A Holiday Gift Wish List for Grandparents

Giving and receiving gifts can be such a heartwarming part of the holiday season. Seeing the joy on your child or grandchild’s face when they open your package is a feeling that is not easily topped. Toys are undeniably fun but can be temporary and ultimately add to clutter when they move on to the next best new thing. Here are a few gift ideas that keep on giving and help busy parents keep life fun and engaging all year round. 

MEMBERSHIPS

• Monterey Bay Aquarium—With endless tanks of incredible sea life, the aquarium has been one of our favorite and most used memberships. There is convenient stroller parking and numerous quiet corners to recharge. The roomy family bathrooms and peaceful nursing room make for a smooth and easy outing. We like to make our own scavenger hunts or make up silly names and stories for the fish. The aquarium is sure to delight you and your kiddos visit after visit and is a great family gift that can be purchased yearly for grandkids.  
• My Museum—If learning through play is what you are after, My Museum is the place to be. The possibilities are endless and each exhibit offers fun for a range of ages. The exhibits include: a safe play area for small children, mini golf, a healthy farm, a tree house with a slide, a pretend hospital, a play theater, and so much more. Some of our favorite crafts were made at their Creation Station, which is always stocked with inspiring craft supplies. A nice bonus to having a membership is that they give you a discount on celebrating your child’s birthday there. Just provide food and they take care of the rest—a truly stress-free experience! 
• Monterey Zoo—Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! A membership to the Monterey Zoo can transport you into the wild. You can see over one hundred animals ranging from exotic spiders to African elephants. This can be a nice exotic animal experience without the long car ride, lines, crowds, and extensive walking of the larger zoos.  
• Gilroy Gardens—This adorable theme park is one of a kind and truly geared toward families with children. The grounds are covered with shade trees, stroller parking, and ample places to sit. They offer rides, nature wonders, educational programs, shopping, and dining. Their membership really packs a punch with parking included, bring-a-friend-for-free on Fridays, special seasonal events, discounts, and two water parks! Make sure you have plenty of water and snacks packed, but if not, they also have several delicious options for lunch. In the warmer months it can get quite hot, so sunblock and hats are a must. This is an all-day outing so you are almost guaranteed a car nap on the way home. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS

• Magazine just for kids—Receiving mail with your name on it can be so exciting to a child. Some of our favorites are National Geographic Kids, Highlights, Ranger Rick, and Sports Illustrated Kids. You can feel the excitement each day when they help you check the mail. After thoroughly reading through the monthly magazine and doing all the activities, we let our kids color on them or make collages. Your kids might enjoy collecting them and keeping them in order as well. 
• KiWiCo Subscription Box–With boxes for newborns to age 12, grandparents can choose a program from dozens of STEAM topics. The kids will receive a monthly crate that will bring science, art, and engineering to life with hands-on projects. Each subscription box presents kids with a multi-faceted experience that can last for hours, or even days. Boxes start around $24 each.
• Literati Books–Literati builds reading skills that are the foundation for lifelong success by providing the most tailored and thoughtful book experience for every reader. Chosen books are curated by experts and honed by data science. Each box comes with five books and you only keep (and pay for) the ones you love. The average cost to keep 3-5 books from the box is $34.99.

FAMILY GIFTS

Board games—Game night is an absolute favorite in our household and such a fun way to bond and spend quality time together. We tend to add to our board game collection each holiday season and have tons of fun with relatives. This is also a great way to teach sportsmanship, patience, and compassion. We have a rule that after each game we say “good game” and give a high five. Picking age-appropriate games for everyone involved is key to an enjoyable time. If your kiddos are too young to play, maybe let them be on a “team” with an older kid or grown-up. We love Sorry, Candy Land, Disney Trivial Pursuit, Uno, Go Fish, and Bingo. In this fast-paced world it is refreshing to slow down, pull out a board game, and laugh. 

THE GIFT OF AN EXPERIENCE

Budding artists might delight in a hands-on art class while sports enthusiasts could enjoy tickets to a game. The bonus is that these gifts provide opportunities for grandparents to spend quality time with their grandchildren.

Most importantly, the best gift of all is love. During the most wonderful time of year, try to slow down and really soak up these moments with your loved ones. As your children grow up they rarely remember their favorite material items but will never forget the warmth and joy of the holidays.