Birthdays, Christmas or Grandparents' Day, which in Spain is celebrated on 26 July: sooner or later it's time to think of a little something, and the answer is usually the same: “I don't need anything”. These gift ideas for grandparents who have everything aim for exactly that: getting it right without filling the house with things. Here are 12 specific suggestions, split between crafts made by the grandchildren, things that actually get used and time spent together.
How to choose gifts for grandparents who have everything
Before you buy, ask yourself three questions. Will they use it every day, or will it end up in a display cabinet? Does it say something about your family? Does it give you an excuse to spend time together? A gift that ticks at least two of the three boxes rarely misses. Price hardly matters: for grandparents, the thought behind it and a handwritten card count for far more.
Gifts made by the grandchildren
1. A framed drawing
A drawing by the grandchildren in a simple frame, with the date written on the back. It costs very little and it's the gift that stays on the wall the longest.
2. A flowerpot decorated by the children
A pot painted by the grandchildren and planted with herbs such as rosemary or thyme, which are easy to look after on the kitchen windowsill.
3. The memory jar
A glass jar full of folded slips of paper, each one with a memory, a phrase or an “I love you because…”. Your grandparents open one whenever they feel like it.
4. The family recipe book
Ask Grandma or Grandpa to dictate their recipes to you, then write them out by hand or print them with a few photos of the dishes. It's a gift for them and for the whole family, because those recipes won't be lost.
Practical gifts that actually get used
5. An album or a 2027 calendar with photos of the grandchildren
Photos often stay stuck on the phone. A printed album gets leafed through on the sofa; a calendar for the new year, with one photo per month, keeps them company for twelve months.
6. A digital photo frame, ready to go
If you choose one, load the photos beforehand and hand it over switched on and working: your grandparents don't have to set anything up.
7. A soft throw for the sofa
As the evenings draw in, a cosy throw on the sofa is a gift that gets used every day until spring.
8. If there's a dog or cat at home
Many grandparents live with a pet and battle with pet hair on armchairs and coats every day. A reusable, self-cleaning pet hair remover is a practical gift: there are no sticky sheets to keep buying.
Give the gift of time: plans to do together
9. A meal cooked by the grandchildren
For once, the roles are reversed: the grandchildren cook and the grandparents sit back. Even a simple menu becomes a celebration.
10. A relaxed day out
A walk in the countryside, a visit to a nearby village or a morning at the market. In autumn and spring you can head out without the summer heat.
11. A “tech” afternoon
Patiently show them how to make a video call, make the text bigger on their phone or find the photos of the grandchildren. This kind of help is worth more than any object.
12. Tickets for the cinema, the theatre or a concert
Ideally two tickets with a date already set: the outing becomes something to look forward to, perhaps with one of the grandchildren.
What to avoid
- Ornaments and bulky items: in many grandparents' homes, every bit of space is already full of memories.
- Complicated gadgets handed over in their box: if you don't set them up yourself, they stay switched off.
- Generic last-minute gifts: a small but personal touch is better.
Whichever idea you choose, add a handwritten card: that's what grandparents keep. For more inspiration, discover Velia Select's gift ideas.