As a grandparent you want to give a gift that makes a difference. Not something that is unwrapped, played with for an hour and put away. But something the child comes back to, and that the parents are happy to have in the house.
Talk to the parents first
It sounds simple, but it is the best advice there is. The parents know what the child is playing with right now, what is already in the room and what there is no space for. Ask whether there is something the child collects, or a set that can be built on.
Give something that can be built on
A gift that connects with something the child already has gets used straight away. If the child has Crateit Town, for example, a police station or a roundabout can make the town bigger. If the child has Roomies, a new room such as Breakfast in Bed or Couch & Crayons can make the house bigger.
Give something you can do together
Many grandparents say the best thing about the gift was the afternoon they spent assembling and colouring it with their grandchild. Bare wooden toys are a good excuse to sit at the table together. Add a set of markers and the afternoon is sorted.
Choose something without a screen, sounds or batteries
Parents often appreciate gifts that need no charging and make no noise. Toys without sounds and lights leave more to the imagination and can be played with for years.
Think about who makes it
Crateit is designed in Odense and made in Danish sheltered workshops, where every part is shaped, assembled and packed by people. For many grandparents it feels good to give a gift that also makes a difference for the people who made it.
More ideas
What about siblings?
If you have several grandchildren, it can be a good idea to choose gifts that can be played with together. Toys that fit together make this easy: one grandchild gets a building, the other a vehicle or a set of markers, and together it becomes a shared game. It also means fewer discussions about who got the most.
Gifts that can live at your house
Many grandparents keep a box of toys for the grandchildren to play with when they visit. A set that can be built on is perfect for that. Every time they come, the town or the house can get a new part, and the play becomes a regular tradition at the grandparents' house.
The wrapping is part of the gift
A small card with a greeting that explains why this particular gift was chosen goes a long way. Write, for example, that you look forward to colouring the house together, or that you chose a fire station because your grandchild always looks out for fire engines. That makes the gift personal, even when it is a toy.
Order in good time
Christmas always comes a little faster than you think. Order in good time, so you can be sure the gift is home, and so there is time to wrap it in peace.
Gifts that can be passed on
Many grandparents also think about what happens to the gift when the child has grown older. Wooden toys that can be taken apart and built again are easy to store and can be passed on to siblings or to the next grandchildren. Because they can be coloured again, the next child can make them their own. That way the gift keeps giving joy in the family for years.
If you are looking for more suggestions, sorted by age, see our Christmas gift guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Christmas gift from grandparents?
A gift that builds on what the child already plays with, or a gift you can do together, for example a set that needs assembling and colouring.
How do we find out what the child needs?
Ask the parents. They know what is already in the room and what the child is into right now.
Can several grandchildren play with it together?
Yes, when the gifts fit together, for example a building for one and a vehicle for the other, it becomes a shared game.
