Finding gifts for grandchildren

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Rayma Silvers

Although gift giving can be fun, it can also become stressful for grandparents, who want to give something that their grandchildren will use and enjoy.

According to information from the American Association of Retired Persons, grandparents do not have to allow themselves to become stressed out about gift giving during the holiday season.

* AARP said that it is a good idea to visit with the parents of the gift recipient in order to find out what items the grandchild needs or wants. In addition, the child's parents should be able to help the grandparents choose gifts that are safe and developmentally appropriate for that particular child.

* If the grandchild's family lives on a tight budget, it might be helpful for the grandparent to buy a needed present that the child's parents are unable to afford, such as clothing. Of course, it's best to check with the parents concerning sizes and preferred clothing styles.

* For grandchildren who seem to have everything already, a financial gift might be the best present to give. A cash gift gives the child the excitement of picking the gift for himself or herself. Also, grandparents might want to place money in the child's college fund or a donation to a state 529 account, an account used to pay for a young person's education.

* Grandparents could begin new traditions by buying a particular item for their grandchildren and every year after that the grandparent could buy a similar item as the first year. For instance, grandparents may wish to buy their grandchildren a different book every year or create a scrapbook for their grandchildren every year to be given as a gift.

* It may be a good idea to give grandchildren a toy or a keepsake that used to belong to the grandchildren's parents when they were younger.

AARP urges grandparents to remember that it is not about the amount of money that a gift costs. The important thing is the love that goes along with the gift that is given. Gifts full of love are the gifts that grandchildren will treasure the most.