The Best Gifts for Parents and Grandparents

I have had so many requests for great gifts for parents and grandparents, particularly those who are hard to buy for or often already have everything they need. I took the question to my community and you came up with the best ideas that are thoughtful, useful, and meaningful!

Gifts of time

Most parents and grandparents love the gift of time! Try some of these fun ideas:

Tickets to plays, concerts, sporting events, or movies, and then join them!

Gift cards to their favorite restaurant and plan a night to go with them.

A monthly lunch date.

Christmas Brunch at a nice restaurant or hotel.

One date per month…assign each child or grandchild to pick a month, plan something and gift it all together so there is something for grandparents to look forward to all year!

Cooking class and attend with them!

A family talent show.

A pass to the zoo or art museum so they can take grandkids with them.

12 Days of Christmas with small treats or gift cards each day.

A class learning how to do something they’ve been wanting to learn and have a kid or grandkid join them.

Game night with their favorite take out. The game Do You Even Know Me? is perfect for this!! Multigenerational and full of connection.

Golf, Top-Golf, or Mini-Golf: Grab a gift card or plan a day when you can all go hit the greens together

Service Gifts

As parents age, service and help mean a lot! Here are some great ideas you can perform for them or hire someone to do!

Garage Epoxy, help decorating for Christmas, lawn care, snow removal, window washing, house cleaning, facials, pedicures, airline credits

Meaningful Gifts

Chatbook

If budgets are tight, this is an awesome and meaningful gift! You can get 3 books for $9 using the link.

A Family Photoshoot

Plan, schedule, and pay for a full family picture. It will be a gift they cherish forever!

A Stylish Photo Calendar

This is such a cute, updated way to display a photo calendar. Parents would love it!

Memories

Choose a theme each year and have each child and grandchild write a memory they have that involves the parents or grandparents. Themes could include: Christmas, vacations, spiritual, funny, childhood, etc. Put them all in a folder or binder and gift it or read them aloud!

A list of 101 reasons we love you

Have the whole family contribute, then print and frame the list.

A Real Christmas Card

Find a beautiful card and write down how much you love them, a favorite memory, or what makes them special to you.

The Gift of Music

Learn a new song and play it for them, or gift them some sheet music of a beautiful piano arrangement they can work on. Amazing options HERE.

Updated Family Photos

Parents and grandparents love current pictures of the people they love most!

A family Photo Calendar

This is a fan favorite with pictures from every family and birthdays and anniversaries written in!

Legacy Box

This allows parents and grandparents to have someone digitize all their old photos! Such meaningful and useful gift!

Digital Frame

Purchase one that allows family members to upload photos so they see something new often!

Tear Off Photo Calendar

This is such a fun idea! You need 365 photos, so have every family member contribute and grandparents get one new photo a day. What a great idea!!

Photo Magnets

These are a great and inexpensive idea for grandparents who love updated photos on their fridge!

Modern Family History Charts

These are fun for those who love family history!

Grandkid Team Sports Shirt

Gift them a shirt for teams sport of each grandchild they love to support. You could custom-make one, or purchase one if they offer them to the team.

Edible Gifts

Homemade garlic salt, garlic butter, and cinnamon and sugar butter in cute jars

A shipment of their favorite food from a restaurant out of state! Such a fun surprise.

Homemade bread, jam, chocolate

Fruit of the Month Club

This gives them something to look forward to each month that they can actually use!

Beehive Meals

This is an amazing gift for parents or grandparents. Crockpot meals ready to go in the freezer! They will be so grateful. Use code BROOKE for a discount.

Sees Candy

Who doesn’t love a box of good chocolate for Christmas? Delicious and no clutter!

Steaks or Quality Meat

Grocery prices keep going up, so sometimes a high-end food item feels like a fun splurge! Five Mary’s Ranch offers excellent quality meat.

Food Nanny Items

The food nanny has so many delicious options to gift, you can’t go wrong!

A Cheese Box

This creamery is so good! A food gifts that lasts a little longer.

Useful Gifts

Slides to Digital Files

This camera converts slides to digital files, so they can modernize their history!

Rocker Camping Chairs

These are so comfortable for watching sports, camping or just sitting outside! A great gift!

Rechargeable Handwarmers

As parents age, it’s hard to keep warm. These are a great gift!

Heated Vest

Lightweight with a rechargeable battery.

A Great Umbrella

This isn’t a fancy gift, but it’s so useful! It’s a great, heavy duty umbrella. Something everyone needs!

Blackstone Grill

This grill is top notch and perfect for parents who love to entertain, camp, or gather people for reunions!

Bleacher Seats

These portable, cushioned bleacher seats are so great for those support grandparents who love coming to games!

Towel Warmer

This is such a great gift for parents who have most of what they need but love a little luxury!

Laundry Basket on Wheels

This is such a great gift for aging parents. It makes laundry so much easier.

Vegetable Chopper

This is such a great gift for those who still love to cook but who might not be able to wield a knife like they used to. Such a great gift!

Foot Massager

As bodies age, a little TLC can feel so good!

Lumebox

One device. Endless benefits: skin, joints, soreness, recovery. Anywhere, anytime.

Doorbell Camera

These can be especially helpful as people age.

Programable Thermostat

A beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly. No more getting up to a freezing house!

Apple Watch

This is the new “life alert”. This helps keep aging parents connected and safe.

Kizik Slip-on Sneakers

A shoe that has comfortable all-day wear and hands free convenience.

Geometry Towels

Bring the spirit of the season into the heart of your loved one’s home. Something cute and useful. Gift it with their favorite Christmas treat. Use code BrookeR15 for a discount.

High Need Items

Give them paper towels or toilet paper in bulk so they don’t have to worry about it through the year!

Subscription Gifts

Walmart Plus 

This membership will allow them to get groceries and all the other household items delivered to their door! So helpful if they have limited mobility.

Sock of the Month Club

If you have someone who loves a new pair of socks, this would be so fun!

Storyworth

This subscription service sends your loved ones questions to ponder and write about, then turns their thoughts and memories into a book!

Universal Yums!

Kick off an adventure with a special edition sampler of the best holiday-themed snacks from around the world!

Amazon Prime

This is so helpful for cheaper and faster delivery options plus a streaming service!

Movie Club Membership

If you parents or grandparents love movies, this could be a great gift!

The Flower Letters

Letters that come twice a month and tell a fun, engaging story. So great for people who want something fun to arrive in the mailbox!

A Car Wash Subscription

Who doesn’t love a clean car? This would make a great gift!!

Bulb Subscription

This would be a delight for anyone who loves to garden.

Fun Gifts

Cashmere Sweater

Sometimes a really soft, luxury item is a welcome closet addition. Something classic like this is always a win.

Made by Mary Necklace

Birth Flower stamps, this stackable necklace captures the energy of the bright blooms that represent your most memorable moments.

Bird Feeder with Camera

This is so fun for bird lovers!

Amaryllis Plant

This plant brings a little life to winter, and it’s a fun way to remember the giver each time it’s seen!

A Good Puzzle

This puzzle is so fun. Just the right amount of challenge, but not too hard!

Cozy Earth Sheets

This is such a luxury item most people would never buy for themselves, so it makes a fun gift!

Lola Blankets

These blankets are so incredibly soft and stretchy. They will quickly become everyone’s favorite!! Use discount code BROOKE35 for 35% off.

Beautiful Soap

This item is both useful and luxurious! Perfect for the person who likes to use what you gift!

Flower Arrangements

Everything I’ve ordered from Farmgirl Flowers has exceeded my expectations. This would make a great gift for the person who loves a little extra beauty in their home.

Christmas Wreath

A fun way to send them something special they can enjoy for the season. They don’t have to store this once the season ends.

Religious Gifts

Journaling Scriptures

These are excellent gifts for those who love to study their scriptures seriously!

Expressions of Christ

This book is stunning and full of beautiful pieces of religious art

Books

Doing Small Things with Great Love

This book is one of my favorites and it’s so inspiring! You can’t help but love it!

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1

Excellent serious of books. Not only are they heart warming, humorous, engaging, but also historical educational.

The Small and the Mighty

For the history buff. In the Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks.

Divine Rivals Series

A novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.

The Comfort Crisis

“If you’ve been looking for something different to level up your health, fitness, and personal growth, this is it.”—Melissa Urban, 

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

Thought provoking perspective of time management, with a few nuggets of wisdom. Pretty much the opposite of “get more done” and more about accepting you won’t get to do everything.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky

In my opinion this is one of the best books of all time. I couldn’t put it down, and when I found out it was based on a true story during World War 2, I loved it even more. Every man and woman we have gifted it to has loved it just as much as we did!

When Breath Becomes Air

This is the most beautiful and inspiring story that every human should read. It makes you appreciate your health, your life, and your loved ones in a really intense way. One of my husband’s all time favorites.

Kindle

These are so nice. You can make the font as big as you need. You can take it anywhere you go.