The best gifts for grandparents in 2021

Typically, we avoid novelty t-shirts, but this clever piece of attire from ThisWear is an ideal gift for any handy grandpa. It’s printed with a water-soluble, eco-friendly ink, and while the “Keep Calm and Carry On” meme might be lost on some older adults, they’ll surely appreciate the compliment.

Nine color options are available, and reviewers say that it’s true to fit. Note that while most of the shirts are made from 100 percent pre-shrunk cotton, the “sport grey” option uses a 90/10 cotton/polyester blend.

Engraved with “Only the best parents get promoted to grandparents,” this cute frame makes a heartwarming gift year-round. Granted, you’ll have to personalize it with an appropriate photo—but hey, you undoubtedly have dozens of great photos ready for the task, don’t you?

The engraving is carved, not printed, and the frame is made with quality natural wood. The option we’ve linked here holds a 4 x 6-inch photo and is designed to be displayed horizontally, but other sizes and orientations are available.

This “House Rules” print sums up the reasons that kids love taking trips to see Grandpa and Grandma (and, incidentally, why Mom and Dad always accuse the grandparents of spoiling the kids). The colorful text is displayed in a variety of fun fonts, and the medium-density fiberboard (MDF) material seems durable.

The print has a built-in easel and keyhole hanger for easy display, and each item is handmade in the U.S.A. The red lettering of the text may clash with some home decor, but that’s the only real drawback—this is a sweet, fun option, perfect for bringing over as a surprise during a holiday visit.

Part of a grandparent’s job is passing on wisdom, but finding the right opportunity can be difficult. This memory book offers a simple way to deliver heartfelt messages to the next generation.

It consists of 12 letters that fold into envelopes, each bearing a prompt like “The best advice anyone ever gave me was…” or “My wishes for you are…” Write the letter, fold the envelope (which can be postdated if the sender wants the child to open the letter on a specific date in the future), and the grandchild will have a truly heartfelt keepsake.

There’s a reason that the books in this “paper time capsule” series have sold millions of copies. They offer a novel way to start correspondence—and provide younger generations with advice and memories that they’ll cherish forever.

Coffee mugs make great gifts for a simple reason: We use them every day, so they’re an effective reminder of the important people in our lives. This adorable mug bears the message “The best job I’ve ever had is being a Nana” on the back, with “Nana” printed in large letters on the front.

We love the mint color, but we especially love the attention to quality; this is a microwave- and dishwasher-safe product, and it holds a full 18 ounces of liquid. It will quickly become Nana’s favorite mug—and a gift that she’ll treasure every time she pours herself a cup of her favorite beverage.

The novel design of this family-tree frame makes it a wonderful addition to a desk, coffee table, or countertop, though we should note that it’s only 12 inches tall, so make sure you’ve got suitably sized photographs before ordering. The tree holds six 2 x 3-inch photos, and the borders of the frames can obscure the edges of wallet photos.

Provided that you’ve got suitable photo prints, this is an attractive way to display them, and while the frame is fairly light overall, the base is stable.

This fill-in-the-blank book will be a treasure for grandfathers, though you’ll have to do some work first. It contains 30 prompts, and grandchildren fill in the pages with drawings, photos, and notes. The prompts are simple, straightforward, and simple enough for younger readers (or, to be more precise, younger authors) to understand: “You are good at…,” “You taught me how to…” and many others.

With a bit of effort, the grandkids can create a wonderfully sentimental work of art. Grandpa will love it, and the young writer will learn an important lesson: Gifts mean much more when they come from the heart.

Granted, this is a niche product, but if Grandpa enjoys spending time on the water, this stainless steel fishing lure conveys a wonderful message in a unique way. It’s made with high-quality stainless steel, so it won’t rust or fade over time. We doubt that Grandpa will actually take this treasure on his next fishing trip; it’s more of an ornamental gift than something practical, though we should note that hooks are quite sharp.

The engraving on the tag is high quality, and there’s an included keychain loop (you’ll want to remove the hook before actually attaching it to a keychain).