Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for grandparents
Comfort for the armchair, a little help with the jobs that got harder, and reasons to spend time with the grandkids.
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Ask Grandma or Grandpa what they want and the answer is nearly always the same: nothing, just come and see us. So these ideas lean the way they would. Some make the house warmer and the small print easier to read, one takes the bending out of the yard work, and a few give them a reason to be out with the grandkids, on the sidelines or at the kitchen window watching the bird feeder.
Most ideas come with our pick from one of our top lists, chosen with older hands and feet in mind: simple buttons and soles that grip. Gadgets are kept to a minimum, and the one that matters most, the photo frame, is worth setting up before you hand it over.
A Wi-Fi digital photo frame
The whole family can send photos to it from their phones, and new pictures of the grandkids just appear on the shelf. A good fit for grandparents who never took to social media.
VESWWE Frameo 10.1-inch Wi-Fi Digital Photo Frame (32GB)
$75–$100
Anyone with the free Frameo app and the code the frame shows can send photos and short clips to this sharp 10.1-inch touchscreen, with no account to set up and no fee to send, so the whole family can join in. Link a calendar in the app and upcoming plans can show on it too.
What owners say: Owners report setup and everyday use go smoothly, and they’re satisfied with the frame overall.
A closer look: Put the frame on Wi-Fi first, then tap to show a code and type it into the Frameo app on each phone that will send photos. Any picture can be hidden from the slideshow and shown again later.
- No account needed to send
- 32GB plus microSD slot
- Shows your calendar
A record player
The records they grew up dancing to are probably still in a closet somewhere. A turntable with its own speakers plays them the day it’s unpacked, while the grandkids ask what they are.
1 BY ONE Bluetooth Belt-Drive Turntable with Built-in Speakers
$200–$300
A magnetic cartridge with an Audio-Technica stylus and an adjustable counterweight, the parts of a hi-fi deck, but with the speakers built into its wood-and-metal cabinet, so nothing else needs connecting.
What owners say: Good sound, a handsome cabinet and an easy first setup please owners, and it pairs with any Bluetooth phone. Vibration is the complaint: some see the record wobble or the arm shake as it plays.
A closer look: Stand it on a solid, level shelf rather than a hollow one, which helps keep the record and the arm steady as it plays. An aux input plays a phone or CD player by wire through its speakers.
- Speakers built in
- Plays a phone over Bluetooth
- Audio-Technica stylus
A heated throw
For the armchair on winter evenings, so they’re warm without turning up the heat for the whole house, and settled in for the night with the TV and a cup of tea.
Bedsure Heated Throw with Preheat, Grey
$50–$75
Made to switch on and forget: flannel on top and sherpa underneath, six heat levels, a timer from one to ten hours, and a preheat button that runs it at full heat for two hours and then gentler for six, with nothing else to set.
What owners say: Owners say it gets warm fast and feels soft and cuddly, and they like the automatic shut-off and how easy the controls are. Size is the one point that divides them.
A closer look: Press preheat as you sit down and leave the controller alone for the evening; for a shorter sit, pick a level and a timer instead. It draws 100 W from a standard outlet, far less than a space heater.
- 6 heat settings
- 1 to 10 hour timer
- Preheat button, nothing to set
A big-number alarm clock
Numbers big enough to read from the pillow without reaching for their glasses, and a soft night light for getting up in the dark.
See options on AmazonA reading floor lamp
Bright light that bends right over the shoulder for the crossword, the library book or the knitting, instead of squinting under the ceiling light.
See options on AmazonElectric salt and pepper grinders
Press a button and it grinds, so stiff fingers never have to twist a pepper mill again. A small change they’ll notice at every meal.
FORLIM Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (black and white)
$30–$50
One mill is black and the other white, so salt and pepper are told apart at a glance, and each has a clear cup that shows when it’s running low. A ceramic core does the grinding, and FORLIM rates the motor at under 68 dB.
What owners say: Owners say it works right out of the box, is easy to fill and use, and holds its charge so long that some haven’t recharged it yet; they’re pleased with what it costs.
A closer look: Covers fit over the grinding ends, so the mills can stand on a shelf or lie in a drawer without leaving pepper behind. Lift off the clear cup to refill it, and clear any salt from the ceramic core with the brush from the box.
- 100 mL per mill
- 7 grind settings
- Motor rated under 68 dB
Heads up: Only one USB-C cable comes in the box, to share between the two mills.
View on Amazon See our top 5 electric salt and pepper grinders →Warm slippers with grippy soles
Soft, warm slippers with a treaded sole, for a surer step on hardwood floors than the worn-flat pair she’s had by the bed for years.
Guyarns Checkered Fuzzy House Slippers (Black)
$10–$20
A classic checkered slip-on with a fuzzy upper and plush faux-fleece lining, high-density memory foam underfoot and a TPR sole that grips indoors and out. It goes in the washing machine and is sold as unisex.
What owners say: Owners find them comfortable and warm, and like the choice of colours and the value; sizing and durability both draw mixed reports.
A closer look: Sizes come in bands marked for both women and men, such as women’s 7.5–8.5 (men’s 6–7), so go by the women’s figure. The TPR sole is quiet on hardwood and tile, handy on an early start while the house sleeps.
- Fuzzy upper, fleece lining
- Machine washable
- High-density memory foam
Moccasin slippers
A warm moccasin he can wear to fetch the newspaper from the driveway without stopping to change his shoes.
HomeTop Men’s Memory Foam Moccasin Slippers (black)
$20–$30
A warm moccasin for everyday wear: a felt-look upper over a thick faux-fur lining, memory foam with arch support and a grippy rubber sole for the walk out to the mailbox.
What owners say: Owners describe excellent cushioning, a snug fit that’s true to size and a style they like, and no common problem comes up.
A closer look: Use the tab at the heel to pull it on quickly in the morning. It goes in the washing machine when the lining needs a freshen-up, and HomeTop makes it in black and other colours.
- Men’s sizes 8 to 13
- Rubber sole, indoors and out
- Memory foam with arch support
Heads up: The thick lining feels snug at first; HomeTop says it eases after a couple of days of wear, so order your usual size.
View on Amazon See our top 5 men’s slippers →A squirrel-proof bird feeder
Hung where they can see it from the kitchen window, it brings the birds in close and keeps the squirrels off. Something new to watch every morning over breakfast.
Brome Squirrel Buster Classic Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder
$75–$100
A squirrel-proof tube feeder with four ports, sized for a smaller yard. Lift the perches out and only clinging birds such as nuthatches can feed, gripping the wire shroud. Vents at the top let damp air out so seed stays fresh.
What owners say: It stops squirrels that try it every day, according to owners, who find it well made and simple to use; opinions split on the size and how much seed goes to waste.
A closer look: It comes apart by hand, so the tube and shroud can go in warm, soapy water; let every piece dry before the seed goes back in. At about 52 cm (20.6 in) tall it hangs comfortably from a shepherd’s hook or a bracket in view of a window.
- Squirrel-proof
- Holds 1.1 kg (2.4 lb)
- Perches lift out for nuthatches
Binoculars
Small and light enough to live on the windowsill by the bird feeder, ready the moment something unusual lands. When the grandkids visit, they’ll want a turn too.
Hontry 10x25 Compact Binoculars
$30–$50
Folded to the size of a palm, they slip into a coat pocket or the glove box and are light enough to forget about on a long walk. Hontry sells them for adults and kids and guarantees them for three years.
What owners say: By owners’ accounts these are good, clear binoculars, compact, light and easy to carry, and practical.
A closer look: Fold the barrels in or out until the two circles of view merge into one; a young child with eyes set close together may not get them to meet. Keep the strap around the neck from the start, as small binoculars are easy to drop on a rocky path.
- 10x magnification, 25 mm lenses
- Weighs 272 g (9.6 oz)
- Folds to palm size
Heads up: They’re water-repellent rather than waterproof, so put them back in their bag when the rain sets in.
View on Amazon See our top 6 binoculars →A stand-up weed puller
Dandelions out of the lawn, roots and all, without kneeling or bending: step on it and lean back. It keeps the lawn a job they can still enjoy.
See options on AmazonA director’s camp chair
For the sidelines at the grandkids’ soccer and baseball games, where the bleachers are hard and the games are long. A proper seat with somewhere to put the coffee down.
TIMBER RIDGE Laurel Director’s Chair with Side Table and Cooler Bag
$75–$100
A flip-down side table with cup holders, a cooler bag and a mesh phone pocket keep a snack, a cold drink and the phone within reach. Padded armrests and a full back hold you upright, which suits a meal or a hand of cards outdoors.
What owners say: Owners rate its comfort and support highly, call it sturdy and stable, and say the cooler keeps beer cold; it folds away easily, though its weight gets a mixed response.
A closer look: It folds flat, thin enough to slide in beside a cooler in the trunk or lean against a garage wall between trips. Its seat is about the height of a dining chair, handy for eating at the side table.
- Side table and cooler bag
- Holds up to 136 kg (300 lb)
- Folds flat for the trunk
Heads up: It comes without a carry bag; folded, it carries by a handle built into the frame.
View on Amazon See our top 5 camping chairs →Choosing for grandparents
- Set up anything electronic before it’s wrapped: the clock’s time and alarm, the photo frame’s Wi-Fi and the family’s phones, so it works the moment it’s opened.
- For slippers, check the size inside a pair they already wear, and read the sizing notes on our picks before ordering.
- Add a promise of time to the gift: a note offering to bring the grandkids over for the first record, or to come over and hang the bird feeder.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
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