The problem with buying gifts for your grandparents (or anyone else's, for that matter) is that they've usually been alive for so long that they already have everything! Their downtown Toronto condominiums are cluttered with shelves and shelves of trinkets and decorations from years of traveling and receiving gifts, so choosing something new that would be appreciated can be a challenge. If you don't want your gift to be lost among the detritus of long lives fully lived, here are some suggestions to consider when buying gifts for your grandparents.
Gift Certificates
The most obvious place to start is with gift certificates. Even grandparents still need to go out and buy things, whether it's books or home furnishings. Go shopping with them and see what their favorite stores are, then buy them a card so they can choose something for themselves. Other good gift certificates for grandparents are pre-purchased fares for Toronto taxi cabs (if they can no longer drive themselves) and paying their registration for a class they would like to attend.
Charitable Donations
The older you get the more of the world you see and the more improvements you realize it needs. Giving a tax-deductible donation in your grandparents' names for a cause they support, such as cancer research or feeding the poor, is a good choice for socially active grandparents and it doesn't add any extra clutter to their place at 77 Carlton. Just test the waters before making the donation to make sure they have no objection to the charity you have chosen.
Trips and Vacations
Trips and vacations create memories rather than clutter, so it's the perfect gift for grandparents who have lots of time but no room. You might throw the event yourself by renting one of the Oakville banquet halls and inviting all their friends or you can pitch in with their friends and other relatives to send them on a special trip they've always dreamed about. Some good local trip ideas include days out at a spa (especially for Grandma), or a trade show (especially for Grandpa), and tickets to concerts, events, or museums.
Personal Touches
When you get to be a grandparent and you stop having work to fill up so much of your time, your life starts to revolve around your family - especially the grandkids. Few gifts are more appreciated than those put together especially for the recipient. So why not create a collage or scrapbook of your family's trip to a Toronto beach or send framed versions of the grandkids' newest school photos? Kids can even make their own presents for Gramma and Grampa by drawing pictures, decorating mugs, or putting their handprints in plaster kits.
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