Meaningful Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Grandchildren
The best gifts are those given with love from family members, like intentional gifts to your grandchildren. This Christmas, you can give your grandchildren the perfecwhot gift with my collection of meaningful gift ideas. As a grandparent, you can create lasting memories with your grandchild(ren), leaving a legacy behind and supporting them with gifts that encourage learning, curiosity, and creativity. Also, those that tap into their imagination.Â
Gifts That Will Encourage Learning and Curiosity
Montessori-Inspired Educational Toys
Before I was a mother, I was a Montessori teacher. I appreciate toys that encourage independent play and problem-solving skills. Additionally, puzzles are great gifts for many ages, from toddlers to adults. Here are my top Montessori-inspired toys for each age range and price range you may have on your Christmas or birthday list. You are sure to find something for each of your grandchildren. For more Montessori-inspired non-toy gift ideas, check out this blog post with all of my favorite Montessori items that are not toys and give practical gifts to your grandchild of any age!Â
Gifts for Babies
$15 – $40 Range:
- Black and White Images (0-4 Months)
- Spinning Drum (5-10 Months)
- Object Permanence Box (9-12 Months)
$40 – $100 Range – Radio Flyer Walker Wagon (our favorite toy for supporting walking)
$100 or more – Small table and chair (Use code “TWINMAMA10” for a discount)
Gifts for Toddlers (1-3 Years old
These have been some of our most loved Montessori-inspired toys in our home!
$15 – $25 Range: Pop-up Peg Toy
$30 – $50 Range: Spin-Again Toy, First Orchard (First board game)
$100 or more – Montessori Climbing Triangle, Strider Bike
Gifts for Preschoolers (3 to 6 Years old)
Here are some Montessori-friendly preschool gift ideas!
$15 – $25 Range: Tiny Polka Dot Game
$30 – $50 Range: Big Wooden Play Barn
$50 – $100: Yoto Player (non-digital audio play for books and music)
Elementary (6 to 12 Years Old)
$15 – $25 Range: 60-piece puzzle
$30 – $100 Range: Legos
Personalized Books and Recordable Story Books
If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift that will help you leave a legacy behind, consider getting a personalized book or a recordable Storybook. Websites like Wonderbly make it possible to create a one-of-a-kind picture book where your grandchild is the main character! Young children love to think about themselves, so a personalized storybook like this would make the greatest gift for younger children.
Gifts That Will Create Memories Together
Going Out to Have An Expereince
If your goal this year is to spend more time creating memories with your grandchild, a great idea is giving experience-based gifts. You could get them an annual membership to the science museum, tickets to the zoo, or take them out to see their first play in theaters. Some of the best presents are those that create a lasting impression on someone. Giving an expereince gift is also perfect for kids of all ages.
Younger kids will enjoy things like going to the zoo or museum while your older grandchildren may enjoy going to dinner with you and out to see a movie or play. The best way to show your love for your grandchild is through spending time with them, which you can do with an experience gift.
Doing a Project Together
Another great way to create memories and have quality time with your grandchild is by doing a project together. They sell all sorts of craft projects at the store like pottery and painting. These gifts also will have a finished product that can be kept as a keepsake.
Another fun idea would be to get them a special cake pan or some new baking tool. Then, set a date and have them come over for some quality one-on-one time where you teach them how to make your famous apple pie or chocolate chip cookies! Find that small gift that can be the invitation to an even greater gift; spending time with you and learning a skill you have. This will truly create lasting memories and likely be passed down to future generations. Not to mention keeping a family recipe strong in the family.
Gifts that Foster Creativity and Imagination
Is your grandchild a creative with a big imagination? If so, you can support them with art supplies, musical instruments, and dress-up clothes. Here are my favorite creative gifts as a parent and things I would be delighted if my children received as a gift from a loved one.
Art Supplies and Creative Kids
Musical Instruments for Kids
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Dress-Up Clothes or Imaginative Play Sets
- Open-ended play with Play Silks
- Dress-up Costumes : Doctor, chef, firefighter, police officer
Lasting Gifts and Those That Will Grow With Them
We all want to be remembered and to leave a legacy behind. There are many ways we can do this through the gifts that we give our children and grandchildren. Here are some of the best gifts that will have a long-term effect and be passed down potentially through generations.
Classic Toys with Longevity
There are just some classic toys that seem to withstand the test of time. Things like wooden blocks, train sets, and even baby dolls remain beloved across many ages and could be passed down to your great-grandchildren one day.
Subscription Boxes
There are more and more subscription boxes that make great ongoing gifts and can be a wonderful way to continue to support your grandchild as they grow up. Here are a few of the top subscription boxes. Some are focused on developmentally appropriate toys, like LovEvery. Others like KiwiCo offer engaging hands-on activities for children and others like Kids Art Box make doing art projects at home easy and accessible. Give just one kit as a gift or make it an ongoing gift with many boxes sent to your grandchild throughout the year. Any of these boxes would be an incredible Christmas present!
A Christmas Ornament
Growing up we would get a new Christmas ornament every year. We would recieve those fun and creative ornaments that reflected something that happened during the last year. Over the years, this tradition has built up a keepsake of memories that hang on our Christmas tree every year.
My mom has continued this tradition for her children and now all of her grandchildren, 17 so far! It is so fun to see what she and my dad pick out as the ornament for all the grandchildren. If a child starts in school for the first time they may get a personalized ornament that lists their teacher and the school they are attending. Other ornament ideas include interests they have, like fishing or a specific sport they played that year. If you are looking to get personalized ornaments, we have gotten many from Personalization Mall.Â
High-Quality Blanket or Quilt
If you are the crafty type of grandma, consider making a quilt made from meaningful fabric scraps, or a fleece tie blanket. Homemade gifts are some of the most special Christmas gifts because it is abundantly clear that a lot of love, time, and attention when into making it happen. The best part is that these handmade gifts like blankets or quilts will last for a long time and be well loved.Â
Savings Bonds or a College Fund Contribution
Another route you can go when it comes to giving gifts is to give your grandchild money towards a college fund or to help build up their savings account. You could even invest money on their behalf, preparing them for financial success down the road. A gift like this, while not the most fun to unwrap, shows that you are investing in them and their future.
A Message to You, the Grandparent
As a grandparent, you have a unique and special role to come alongside your grandchild to love and support them. You can give meaningful gifts that will create connections and fond memories for both you and your grandchildren. Before giving a gift, take some time to think about the relationship you want to have and the quality you hope to nurture in your grandchildren. Then, choose one of these thoughtful gifts to give to your grandchild.
