Today's grandparents are healthier, wealthier and more active than ever, according to Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D., of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. There is a good chance that your parents will live to see your children, their grandchildren, grow up. It is very important to foster a relationship between children and their grandparents. Children often enjoy giving gifts, and your parents' birthdays and the holidays are perfect times for your kids to think of ideas of gifts to give their grandparents.
The Gift of Time
Many grandparents enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Rather than purchasing a gift for your child's grandparent, consider giving them the gift of shared experiences with your children. Include them on a family membership to a museum or zoo, for example. Ask them if they'd like to spend one Saturday per month taking your child fishing, shopping or golfing. Let your son teach Grandma how to play his favorite video game, or ask Grandpa to teach your daughter how to make his famous barbecue chicken. Foster a relationship between your parents and your children by encouraging your kids to ask their grandparents for help tracing their family tree. Purchase tickets to the ballet, opera or a sporting event for your children to go to with Grandma or Grandpa. If your parents live far away, a good gift might be to promise to have your child call or write each week to keep their relationship strong.
Photo Gifts
When the children are not physically with their grandparents, photographs can help Grandma and Grandpa feel close to their grandchildren. Frame and mat several favorite photos, preferably ones with the kids having fun with their grandparents. Purchase a digital picture frame and fill it with candid snapshots of your children. Make a photo mug, calendar or key chain for Grandma or Grandpa to use daily.
Gifts of Service
If your children are middle-school aged, they may enjoy giving their grandparents a gift of service. Pre-teens can rake leaves, shovel driveways or weed gardens. If your parents live close by, your children can take their garbage cans down to the curb each week, or turn in their bottles for recycling. They could cook dinner once a month for their grandparents, and handle all of the cleanup afterward. Help your kids think of ways that they can help their grandparents with chores that may be difficult or time-consuming for them.
Homemade Gifts
Children of any age can make homemade gifts for their grandparents. From homemade Christmas ornaments to fresh-baked cookies to a beautifully painted masterpiece, Grandma and Grandpa are sure to appreciate something made by their grandbabies. Kids could make a gift basket filled to the brim with some of their grandparents' favorite foods. A budding seamstress could sew Grandma an apron, and a young woodworker could make Grandpa a napkin holder. Encourage your kids to consider what they like to make, and help them to make a gift that will be treasured for years to come.
