Gifts for grandma and grandpa from the grandchildren: 15 personal ideas
What do you give grandparents who have everything? 15 personal ideas from the grandchildren – to make, to share as time together and to keep.
By 3D-Freude · · 5 min read
In short: Grandparents love gifts that come from the grandchildren themselves: a drawing, a letter, time together or a keepsake made from a child's picture. Here are 15 ideas – to make, to experience and to keep – for every age and budget.
"We don't need anything" – almost every family knows that sentence. And it's true: grandma and grandpa rarely want things. What they want is closeness, time and memories of their grandchildren. That is exactly what the best gifts are made of.
The ideas at a glance
| Idea | Effort | Cost | Good if … |
|---|---|---|---|
| Framed drawing | low | € | it needs to be quick |
| Homemade calendar | medium | € | there are lots of pictures |
| Booklet "What I love about you" | medium | € | the child can already tell stories |
| Handprint picture | low | € | the grandchildren are still small |
| A letter to read aloud | low | – | the grandparents live far away |
| A day out together | low | €–€€ | time matters more than things |
| Baking or cooking afternoon | low | € | grandma or grandpa love to show what they can do |
| Regular video message | low | – | you rarely see each other |
| A shared hobby project | medium | €€ | grandpa likes building or gardening |
| Photo book with children's pictures | medium | €€ | memories should be collected |
| Child's drawing as a 3D figure | low | €€ | a picture should last forever |
| Lithophane with a family photo | low | €€ | a favourite photo should glow |
| Family recipe book | high | € | the grandparents love to cook |
| A plant the grandchildren planted | low | € | there is room in the garden or on the balcony |
| Voucher for a keepsake | low | €€ | the gift may be made later |
To make yourself
1. The drawing in a frame
A nice frame turns a child's picture into a gift. Ask your child to draw something especially for grandma and grandpa – the family, their house, the family dog – and write the date and age on the back.
2. A calendar with twelve pictures
Twelve drawings from the year, scanned or photographed, make a calendar that brings new joy every month. Tips on photographing and storing drawings are in our article What to do with kids' drawings.
3. A booklet "What I love about you"
The child talks, you write it down: "I love it when grandpa reads to me", "Grandma makes the best cake". Add a few pictures – and you have a book grandparents read again and again.
4. The handprint picture
Finger paint on thick paper, a new one every year: grandparents see how the hands grow. Works even with the youngest.
5. A letter to read aloud
A letter the child dictates or writes is often kept longer than any bought gift.
Give time
6. A day out together
Zoo, museum, playground or ice cream – handed over as a hand-drawn voucher. What matters most is a fixed date in the calendar.
7. A baking or cooking afternoon
Grandma shares the cookie recipe, grandpa the pancake technique. The grandchildren learn something, the grandparents pass something on.
8. A regular video message
Especially for grandparents who live far away: a short video every month – a song, a new picture, a story from nursery or school.
9. A shared project
Build a bird house, plant a bed, do a puzzle together: projects across several visits create reasons to meet.
Memories that last
10. A photo book with children's pictures
Photos and drawings together tell the story of a whole year. Allow enough time for printing and shipping.
11. The child's drawing as a 3D figure
A grandchild's drawing becomes a figure on the shelf – just as the child drew it. At 3D-Freude you get a 3D preview before printing. More: figure from a child's drawing.
12. A lithophane with a family photo
A picture that only fully appears against light: on the windowsill or in front of an LED tea light, the grandchildren's photo glows. How it works is explained in What is a lithophane? – you can order one as a lithophane – photo light.
13. The family recipe book
Grandma's favourite recipes, written down and illustrated by the grandchildren. A lot of work, but a gift for generations.
14. A plant from the grandchildren
A small tree or a rose bush, planted together – and a photo in front of it every year.
15. A voucher for a keepsake
If the gift may be made later: a gift voucher arrives instantly by email or as a printable card. Add a drawing by the grandchild – it can become the figure later.
How to recognise a good gift for grandparents
- It comes from the grandchildren. Something the children took part in counts more than the price.
- It tells a story. Date, age, one sentence – in ten years that is what matters.
- It stays visible. A picture on the wall or a figure on the shelf reminds them of the grandchildren every day.
- It causes no work. Grandparents love things that don't need care or storage space.
For Christmas in particular, see Christmas gifts for grandparents.
Frequently asked questions
- What do you give grandparents who have everything?
- Something one of a kind that comes from the grandchildren: a drawing, a letter, time together or a keepsake made from a child's picture. Grandparents rarely want things – but they almost always want closeness and memories.
- What gift can even small children make for their grandparents?
- Even two-year-olds can draw or make a handprint. A framed picture, a homemade card or a drawing turned into a 3D figure all work well with little ones.
- Which personal gift suits grandparents who live far away?
- Anything that travels well and reminds them of the grandchildren: a letter, a photo book, a regular video message or a keepsake to display, like a figure or a lithophane.
