gift ideas  (excerpted from Present Perfect)     

See also: gifts for seniors

Give a mailbox with the promise of weekly or monthly letters from the grandchildren.

Commission a genealogist to prepare a family tree, genealogy, or history of the recipient's ancestors and descendants.

Produce a day-in-the-life-of-the-grandchildren photo album. Specify a day on which you and your siblings will photograph and chronicle the activities of your children. Assemble the photos and narratives in an album and present it to your parents.

Organize a trip for her to her birthplace. If possible, arrange for her to see the house in which she was born or raised, or to meet with friends from long ago.

Present a grandchild's best art matted and framed or reproduced on a plate or mug.

Make a tablecloth decorated with the handprints of the grandchildren.

Grandparents' Day

In 1978, Congress proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day. Through the efforts of Marian McQuade and others, Grandparents' Day was instituted to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their grandchildren, and to help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer. Mrs. McQueen's suggestions for observing Grandparents' Day are in themselves gifts to and from grandparents. They include

• Passing on such talents as cooking, sculpting, or quilting to those that display an interest
• Sharing old family music, songs, and dances—along with meanings and origins—to maintain a strong sense of family background
• Keeping a family history
• Preserving particular ethnic or religious beliefs by recording ideas, recipes, and family traditions

• Updating family albums with names, dates, and other information while those that remember such information are still around to share it

Present Perfect: Unforgettable Gifts for Every Occasion is filled with gift ideas for grandparents and everyone else on your gift list. In addition, you get tips on gifting etiquette, shopping, wrapping, special presentations, and much, much more. To order the book, click here.

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Have any grandparent gift ideas you'd like to share?