If you’re looking for something meaningful to give your parents from your kids this Christmas, you can’t go wrong with handmade.
A personalised, handcrafted gift will surely put a smile on a grandparent’s face this festive season — simply because of the time, effort, and love that has gone into it.
And the best bit? You can usually find the materials you need at home already.
Here, we’ve listed ten of our favourite DIY gift ideas for kids to make for their grandparents. Give them a try and make this Christmas extra special.
Best DIY gift ideas for grandparents
1. Assemble a handprint flower bouquet
Help your little ones draw around and cut out their handprints on coloured cards, then arrange the hands as a bouquet of flowers. Use sticks or pipe cleaners for the stems, then put them in a vase or add them to a card. They’ll last longer than real flowers (no watering required!) and are a sweet reminder of when their grandchildren had such tiny hands.
2. Create a family tree poster
Use photos or drawings of family members (past and present) and piece together the branches of your family tree. Make and frame a poster so Grandad or Grandma can enjoy an at-a-glance view of their family’s history and their unique place within it.
This article will help you get started.
3. Fill a memory jar
Using an empty jam jar or mason jar and some colourful cardstock, help your child recall cherished memories of time spent with their grandparents, write them on the card, and pop them in the jar. Tie it up with some ribbon and add a little note to open and read when your parent needs a pick-me-up.
4. Write a heartfelt poem
An activity for slightly older children, helping them write a poem about their Grandma or Grandad can be a nice way to help them connect emotionally with their elders, consider their feelings, and tap into their creativity. Once written, you can help them display the poem in a frame or as part of a collage or scrapbook.
Use this link to help your child get started with poetry.
5. Go old school with a DIY silhouette portrait
Silhouette portraits are a classy throwback and a sweet alternative to a standard photo of a grandchild. Plus, they’re super easy to make at home. All you need is black paper, white card, your smartphone, a printer, a pencil, a glue stick, sharp scissors, and a picture frame.
Follow the instructions in this article to make your own.
| Looking for more gift inspiration? Read this: 25 of the best Christmas gifts for older relatives |
6. Make a bird feeder for the garden
One for the birdwatchers who love seeing their garden full of wildlife. Using a cleaned-out plastic milk jug, scissors, string, decorations, and a packet of birdseed, you and your kids can make a simple bird feeder to add some song and activity to a wintry garden (while keeping the local birds well-fed during the colder months).
Follow these steps to make your own bird feeder here.
7. Paint some plant pots
If you have plain terracotta plant pots gathering dust in the shed or garage, they’re ripe for an upcycle. Give them a rinse, then let your kids loose with acrylic paints. Once their designs are completely dry, apply a clear, water-based spray acrylic to seal the paint and protect the pot. Finally, add a sweet-smelling plant or a pretty flower to top it all off.
How to paint terracotta plant pots with kids.
8. Bake Christmas cookies
A handmade gift you can eat? Sign us up! Your kids will have so much fun mixing the ingredients, baking the cookies, and adding their own festive designs. Package them up or add them to a used biscuit tin and deliver them with Grandad or Grandma’s favourite tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Try this Christmas cookie recipe for inspiration.
9. Put together a DIY photo or picture calendar
Even though most of us have a calendar on our phones, there’s still a place for a wall calendar in the kitchen or by the front door to mark important dates and upcoming events. So, why not make that particular calendar extra special by including your child’s photo or artwork?
Use this tutorial to get started.
10. Make a movie night hamper
If your mum or dad loves movies, help your kids create a cosy movie night hamper full of popcorn, snacks, a warm blanket, and hot chocolate. Then, on or around Christmas, gather together for an evening of favourite films and tasty treats.
How to make the perfect movie night basket.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Fulford!
We hope this list has given you some DIY gift inspiration. From our home to yours, the staff and residents of Fulford wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.