Gifts for grandpa are tricky because Grandpa has been saying "I don't need anything" since before you were born. He means it. He also lights up when the grandkids walk in, tells the fishing story every visit and still keeps a photo of the family in his wallet. Start there, with what he loves, and the gift gets easier.
Here are seven ideas sorted by the kind of grandpa he is. Each comes with what it's good for and the honest catch. One of them is ours, a memory game made from family photos, and it sits right in the middle of the list.
How to shop for a grandpa who needs nothing
Skip the gadget aisle for a minute. The grandpas we know tend to care about three things more than stuff.
- Time with the family. A gift that gets people to sit with him beats one that sits on a shelf.
- Being useful. Many grandpas like a gift with a job. Something he'll pick up every morning.
- His stories. He wants someone to ask about the old car, the first house and the year it snowed for a week.
The best gifts hit at least one of those. The very best hit two. And if you are truly stuck, ask Grandma. She has been shopping for him for decades.
Gifts for grandpa: 7 ideas by the kind of grandpa he is
1. For the tinkerer: a tool roll with his initials
A canvas or leather roll with pockets for screwdrivers and pliers, stitched with his initials. It travels from the garage to the kitchen drawer to the neighbor's sink.
Good for: the grandpa who fixes everything. The catch: he may already have a beat-up favorite he refuses to retire.
2. For the reader: a stack of books picked by the grandkids
Each grandchild chooses one book and writes a note inside the cover about why. Even the little ones can draw a picture.
Good for: the grandpa in the armchair with his glasses on his head. The catch: you need to know what he's already read, so ask Grandma.
3. For the storyteller: a memory game made from family photos
Every card is a face he loves or a moment he likes to retell. Matchy Matchy Memory keeps your real photos, from $19.99. He flips the fishing trip, and there's the story, right on cue.
Good for: grandpas who love a game and a captive audience. The catch: it's a game, so it shines when someone sits down to play with him. A deck in a drawer is just a deck.
4. For the early riser: a sturdy thermos and a mug with the grandkids on it
Coffee on the porch is sacred. A good thermos keeps it hot, and a photo mug reminds him who's coming over later.
Good for: morning walkers and porch sitters. The catch: mugs are a common gift, so he might already have a cupboard full.
Three more for the grandpa who has it all
5. For the griller: an apron with the grandkids' handprints
Fabric paint, small hands, one plain apron. The result is messy and wonderful, and he'll wear it every barbecue.
Good for: backyard chefs. The catch: the painting session needs a drop cloth and a brave adult.
6. For the faraway grandpa: a connected photo frame
The family sends photos from their phones, and they show up on the frame by his chair. New pictures arrive with no visit needed.
Good for: grandpas who live a plane ride away. The catch: someone has to set it up on his wifi, and someone has to keep sending photos.
7. For the grandpa who wants company: a standing breakfast date
One grandkid, one diner, once a month. Write it on a card with the first date already picked.
Good for: every grandpa alive. The catch: calendars get busy, so treat it like a real appointment.
Why a photo game suits grandpas
A memory game is one of the few games a grandpa and a five-year-old can play as equals. The rules take thirty seconds. Nobody needs to read. And kids are often hard to beat, which grandpas tend to find delightful.
Family photos add the part he loves most. Every match is a chance to tell a story. The wedding photo, the old station wagon, the day the grandkid caught her first fish. The game slows down, and nobody minds.
It also gives visiting grandkids something to do with him besides staring at a screen. A deck on the coffee table tends to start a game within minutes.
A tip from families who have done it: add one photo of Grandpa as a young man. The grandkids rarely recognize him, and he gets to enjoy the reveal.
Getting the grandkids involved
Whatever you pick, a gift from the grandkids lands harder than one from the grown-ups. A few easy ways to bring them in.
- Let them choose photos. Kids pick funny ones, and funny ones make the best cards.
- Add their handwriting. A card, a label, a note inside a book cover.
- Film the unwrapping. Grandpa will want to watch it again, and so will they.
- Record a message. A short voice note from each grandkid, saved on his phone, gets replayed more than you would guess.
- Plan a first round. If it's a game, play it with him the day he opens it.
Make one for Grandpa
Pick a handful of photos he'll love, straight from your phone. Choose real or re-drawn. Choose 12, 24 or 48 cards. Then check your first card before you pay.
Matchy Matchy Memory keeps your real photos, from $19.99. Matchy Matchy Magic re-draws them in 3D Film, Watercolor or Anime, from $29.99, if you'd like to see Grandpa as a movie hero. Order early for a holiday gift. Questions? Write to us at hello@matchygame.com.