I'm not a grandmother yet, but I am a great-aunt, and that's started me thinking on shower gifts /birthday gifts for when my own grandchildren arrive. Several thoughts:
- I've thought of giving a bookcase at the shower with a card saying that the child is a member of "Grandma's book club" and will receive a book every month until age 18. I'm a big reader, and I would very much like to instill that in my grandchildren from a young age. Books were something I shared with my own grandmother in her last years -- turns out we had exactly the same taste in books, and we so enjoyed discussing our mutual readings. At some point, for a grandchild, it might become a Kindle with an upload every month.
- My own mother frequently gave my kids a "token gift" and a savings bond. I do think an account is a better option now. I totally buy into the idea that kids have too many gifts, especially when they're young, yet that money will be appreciated for college.
- I also like the idea of an experience. Swim lessons sound like a wonderful idea! I had a grandfather who did not shop, yet he always gave us the best gift every Christmas: a family membership to the science museum; we probably went 6-8 times a year, and we fussed over who'd read the monthly magazine first. With my own kids, we alternated buying a zoo membership and a museum membership -- worked out great. If you get memberships, do note that many of them allow "reciprocal visits" to other museums in other cities. Other experiences: ride on a train, historical sites, children's play museums, concerts, cooking classes (which could be held in your own house). We have a wonderful city park near us that offers 1-2 week summer programs, which we enjoyed tremendously as teens: learn to canoe, learn to sail, learn to rappel, learn archery, an adventure program modeled after Outward Bound.
- This is a bit advanced for the one-year old, but in future years you might consider a "homemade kit". An art kit containing paper, paint, brushes ... a science kit containing materials for three science experiments ... a cooking kit containing ingredients to make something simple.
- I don't think people subscribe to magazines like they used to, but I remember the THRILL of receiving magazines in the mail as a child.
- This is kind of off-topic, but my aunt and uncle host "Gramp Camp" for two (non-consecutive) weeks of the summer for their grandkids. They always have a theme, and they plan great activities and field trips for the kids.
I love the idea of books though. Experiences are a great idea. Why not a family membership to the zoo, or a children's museum they can use all year? We enjoy them and they'd be so welcomed as gifts for our kids who have so much STUFF.
