experiences like tickets to the zoo, the puppet theater etc... She loves telling them about the mini-trips and what she saw and did.

 

[luv2nascar]

as a parent I appreciate the savings bonds my kids get from Inlaws for birthday and christmas. My kids have a lot put away for college. Inlaws always take the kids for new sneakers before school and some clothes.

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

as a parent I appreciate the savings bonds my kids get from Inlaws for birthday and christmas. My kids have a lot put away for college. Inlaws always take the kids for new sneakers before school and some clothes.

My dad gave our kids savings bonds for birthdays when they were little. It helped quite a bit when my son went to college paying for books and things!

 

[golfgal]

When the kids were younger they got toys from DH's parents. The past few years they have gotten a fleece top and something else (girls got bath and body stuff, boys got games). This year they all got cash, except for the 3 youngest, they got toys(there are 13 grandkids on this side of our family).

My Dad and step-mom have gotten them what they had on their "list". For our oldest it was always Legos and now that he is older, video games and gift cards, for example. This year DS17 got a video game and some gift cards, DS14 got a video game, gift card and Nerf gun. DD14 got a Coach purse and some PJ's.

My mom never gave them presents so you are way ahead of her.

 

[minkydog]

My MIL sends us $100 for hte whole family each Christmas. When the kids were little we used the money for family season passes to the zoo, the aquarium, the nature preserve, skiiing, or a trip to the beach. Now that the kids are older(late teens) they really just want cash, so the grandparents usually buy something small, like earrings or candy, and then give them money. Everybody's happy.

My mother also buys books,but you have to be careful there. You really have to know what they're interested in. It's not too hard with the younger kids--a picture book plus a beanie baby and you're set. With the older ones you really have to personalize it a little more. When my oldest was in the 10-13 age he was very interested in drawing and cartooning, so mother usually found him a children's or young adult book, nothing too technical. DD at that age likes American Girl books, so she kinda stuck with that theme. This past year, for my youngest's birthday several of our relatives gave money toward Christian's overnight camp. He's particularly hard to buy for, and he doesn't care about presents(he's very mentally handicapped) but, boy! He sure did love his summer camp!

Good luck. I'm sure your grandchildren will love anything you give them.

 

[MrsPete]

For several years running my in law gave the kids "year of fun books" They bought small (dollar store) photo albums and filled them with certificates for things to do in the summer or throughout the year. Nothing big or fancy, but the type of stuff us parents sometimes turn down for monetary reasons. Things like (and this list would run about $50--in laws spent about $75 per kid):

Gift card to the movie theatre with just enough on it for a child's ticket

Gift card for one round of mini golf

Gift card for $5 to local ice cream place

Gift card for $5 to dunkin donuts

$10 gift card for local arcade

Gift card with enough for a round of bowling and bowling shoes

Passes for the lift up to some fun hiking trails with caves in them

**My in laws also made sure to include one "speacial" item which matched each kids' personality--so DS got a gift card to a local music shop and DD got one to teh imported cheese store.

you could tailor these to the kids' ages (depending on how close you live to them you may need parents to help you buy all the cards).

My kids have also really enjoyed being taken out for a day to an amusement park, swimming, etc just them and grandparents, magazine subscriptions, etc. They have also been gifted something special for a class they were taking (like the personalized hoodie for the dance studio that DS wanted but was more than I would spend, or an optional bow staff for karate that DD wanted, etc.) and subscriptions to online games they wanted to play.

Now we live overseas which makes it harder. DD got a kindle for Christmas so the big gift was gift certificates to amazon.com so she can buy "books" and DS got certificates to lego.de (okay toys, but relaly good ones which go with what he already has) and iTunes.

LOVE the idea of the coupon books. My parents were very involved with our oldest daughter when she was first born . . . a little less with the second . . . and then they didn't do much with them for a number of years -- no invitations to do this and that, etc. . . . and now that the kids are teens and my parents are retired, they're trying very hard to make a connection with the kids, but the kids aren't particularly interested. It makes me sad. I was very, very close to my grandmother in particular . . . but she had me over to spend the night ALL THE TIME from a young age. We built a relationship from the very beginning; or, in all honesty, I should say SHE built a relationship -- I was a baby when she started.

Back to the original question: One grandparent gift I remember clearly from my own childhood was a museum membership. I had a widowed grandfather who DIDN'T SHOP, but every year he gave us the same wonderful gift: A family membership to a science museum (and it had reciprocal admission to a couple other places too, including a zoo and an art museum). We probably went to a museum 10 times a year using that membership -- and with 5 kids in the family, we didn't get to go to a lot of places. We loved the monthly magazine that came with the membership. In retrospect, it probably cost him less than a gift for each of us would've.

 

[Kimmumum]

My MIL lives 2000 miles away. She buys the boys stock every year. She buys one share (usually $30-$40) of something kid friendly....WDW, Hershey, Wrigley, SW, Kellogs, McDonalds, etc. She usually sends something that is associated with the stock for the boys to "get it".....McD's gift card, giant box of Frosted Flakes, giant Hershey bar etc

We love this since we don't need anymore "stuff" around the house. Since she lives so far away she doesn't really have any idea of their likes or dislikes.

DS's godmother takes him to Chicago Wolves hockey game every year.

My mom and dad usually ask them what they want...this year they both wanted North Face jackets. They also get jammies and a few other little things.

My sister takes them shopping with a budget.