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Giving Gifts to Your Grandchildren Grandparents have a well-deserved reputation for
spoiling their grandchildren. As a group, we spend very generously on
gifts for them. Of course, we have to stay within our budgets. That can
be tough when we would love to give our grandchildren just about
everything they want! Often the most difficult task is deciding what
gift to give. The choices available are overwhelming.
Start with Mom and Dad
It's always best to consult with the parents. They are likely to have great
suggestions. They can also tell you what not to buy. They may have safety
concerns about particular gifts or wish to give certain presents themselves.
They also know what your grandkids' current interests and needs are. If the
parents are on a tight budget, you could help them by buying gifts such as
clothing or other essential items.
Gifts Should Suit the Child
It's important to choose gifts that suit not only your grandchildren's
interests, but their age and skill levels as well. Your grandchildren probably
won't use a gift that's too advanced - or too simple - for them.
Grandchildren cherish gifts chosen with thought and care. Even
young children have very distinct interests and desires. It's most important to
match the gift to the grandchild. Some boys just don't like football. Some girls
hate dresses.
If you buy a certain gift to encourage a particular hobby or to
help develop an academic or athletic skill, share that information with your
grandchildren. They'll appreciate knowing that you took the time to think about
your gift.
Financial Gifts
Some youngsters seem to have everything. The last thing they need is another
toy. If that is true in your grandchildren's case, you may wish to direct some
money to a college fund or other savings method.
We encourage the giving of financial gifts to grandchildren.
Such gifts can take pressure off the parents in planning for the education and
financial security of their children when they are older. The money can be paid
into a trust fund - every birthday - or used to help buy endowment policies or
even the latest idea "Baby Bonds" (Great Idea - More details to follow )
Start Traditions
Perhaps you would like to start a tradition that helps you to narrow your range
of choices. This approach can still allow you to honour the special interests
and personality of each child.
Each year Grandma gives each of her grandchildren books for
their birthdays. She makes sure that she knows each child's current liking
and finds books for the appropriate age level. She also checks with the parents
to make sure the children don't already have the books.
If you like arts and crafts, you can make gifts specially suited
to each child. If you sew, you may have granddaughters who will jump with joy if
you make dolls' clothes. If you paint or draw, you can create a canvas that will
be perfect for your grandkids' bedroom. With your talents, the sky's the limit!
Children have a strong interest in knowing what their parents
were like as children. You could pass on a special family keepsake - handing
down a book or toy that belonged to your grandchildren's parent. Make sure older
toys are safe. Some old toys are not. The regulations on toys made today are
much stricter than they were two and three decades ago.
A Gift of You
Special time spent with grandchildren can be the most prized of gifts. You can
plan an outing to the park, the zoo, their favourite restaurant. You can go with
them to the store where you bought them a gift certificate, so that you can pick
something out together. Each year Granddad lets his teenaged grandkids pick
a sporting event they want to see and he takes them. Not only are these gifts to
the grandchildren, but they help you cement your relationship with them. They
are gifts for everyone to enjoy!
Your Budget
If your grandchild asks you for a computer and it's over your budget, you could
contribute, with several others, toward its purchase. Or you could buy some
software. Be strong if you feel pressured to buy gifts you can't afford! Though
we hate to disappoint our grandchildren or be outdone by other grandparents,
it's important for our families that we keep our finances in good order. Your
grandchildren will understand.
You may wonder what kinds of gifts other grandparents give to their
grandchildren.
When Seniors Network talked with grandparents, we found that most buy clothing,
books, fun foods, toys, CDs or tapes, videos or DVDs, jewellery, magazines or
subscriptions, video games, other electronic devices, and computers or software.
Maybe you will get an idea from the selections of gifts these grandparents made.
Other gift choices might be tickets to a puppet show or play.
You could buy your grandchildren lessons in ballet, music, or karate - even
football.
Whatever you choose to give your grandchildren for gifts -
expensive or not - they'll know it came with all the love you could possibly
wrap up with it.
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Grandparenting
