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Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents: What Grandparents Actually Want

Christmas gift ideas for grandparents who say they need nothing: time together, photo keepsakes, treats, cozy gifts and one shared family list.

Thoughtfully read6 min read

What grandparents usually want most for Christmas is time with their grandkids, followed by gifts that bring the grandkids to mind: photos, artwork, recordings and handmade keepsakes. After that, the safest picks are treats they can enjoy and use up, comfort items for winter, and small upgrades to things they already use every day. The easiest way to get it right? Ask them, then keep everyone's ideas on one shared family list.

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What Grandparents Say They Want

When HuffPost asked dozens of grandparents what was on their holiday wish lists, many of the requests were tied to their grandchildren: ways to display the kids' artwork, digital picture frames the family can keep adding photos to, and a big cozy seat for cuddling. The theme nearly all of them repeated was "the gift of time" with their grandkids.

A 2018 survey of more than 1,000 users of Gransnet, a UK site for grandparents, pointed the same way: its editor said the gifts grandparents really value are personal and meaningful, especially anything made with love by their grandchildren. On the practical side, 94% of respondents said they would keep a food hamper if they received one.

1. Time Together (the Gift They Ask For Most)

  • A planned visit with the date already on the calendar
  • A standing video call with the grandkids, same day and time each week
  • A meal out together at a restaurant they like
  • A class you take together: cooking, painting, pottery or crafts

Research backs this up. In a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, Cindy Chan and Cassie Mogilner found that experiential gifts strengthened relationships more than material gifts, even when the giver and recipient didn't share the experience.

2. Keepsakes From the Grandkids

These are the gifts grandparents tend to keep for years:

  • Framed artwork, or a frame that stores and displays many drawings
  • A photo calendar with pictures from the past year
  • A photo book of the year's family moments
  • A digital photo frame you set up and keep loaded with new photos
  • A short video of the grandkids singing, reading or saying hello
  • Handwritten letters or cards from each grandchild
  • A family recipe book with the grandkids' drawings

3. Treats They Can Enjoy and Use Up

Consumables are great for grandparents who have downsized or simply have enough stuff.

  • A food or snack basket for when the family visits
  • Their favorite coffee, tea or hot cocoa
  • Homemade jams, cookies or baked goods
  • A gift card to their favorite local restaurant, coffee shop or salon

4. Comfort and Cozy Gifts

  • Warm socks with grip soles
  • A soft throw blanket
  • A good reading light or a hands-free craft light
  • Comfortable slippers or easy-on boots (ask for sizes first)

5. Hobby and Everyday Upgrades

Look at what they already love doing and make it a little better:

  • Books by authors or on topics they enjoy, or an audiobook subscription
  • Garden tools, seed packets or a new plant
  • Puzzles, card games or a family board game
  • Kitchen tools they'll actually use, like a zester or knife sharpener

What to Skip

  • Clutter for its own sake. Decorative knickknacks often end up regifted.
  • Gifts that hint at age. Unless they've asked for an item, skip anything that implies they can't manage.
  • Tech with no setup. If you give a gadget, set it up first and show them how it works.

How to Coordinate Gifts With the Whole Family

Grandparents often get gifts from several households. Without a plan, that can mean three photo calendars.

  1. Ask them directly. Many will name one or two things if asked.
  2. Start one shared list. Put the grandparents' ideas in one place and share it with every household.
  3. Divide it up. One family takes the experience, another takes the keepsake, the grandkids handle the handmade gift.
  4. Help them make their own list. If they're comfortable online, help them save the things they'd like. Research by Francesca Gino and Francis Flynn found that recipients appreciated gifts they asked for more than gifts they hadn't.

Make a Shared Grandparent Wish List With gftcrd

gftcrd is a free wish list that works with any store. Save gift ideas for Grandma and Grandpa from different websites into one list, then share a single link with the whole family. Family profiles are free, so you can keep lists for grandparents, parents and kids side by side. It's better than a gift card, because they still get a real present, just one they actually want.

👉 Make and share a free gftcrd wish list

FAQ

What do grandparents want most for Christmas?

Most say time with their grandchildren, followed by keepsakes like photos, artwork, recordings and handwritten letters.

What is a good Christmas gift for grandparents who have everything?

Something they can experience or use up: an outing, a class together, a meal out, a food basket or their favorite coffee or tea.

What can grandkids make for their grandparents?

Framed drawings, painted mugs or plates, a homemade card, a short video message, a memory jar, or a recipe book with the kids' illustrations. Younger kids can do these with a parent's help.

Are gift cards a good gift for grandparents?

It can, when it's specific, such as for their favorite restaurant, coffee shop or salon. Better yet, make it a meal out with the grandkids.

How can our family avoid giving grandparents duplicate gifts?

Keep one shared list. With gftcrd, you can save ideas from any store into a single wish list and share the link with every household, so everyone can see the ideas in one place.

Sources

This post was drafted with the help of AI for gftcrd. Gift ideas are general categories, not product endorsements.

gftcrd may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through clearly identified affiliate links.