During any gift-giving season, it is always a great idea to check in with the parents. Thoughtfully chosen books or toys might be wonderful gifts – but the only way to really know is to ask the parents.
With so many parents feeling overwhelmed and pressured for time, a family gift card to a local restaurant they love could be meaningful and provide a much-needed break from the kitchen for the parents.
Or a trip to a local arcade or trampoline park might help the family have much needed fun time together.
Many grandparents like to give these types of experience gifts and so just mention you are thinking about getting the kids or the family an experience gift such as tickets to a museum, a gift card for mummy-daughter pedicures, movie tickets or a family trip to an Escape room (my almost 9-year-old loved a recent trip to an Escape Room).
The parents will share what is best and as a mum, I always appreciate when my family checks in with me. Even better when they come to me with a couple of suggestions to choose from!
Overall though, my hope is that as long distance grandparents, you can include something that deepens your connection to your grandchild and use gift giving as an opportunity to foster and boost connection!
Personalized Photo Products
A personalized photo product such as a photo calendar, a fridge magnet photo of you together or a puzzle created using a photo of you with your grandchild is a great way to add a connection boost to your gift giving.
Over the last few years, several members of The LDG Society have created personalized photo calendars for their grandchildren.
I did a quick training on it a few years ago and thought I would share this idea with all of you because their grandchildren – and the parents – have immensely enjoyed these calendars all year round.
Quick tips:
- Keep it simple. Choose the option where it’s one photo per month so you only need to find 13 photos (some require 12 but many have a cover page for the calendar so you will need 13 in total).
- Put these photos into a folder on your computer so you are ready to make the calendar before you figure out what company you will use (suggestion below).
- If you are emailing photos to yourself from your phone, be sure to choose ‘large size’ because it is the highest resolution and will prevent an error message later on when creating your calendar!
- Include photos of other family members too – for instance, if you know the birthday month of a cousin or a grandparent from the other side, include a photo of them with your grandchild for that month. This is a unique way to be a family gatherer and include other family members in this special gift.
- Include a photo of each of the parents as children for an extra special touch.
There are several businesses that create these types of products. I recommend a company called Snapfish because the process of making a calendar is so much easier than other ones I’ve tried.
And I’ve tried a lot of them!
When you go to the main page of Snapfish, you can choose other countries besides the US, which is another reason I like this company.
They operate in many parts of the world.
[Sidenote: As of today (Nov 17 2023), they have a buy 1 get 2 free – which is the time of year I wait for because as the parent, I make a photo calendar every year for the grandparents in our lives so it’s a great deal – only on for 2 days though. If you miss this particular deal, always check the top of their website under a tab called Deals and you can find the latest and greatest. Yet another reason I like this company! No fussing about. If there is a deal, they make it obvious and their customer support is great too.]
You can also make photos into fridge magnets at Snapfish or photobooks and a variety of other things – the calendars, magnets and photobooks are the only ones I’ve personally tried and loved.
But members of The Long Distance Grandparent Society highly recommend another company called Pinhole Press for photo based products, especially their puzzles.
Using a photo of you with your grandchild, the company turns it into a children’s puzzle. There are numerous designs to choose from, for all ages of grandchildren.
It’s the kind of gift that might not be an instant wow when they open it, but the connection value long-term is huge.
The Gift of Your Voice
My dad recorded a Hallmark Storybook for his first grandson who is now 16 and we still enjoy it to this day. They have a lot of books available, and it really is a valued treasure, especially for a new grandchild gift. You can find these on Amazon too.
Another option is to record a digital storybook using a company called Make Mementos.
I know the founder of this company and she is really passionate about connecting generations through storytelling – they even have the book Nonni’s Moon which is all about being a long distance grandparent!
What I especially like about these books is that you get to record an intro message for your grandchild where you can share a special message such as why you chose the book you did, or just a quick I love and miss you everyday kind of message.
They also have great customer support so if you need a hand, you can always just reach out to them.
Gift Cards that Give Back
Grandchildren from about 8 and up do love a gift card. And sometimes this feels like a woefully unsatisfying gift to give. But here’s how to make it feel better:
Give them a gift card for themselves and include one for someone else.
This can take a few forms:
- Let’s say they want a gift card for somewhere like Walmart. Tuck an extra gift card designated for them to buy something for a family in need. Although food banks and gifting charities are in full force before the holiday season – as you all well know, families in need still have needs after the holidays.
- Perhaps your older grandchild might love a gift card for a coffee shop like Starbucks. This could be a grandchild who is 9 or 29! Just include an extra one for them to give to a friend. But make sure you name the friend because it is a way to say ‘I know who you like to spend time with’. So ultimately the gift is 2 gift cards: one for them and one for their friend Avery so they can enjoy a Starbucks treat together. Of course, the real gift is emphasizing the importance of their relationships. And don’t be afraid to ask for connection. Something like ‘if you think of it, I’d love a photo of you and Avery enjoying your Starbucks drink!
- A personal favorite at our house is for the cookie shop close to our home because the cookies are beyond yummy – and also on the pricier side. My youngest son loves these cookies and has taken me for a cookie a time or two with a gift card his Oma bought for him. So this idea applies to sharing within families too – perhaps it’s a gift card for an ice-cream shop to take mum out for her fave treat.
A Special Letter
And then of course, tucking in a special letter for your grandchild to any gift you send adds a personal connection boost. Check out this article for tips on writing letters to grandchildren of any age.
A Final Note: GRANDsourcing for Connection
As part of the membership program I lead called The LDG Society, we gather each month to share wins and ideas, reflect and discuss different aspects of grandparenting from a distance and help one another out with challenges. I call this GRANDsourcing because the energy and brainstorming that occurs when a group of long distance grandparents get together is pretty incredible.
And let me tell you, the ideas were flowing last week as we discussed how to make holiday celebrations extra special – including ideas for preparing for when you can be there in-person and when you will be celebrating from a distance together.
But our meetings are also about how to cope when you can’t see the grandchildren for the holidays and generally how it feels to be a long distance grandparent.
If you could use some GRANDsourcing in your life, including the chance to connect with other long distance grandparents who really get it, then please do check out The LDG Society.
It very well could be the best gift you buy yourself this year.