What to buy grandparents for Christmas

Christmas may be a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean people can’t treat the loved ones in their lives to some special gifts to make up for all the misfortune that has been experienced in 2020. Christmas is a time for giving and is often a special time for grandparents and grandchildren when it comes to sharing presents, precious memories and delicious food.

This guide will take you through some of the best presents to give to grandparents this Christmas, the perfect gift to say thank you for everything they do and to show them how special they are. Carry on reading to find out a little more about these gift ideas.

A photobook

One of the most popular gift ideas for grandparents in a photo book or photo album full of pictures of their loved ones, sharing memories and experiences they can treasure forever. A photo book is a lovely way to share your fondest memories and can either be compiled by yourself or via a website like PhotoBox.

Mairead the voice behind The Sickly Mama blog loves the idea of a photobook and thinks grandparents will love this thoughtful gift: “If you're wondering what to buy grandparents this Christmas, I personally think you can't go wrong with a photo book. There are lots of companies online that offer to print very professional-looking photo books for a reasonable price, and the process of uploading pictures is generally very easy. It means you can present grandparents with a beautiful keepsake book, filled with all the best pictures of them, their grandkids and family. I think it's a great way to make sure those favourite photos are shared, and proud grandparents get a whole new way to show off their lovely grandchildren.”

You could design each page with the children to personalise it, wrapping it in paper or a festive box to make it that extra special. Ella from Typical Mummy also thinks a personalised photo calendar is a lovely idea, with each month depicting a different photo of their grandchildren:

“Another idea of a gift that can last all year is a personalised photo calendar. Most of the online photo companies sell them and you can choose a different photo of the grandchildren for each month. We created one for my parents last year and they have asked us to give them another one for Christmas so that they have one for next year too!"

A hamper

A hamper is a lovely gift to get someone when you are not sure what to get them. A hamper doesn’t have to consist of food, it can be a selection of all of their favourite things, including pyjamas, slippers, chocolate, tea, coffee and anything else you like.

Rebecca from I Always Believed in Futures thinks the idea of a hamper is lovely and would highly recommend it for those who are harder to buy for: “With the prospect of not being able to see grandparents this year, I think the best Christmas gift is a hamper. Whether you choose to buy a readymade one or put together your own, filled with items you know Grandma and Grandpa will love, a hamper always goes down a treat. There are so many different types out there should you choose to buy one, so you are always going to find the perfect one for someone you love. If you make your own, it shows how much you care and how much attention you pay to the things that they love and enjoy. What could be better than that?”

Things to include in a hamper for your grandparents:

• Pyjamas
• Slippers
• Tea
• Biscuits
• Chocolate
• Moisturiser
• Films
• CD’s
• Photos

An experience

Although the outbreak has stopped many of us spending time with family and loved ones, you are still able to enjoy socially distanced days out with your relatives, which makes an experience a great option. An experience or a day out can be a lovely way to spend time together and can give you something to look forward to when it is safe to do so again. There are plenty of days out that can be gifted as a Christmas present, you can plan afternoon tea in a park or your garden, a day out to your grandparent’s favourite gardens, a shopping day or a day out to a popular attraction, there are many options just make sure it is safe to do so before committing, as Emma from Lipgloss and Curves explains in a little more detail:

“A day out, either to a local theatre to see a play or music they like, or garden centre or even plan a day to sit in the car looking over the sea eating fish and chips. A lot of older people with mobility issues often struggle to get out, which is why it's important to let them enjoy their time hassle-free, doing things they enjoy. Even if it seems ‘normal’ to us.”

A flower subscription 

Everyone loves to receive flowers, so why not give them the gift of flowers every month? A flower subscription or a subscription of any sorts is a great way to keep the gift-giving flowing throughout the whole year, giving grandparents something to look forward to every month. Ella, blogger at Typical Mummy recommends a flower subscription for Christmas or birthdays and loves Bloom and Wild for their stunning selections:

"My first idea for a good gift for grandparents is a flower subscription. We bought my mother-in-law a subscription with the flower company ’Bloom & Wild’ for her birthday and she absolutely loves it. Her birthday was in October and we bought her a three-month subscription so she received a beautiful bouquet in October, has received another in November and will receive the third in December. Then we will buy her another subscription for Christmas so she has three more bouquets until March and then we shall buy her another three-month subscription for Mothers' Day! It is such a beautiful idea because it prolongs the gift over a period of time and gives her a big smile every time the flowers arrive, reminding her of the grandchildren.”

There are plenty of subscriptions on offer that make great Christmas present ideas for the grandparents:

• Flowers
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Wine/Alcohol
• Magazines
• Crafts

Christmas is a wonderful time for the family to come together, whether that is in person or virtually and for older relatives who may often rely on stair lifts to spend some time with their grandchildren and loved ones. When buying your grandparents their Christmas present, why not think about some of these simple yet wonderful gifting ideas?