There is a particular pleasure in giving a grandchild a present you can open together. I love a gift that gets tipped onto the kitchen table on Christmas afternoon and turns into painting, building, baking or a little bit of glorious mess.
The trick is choosing something they will be excited to unwrap, while leaving room for both of you to take part. A craft kit with only one very precise outcome can be frustrating if a younger child wants to do it their own way. On the other hand, a big box of supplies without a starting idea can leave everyone staring at the table. The best creative gifts sit somewhere in the middle.
These Christmas gift ideas for grandchildren cover preschoolers through teens. The suggested ages are a guide to the type of activity, not a substitute for checking the age rating on the exact kit you buy. If you will be looking after the grandkids over the holidays, tuck a note into the gift promising a craft afternoon together. That little invitation might be the part they remember longest.
1. A big art case for the child who loves to draw
Best for: Children who already reach for paper whenever they visit.
An art case filled with crayons, markers and coloured pencils feels wonderfully generous when opened. More importantly, it is ready for a drawing session straight away. Add a sketchbook or a roll of paper so there is somewhere to put all that enthusiasm.
My favourite way to enjoy this gift together is to draw the same silly prompt and compare the results. “Design a house for a penguin” usually produces much better stories than “draw a nice picture.” For younger children, check that the supplies are washable and suitable for their age.
2. A paint-your-own ornament kit
Best for: Children who enjoy decorating more than following complicated instructions.
A paint-your-own Christmas ornament kit gives you an activity for the holidays and something to bring out every December. Write the child’s name and the year on the back before hanging the ornament on the tree. In a few years, you will be very glad you did.
Look for sturdy ornaments, enough paint for more than one sitting and a way to hang the finished pieces. I would put down an old tablecloth first. Christmas memories are lovely; Christmas paint on the dining table is less charming.
If you prefer to gather your own supplies, the button snowman tree ornament on CraftBits is another sweet project to make side by side.
3. A beginner baking kit for your little kitchen helper
Best for: A child who asks to stir, pour and taste everything.
A children’s baking kit can turn a regular visit into a biscuit-making tradition. I would choose real, child-sized tools that can be used again, rather than a set that looks impressive in the box but barely survives one batch.
Check what the kit actually contains. Some include utensils only, while others add recipe cards or ingredients. You will still need to plan for allergies and handle the oven yourself. Let your grandchild measure, mix and choose the decorations, even if every biscuit ends up wearing an alarming amount of sprinkles.
4. A bead kit for bracelets you can swap
Best for: Older children and tweens who enjoy choosing colours and making gifts for friends.
A bracelet-making kit with beads and elastic cord is a lovely choice when you want to sit and chat while your hands are busy. Make one bracelet each, then swap them before your grandchild goes home. Alphabet beads let you add names, little messages or family nicknames.
Check the size of the beads and the manufacturer’s age guidance, especially if younger siblings will be nearby. A shallow tray helps keep the pieces on the table. For another project to try with your supplies, CraftBits has a name and friendship bracelet tutorial.
5. A LEGO Classic box for building without a script
Best for: Grandchildren who love to build, pull things apart and build them again.
A LEGO Classic brick box is an open-ended gift you can return to on every visit. You might build a miniature version of Grandma’s house, a zoo for imaginary animals or the strangest Christmas tree anyone has ever seen.
Check the age rating and brick size for the child you are buying for. For a fun extra challenge, set a timer and both build something from the same handful of bricks. If you have spare pieces after Christmas, this LEGO tree ornament idea is another way to turn them into a keepsake.
6. An air-dry clay kit for miniature makers
Best for: Children who like shaping tiny animals, food and decorations.
With an air-dry clay kit for kids, you can make miniature creatures, little trinket dishes or decorations to paint after they have dried. I like gifts that allow for an ambitious idea and a wonderfully lopsided result. Both can have pride of place on the shelf.
Read the kit instructions for drying times and whether paint or a finish is included. Protect the table, keep clay away from very young children who still put things in their mouths, and allow time for the pieces to dry before promising to take them home.
7. A rock-painting kit for a garden treasure hunt
Best for: Children who enjoy both making things and heading outdoors.
A rock-painting kit gives you two activities: painting the rocks and finding places to display them. Make ladybirds for a flowerpot, silly faces for the garden or a set of numbered stones for a backyard game.
Check whether the paint needs sealing for outdoor use and whether the kit includes rocks. Once the creations are dry, hide a few around your garden and invite your grandchild to find them on their next visit.
8. A simple sewing kit for a first handmade project
Best for: Older children ready to learn a few basic stitches with help.
A beginner sewing kit for kids can be the start of something lovely, particularly if you sew yourself. Felt projects with pre-cut pieces are usually less daunting than handing a beginner a pattern, fabric and a pair of scissors and hoping for the best.
Check whether the kit uses a blunt plastic needle or a sharp metal one, and choose according to the child’s age and confidence. Sit beside them for the first few stitches. Once they get the hang of it, you may find yourself being told quite firmly, “I can do this bit!”
9. A yarn craft kit that does not require knitting skills
Best for: Children who love colour and texture but are not ready for knitting or crochet.
A pom-pom or yarn-weaving kit lets a grandchild play with yarn without having to master a row of stitches first. You can make pom-pom animals, woven wall hangings or bright decorations for their bedroom.
Choose a kit with clear instructions and enough yarn to experiment. If the finished object matters to your grandchild, show them how to tie knots firmly so their masterpiece survives the trip home. This is also an excellent excuse to open your yarn stash, assuming you can still find the bottom of it.
10. A nature-printing kit for the child who collects leaves
Best for: Curious outdoor explorers who like to bring their finds inside.
A flower-pressing or leaf-printing kit turns a walk together into the start of a project. Collect fallen leaves, take photos of flowers and talk about the colours and shapes you notice. Later, you can make cards, bookmarks or framed art.
Check what the kit supplies and how long pressed flowers need to dry. Help children collect responsibly and avoid unfamiliar plants. A grandchild who is not keen to sit at a craft table may love the outing that comes first.
11. A beginner crochet kit for an older grandchild
Best for: A patient tween or teen who has asked to learn.
A beginner crochet kit could give the two of you a hobby to share long after Christmas. Choose one with a clearly explained beginner project and check that it includes the hook, yarn and any other tools needed. Small stuffed creatures are appealing, though learning the basic stitches first can make the project much less frustrating.
If you crochet, work alongside your grandchild rather than taking over the tricky bits. The first attempts may be wonky. I have been crocheting for years and can promise that wonky stitches are part of the story, not a reason to give up.
12. A scrapbook starter set for your favourite shared photos
Best for: Grandchildren who love photos, stories and choosing all the little details.
A scrapbook starter kit makes an especially personal gift if you include a few printed photos of the two of you. Add pictures from a holiday, a baking afternoon, a pet visit or even an ordinary day that made you both laugh.
Choose an album with enough space for future pages, along with child-friendly adhesive and decorations. Write down the stories behind the photos while you work. Years from now, those scribbled captions may mean more than the perfectly arranged pages.
How to choose the right creative gift
Before buying, think about what your grandchild actually enjoys doing when they visit. Do they like a finished project to display, or would they happily spend an hour experimenting and start over? Would they enjoy careful instructions, or do they prefer a table full of possibilities?
Check the exact kit for its age rating, small parts, required adult supervision and supplies sold separately. I also like to ask whether a project can be completed in one visit. If it needs drying time or several sessions, that can be lovely too, as long as your grandchild knows there is another afternoon together coming.
If your cupboards are already full of craft supplies, the gift need not be a large kit. Put together a smaller box with materials for two or three projects and include a handwritten “craft date” invitation. You can also browse Christmas gift ideas for kids who craft for more inspiration.
The present gives you something to unwrap. The time you spend making, talking and laughing over the result is the part you both get to keep.