With the abundance of gadgets and toys that so often get purchased on a whim, too many of these quickly turn into junk in a child’s life—just as soon as the novelty wears off. As an experienced or soon-to-be grandparent, it’s essential to understand that gifts for grandchildren should promote not only entertainment, but creativity too. Whatever you give them, you want gifts to last and be a benefit to their lives.
These wonderful gift ideas will stimulate fun, innovation, and knowledge.
Our Grandkid Gift Ideas
There are many delightful gifts to get for your grandchildren that their parents will appreciate, too.
1.Books
Books are wonderful gifts that promote pleasure and cognitive development. It’s a great way for your grandkids to develop literacy skills and hone their imagination. There are services such as Cratejoy that deliver a great selection of books each month. You can select these subscription boxes based on age and interests, such as adventure and comics.
2. Music
Audio stories and rhymes are lovely gifts for new parents and their infants. They can listen along to nursery songs and poems as they explore the world around them. Research has found that babies who have musical play sessions have improved processing of both music and new speech sounds.
And if you want to help them make their own music, musical egg shakers are delightful toys for babies. They can easily hold onto them and shake them out to create their own unique melodies.
3. Soft Minky Blankets
A Minky infant blanket is a great first grandchild gift idea. These Minky blankets will keep infants warm during tummy and snuggle time, and the incredible softness will be gentle on the baby’s skin. Even older children get cold of course, and you can’t beat the warmth and softness of Minky blankets.
4. Shape Sorter Toy
A shape sorter toy is a fun and useful gift during the first few years of your grandkid’s life. This allows them to build their motor, problem-solving, and color-recognition skills. It’s also an attractive set that will look great on their shelf.
5. Art Supplies
Creative activities provide opportunities for children to problem-solve and express themselves. Art supplies like crayons, sketchbooks, and paint are great gift ideas that foster a kid’s imagination and creativity. They can take it wherever they go and create timeless art that they can hang around their rooms—or on grandma and grandpa’s fridge, of course.
There are also fun craft supply kits available such as Light-Up Wire Art and Tots Art Start that will inspire them to innovate and have fun.
6. Rory’s Story Cubes
Another great creative gift is Rory’s Story Cubes. This will allow your grandkids to think creatively by crafting their own stories and bonding with family and friends.
The game entails nine cubes that look like dice, and each cube carries different symbols. Players simply toss the cubes, begin with “once upon a time” and then create a story that links the symbols together.
As each symbol carries different meanings for everyone, your grandkids are free to interpret them however they like. It's a fun way to use and share their imagination. Not to mention, it encourages them to nourish their listening and problem-solving skills.
7. Tickets to a Live Show
There’s nothing like seeing a live show that will get your grandkid’s spirits up. Disney on Ice and Sesame Street Live are a couple of great family-friendly shows.
There are also Broadway shows such as Matilda the Musical (and a host of quality Disney shows) that appeal to children. Not only do these events expose them to performing arts, but it helps enhance their imaginations, with characters that they’ve read or heard about coming to life before their eyes
8. VTech KidiBeats Drum Set
The VTech KidiBeats Drum Set not only helps stimulate music in your grandkid but letters and numbers as well. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, this fun toy provides an interactive way to work on sensory development. They can drum freestyle, play along to nine pre-set melodies, or follow the lights while hearing about letters and numbers.
It comes with a volume control on the bottom that will come in handy for the parents. The drum set is also small, so it’s easily portable and won’t take up too much space.
9. Museum or Zoo Tickets/Membership
Museums are like an educational playground. Consider purchasing an annual or one-day pass to a museum that covers kid-friendly topics. Not only will you get to spend some one-on-one time with your grandchild, but it will be a great way to explore and learn various subjects together. If they’re too young for a museum—or even if they’re not!—a zoo makes a great alternative for kids of any age.
Safety First
Though they are created for playtime, many toys have unfortunately harmed children. When purchasing your gift items, be sure that they adhere to the following safety standards:
- There are no sharp objects.
- They are shatter-proof.
- The paint used is non-toxic and lead-free.
- They can easily be cleaned.
- There are no small parts that may be a choking hazard for younger children.
It’s also helpful to take a look at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website for a list of toys that have been recently recalled by manufacturers before you go shopping.
If your new grandchild hasn’t been born yet, we’ll clue you in on the best gift for soon-to-be grandparents to look forward to: When their eyes get wide with wonder and they flash a huge, excited grin over something you picked out, there’s nothing like it in the world! So be sure to consider these special items when shopping for them.
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Help stimulate your grandchild’s mind with the creative array of eye-catching patterns in Sew Sweet Minky Designs’ child blanket product line. Learn more by checking out our Minky blankets. Made with 100% polyester fabric, they will bring incredible comfort to little tykes all day and night.