Giving Gifts to Your Grandchildren
Most grandparents love to shower their grandchildren with gifts. It’s no wonder. Giving gifts can be the best thing about having little ones in the family. What can beat the warm feeling you get when a gift you bought brings a big smile to a grandchild’s face?
Gift giving is fun. But it also can put lots of pressure on generous grandparents. It’s not always easy to know what to buy children. And not every gift you select is going to be a big hit. Your grandchildren are growing all the time. And their interests seem to change like the weather. What do they want? What do they need? The answers aren’t always clear.
Don’t let gift giving stress you out. With a little thought, and lots of love, you can hit a homerun at the next birthday party or holiday celebration. These gift-giving tips may help.
Buying Toys and Other Gifts
Grandparents who took part in an AARP survey a few years ago said they buy a mix of gifts for grandchildren. Many buy clothing, books and toys. Some buy fun foods. Others give CDs, audio tapes, videos or DVDs. Some grandparents enjoy giving jewelry to a grandchild. Others go high-tech with video games and computers. Tickets to puppet shows or plays are popular gifts. Some grandparents like to pay for a grandchild’s ballet, music or karate lessons.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before you buy anything for a grandchild, you should talk to the child’s parents. Your adult children know what your grandchild wants and needs. More important, parents can help you choose a gift that is safe. Some toys could hurt your grandchild. Check with the parents—and the Consumer Product Safety Commission—to makes sure your gift won’t.
Is your grandchild’s family living on a tight budget? Maybe you could help out by buying a gift that the family can’t afford. Or maybe your adult children would prefer that you give your grandchild clothing, shoes and other essential items. The only way to find out is to ask.
Financial Gifts
What do you get for a grandchild who has everything? Or a grandchild who has outgrown toys? You may want to give that grandchild a financial gift. First, talk to your financial advisor to make sure you can afford such a gift. If you can, there are several options to try.
You could give a cash gift. Follow the tax rules for how much to give and how your gift will be used. Then, you may not have to pay taxes on the gift.
You could also put money into your grandchild’s college fund. All 50 states let you donate to a “529 account” that will be used to pay for a young person’s education. Check with your financial advisor for details.
Start Traditions
Are you tired of coming up with creative gift ideas each year? Give yourself a break. Start a family tradition and then you can give the same type of gift to your grandchild each year. The tradition you start will depend on your budget and on your grandchild’s interests. Talk to your grandchild about this if he or she is old enough. You’ll also get great ideas from the child’s parents.
For example, you could decide to give your grandchild a special book each year on his or her birthday. Grandparents who are good with crafts could make special gifts each year. You might sew a new outfit each year for a child’s favorite doll. A hand-knitted sweater is sure to warm every holiday celebration. Maybe you could create a scrapbook to celebrate each year in your grandchild’s life.
Help older children become collectors and you can add to their collection each year. A jewelry lover will enjoy wearing a charm bracelet that gets a new charm from you each year. Stuffed animals, dolls, toy race cars and sports memorabilia also make great gifts for young collectors. Collecting may be best suited to older kids. Make sure the items you buy for younger collectors are safe.
Giving and Making Memories
Children really want to know what their parents were like as children. So why not give your grandchildren a special family keepsake? Imagine how thrilled they would be to receive a book or toy that belonged to their mom or dad. Be sure that the older toys you give are safe for young children. Show the toy to mom and dad first to make sure they approve.
You and your grandchild can make your own memories by spending time together on special occasions. Plan a special birthday outing to the park, the zoo, or a favorite restaurant. Take grandchildren to a holiday concert or play. Set aside an afternoon to make a holiday craft. You’ll both enjoy this gift of time!
It’s Not about the Money
Gifts for grandchildren come in many shapes and sizes. Some may be quite expensive but others are totally free. What you spend on a gift isn’t the most important thing. What’s important is the love that comes with the gift. That love is a gift in itself—a gift that your grandchildren treasure most of all.
AARP Resources
Section 529 Plans Offer Tax Incentive to Save for Grandkids' Education
The AARP Bulletin explains a saving plan for grandkids.
Books for Kids and Grandkids
Check out this list of children’s gifts that don’t require batteries.
Online Shopping: A Safety Checklist
Do you buy gifts for grandchildren online? Protect yourself with these tips.
Other Resources
Toy Hazard Recalls
Check this list of unsafe toys that have been recalled.
Resources for Parents, Teens and Kids
The American Library Association recommends books and Web sites for kids.
Safety Tips for the Holidays
The American Association of Pediatricians offers toy safety tips for the holidays.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com:
"Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2007 Edition: The Best Toys, Books, DVDs and Music for Kids"
"For My Grandchild: A Grandmother's Gift of Memory"
Paige Gilchrist, Sterling Publishing Company, Incorporated, November 2005
"New Knits on the Block: A Guide to Knitting What Kids Really Want"
Vickie Howell, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., October 2005
