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Creative Ideas for Grandparent's
Gifts What do you do to
thank those grandparent's who are so dear to your children? You
have to think outside of the box and be creative to produce something
unique that they will cherish. I have accumulated a number of creative ideas
that I have shared below.
Great Ideas for Grandparent's Gifts:
- Create a reading basket:
Purchase a wicker basket and put in big bright letters GRANDPARENT'S READING BASKET on the outside.
Select books and magazines that you know will be enjoyed. Have
your child/children
write a simple message to the insider cover of one of the books and sign
their name/date. Place all of the books into the basket.
This will be a present that will be appreciated.
- Grandma's sewing/knitting
chest:
Purchase a wooden chest from the craft store. Give your child/children
a stack of white paper cut in the shape of squares or circles (cut the edges with pinking sheers to give it a
creative look). Let their creativity emerge -- have them draw a picture, write a poem, create
a message or print their name on the sheets of paper. Glue all of the creations,
along with some favorite pictures, to the chest and then use decoupage to cover the entire
chest to seal it. Add some thread, needles, scissors,
buttons, yarn, material etc... to the inside. Grandma will have a memorable storage
chest for her sewing materials.
- Create a night at the
movies basket: Start with a plastic popcorn bowl and customize
it using permanent markers or puffy paint. Then fill the bowl
with microwave popcorn, large candy bars, and a gift certificate to
the local video rental store or movie theatre.
- Create a photo of the
month club book: This is terrific for out of town grandparents.
Create a scrap book using a photo album. Decorate the front
cover to say "Photo of the Month Book featuring "your child's name".
Each month, for the entire year, create a scrap book page including
pictures of events that occurred that month. Work with your
children to decorate the page and then have your child mail it to
their grandparents telling them to add it to their book.
Remember you are trying to let grandparents see what you child's
life is like on a monthly basis. Include sports photos,
outings, events, musical concerts, first day of school, Halloween,
swimming etc... At the end of the year they will have a
wonderful memory book.
- Create an art memory
page: Have each child do a watercolor painting on card stock
paper. Have them add a wallet-sized photo of himself or
herself to the middle of the painting and sign their name on the
back.
Punch holes down the side or across the top of and thread with
pretty ribbon.
- Create a flower kit:
Purchase a large PLASTIC flower pot at the local craft store.
Have the kids each print their name on the outside back portion of
the pot with a permanent marker. Make a color copy of a family
picture and decoupage it on the front of the pot. Fill the pot
with potting soil, gardening gloves, a small trough, and most
importantly packets of flower seeds.
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Personalized Note Pads:
This is a simple but
useful present. Have your child decorate the top of a piece of paper
(the size you want your note pad to be) and then take it to a copy shop
or printer to be made into notepads.
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Fun Box: This can be
made into a “Trinket Box" for earrings and rings, or a "Desk
Organizer" for paper clips and rubber bands. You will need a small plastic case with compartments, Foam
sticky letters spelling “GRANDMOM”,
and decorations specific for your theme. Decorate the top of the
box, add the word Grandmom and fill with Grandmom’s special items.
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Grandpop's Mini Travel Kit:
Purchase a sturdy, expandable plastic envelope from an office
supply store. Make sure it is small enough to fit into the
glove compartment of your car. Have the kids decorate the
front. Fill with on-the-road essentials: map, pen, sticky notes,
gum, roll of quarters, package of tissues, package of hand wipes, hand
sanitizer.
NOTE: This can
be altered to be used as a “first aid kit” simply filling with
Tylenol, Band-Aids, Neosporin, etc.. OR a “Travel toiletry kit” by
adding a toothbrush, and travel size toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant
and conditioner.
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Car Wash Kit:
Have the kids decorate a bucket using
permanent markers or non-washable
paint. Place somewhere safe to dry.
Once the work of
art is dry have them fill it with everything grandpop needs to wash his car.
Examples include sponges, paper towels, cleaning products and an IOU to
wash his car for him.
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Create a Dedication
Tape: Pull out your camcorder and
create a tape for the grandparents!! Be sure to get everyone involved; in front of
and behind the camera. You will need to be creative with this one. Take one child at a time
have them state their name and age and then ask them questions as you
film. You may need to adjust your questions based on the age of your
kids.
Examples:
What is you favorite thing to do with
grandmom/grandpop?
Where is your favorite place to go with
grandmom/grandpop?
What is the funniest thing that grandmom/grandpop ever did?
What is something that
grandmom/grandpop has taught you to do?
What do you love about your
grandmom/grandpop?
What is your favorite food that grandmom/grandpop makes?
You may want to have the kids make something for them as well and present it to
them
on film. They could explain what they made, how they made it
and why it is special.
The kids can put on a show
or sing a song to add to the film.
When your filming project
is complete you are guaranteed to leave them with a smile and the kids
will have a blast making it.
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