The key to discovering fantastic present ideas for Grandma lies in identifying items she’d love but wouldn’t purchase on her own. Here are five suggestions to surprise and delight her on Christmas morning.
What to Keep in Mind when Selecting Grandma's Christmas Present
As a grandmother, there’s nothing more touching than receiving a thoughtful gift from one of my children or grandchildren. I still recall the Christmas when my eight-year-old son surprised me with a bottle of French perfume he had picked up at the dollar store. I must admit, it didn’t smell the best, but the fact that he had thought of me and what I might like made it worthwhile.
By the time you reach the status of being a grandmother, you likely have all the slippers, bathtub gift baskets, and winter gloves you could ever need. A gift given with love is always cherished, but to truly make her gift memorable, you need to put a bit more thought into it.
The older we get, the more we come to value the memories we’ve created. With that in mind, choose a gift Grandma might not buy for herself. Select something that will make for happy, memorable experiences she will cherish for years.
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The Gift of Nostalgia
The James Bond Spy Thriller “Goldfinger,” released in 1964, holds a special place in my memory. I recall watching it at a drive-in, with the speaker attached to the driver’s window and a bucket of popcorn to share. Last winter, my husband and I rewatched this classic film. The experience brought back the same enjoyable feelings I had felt years ago.
From Alfred Hitchcock’s timeless works to the beloved comedy of The Carol Burnette Show, Grandma’s favorite TV shows and movies are available on DVD at Amazon.com. One year, my mom received a DVD collection containing all twelve seasons of “Murder She Wrote” for her birthday. She enjoyed having access to hours of her favorite TV series.
You can make the gift even more special by creating a gift basket. Amazon offers a variety of prewrapped gift baskets that you can fill. Choose things like DVDs and snacks for her to enjoy while watching her DVDs. Consider offering to watch the DVDs together to make the gift even more meaningful.
The Gift of Imagination
One of the wonderful aspects of aging is that your children have grown up. You finally have some free time to pursue activities you’ve always wanted to do. For many of us, reading falls into this category. A captivating story can whisk you from the mundane to realms brimming with romance and adventure. No matter your age, listening to a book read by a talented narrator can be an immensely gratifying experience.
Choosing books for others is as challenging as picking out clothes. So, instead of risking a mismatch in author or genre, why not let your grandma make the selection. When you give an Audible membership, Grandma can choose from a huge selection of books and novels of every type. I have an Audible account and adore listening to my favorite authors while engaging in other activities, such as cooking or knitting. Audible offers subscriptions in 1, 3, 6, and 12-month durations, with a book credit for each month.
Additionally, Audible provides an extensive all-you-can-listen catalog that includes thousands of audiobooks and podcasts free with the service.
Whether Grandma prefers biographies or cozy mysteries, she is sure to discover a wealth of enjoyable options with Audible.
The Gift of Time
I’ve never grow tired of spending quality time with my children and grandchildren. Each phase of their lives adds a new dimension to our bond. However, as they mature and life gets busier, the precious one-on-one moments that were effortless when they were younger become increasingly elusive. This is precisely why the gift of time is so meaningful.
Enjoy take-out Chinese food and a jigsaw puzzle together. Or consider catching a movie or some community theater. The activity itself is inconsequential as long as it’s shared. For a thoughtful and appreciated gift, consider using the gift certificate below. Fill it out and place it in a Christmas card, and you’ll have a gift that will truly delight your Grandmother.
The Gift of Pampering
You might have heard that giving a gift card is a thoughtless gesture, but that’s not always true.
Is there something your grandma loves but doesn’t get to enjoy often? Perhaps it’s too expensive or feels too indulgent for her budget. If you can pinpoint that, you’ve found the perfect holiday gift.
One grandmother I know is passionate about shopping for clothes, but her fixed income and lack of store access made it a rare activity for her.
For this Grandma, the ultimate gift was a prepaid Visa card and a day spent shopping with a loved one.
Gift cards are available for almost any hobby, entertainment, or special treat. And don’t doubt that the right gift card expresses as much love and thoughtfulness as any other present. Here are a few gift card ideas that your grandma might appreciate.
- Doorbell Dash or Grub Hub Coupon
- Her favorite yarn, fabric, or craft store
- Manicure, pedicure, or facial
- Her favorite restaurant or clothing store
- Amazon Gift Card
- Tickets to a local playhouse or concert
- Truffles from a beloved chocolate shop
- Subscription for a favorite magazine
- Tuition for an art or music class
- Green fees at a local golf course
The Gift of the World with Virtual Travel
What Makes Virtual Reality Travel so Special?
Imagine embarking on a year-long journey around the world, visiting all the places you’ve only dreamed of. Do you have any idea how much that would cost? According to various sources on Google, this adventure could set you back between $25,000 and $35,000, or roughly $2000 to $3000 a month. For those young and financially secure, this might be within reach. However, that kind of traveling would be impossible for older individuals, perhaps with health concerns and living on retirement income.
But what if you could embark on this global adventure for just a few hundred dollars from the comfort of your own home? And what if you could do it in a way that felt so realistic that you would swear you were actually standing at the base of the Egyptian Pyramids. Or inspecting authentic Terra Cotta Warrior face-to-face in China. Think how great it would be to share this incredible travel experience with your grandmother for Christmas.
VR Isn't Just for Gaming
You’ve probably heard about virtual reality headsets and figured they were strictly for gaming or too expensive for normal people to purchase.
That’s what I thought until I learned that Meta Quest, the creators of the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 VR headsets, offer these devices for well under $1000.
It’s true, you can play games with VR headsets but what I found far more exciting is that they can be used to virtually travel the world.
YouTube hosts thousands of 360-degree videos showcasing places worldwide. It’s both amazing and fun to discover the level of immersion one experiences when viewing these videos through a virtual reality headset.
Studies Prove that Virtual Travel Provides Health Benefits to Seniors
It can be challenging to explain the magic of virtual reality travel to someone who has yet to experience it. All I can say is that when I use the YouTube VR app with the Meta Quest headset, I’m not merely viewing a place; It feels like I’m there. Every turn I take reflects the views I’d see if I were visiting in person.
I’ve written several blog posts detailing how these videos work and the science behind how your brain reacts to these realistic images . The main point of gifting your grandmother a virtual reality headset is that it will introduce her to a world of places she’d never have the opportunity to visit.
Moreover, research suggests that seniors who use virtual reality headsets regularly experience less isolation and depression than those who don’t. Essentially, your gift will provide Grandma with hours of excitement and novelty, allowing her to explore new places from the security of her own home. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect gift?
