The holidays are here, and that means shopping for presents. Every year, there are a few gifts that are must-haves for grandkids, but knowing what they are can be a struggle. Every kid is different, but there are certainly a few themes that can give you a good sense of what to get. For example…

Star Wars

Star Wars is a legitimate cultural phenomenon, and has been since A New Hope premiered in 1977. With the newest entry in the series, The Last Jedi, premiering only 11 days before Christmas, expect Star Wars fever to be at its highest when gift-giving time kicks off. This makes Star Wars-themed gifts a safe bet when shopping for grandkids. With the introduction of Rey, the central character of the current trilogy, Star Wars isn’t just for boys, either.

With the newest entry in the series, The Last Jedi, premiering only 11 days before Christmas, expect Star Wars fever to be at its highest when gift-giving time kicks off.

When it comes to Star Wars gifts, you have a lot of options ranging from video games, toys, costumes, and the list goes on. If there’s one thing Lucasfilm and Disney are good at, it’s merchandising. If there’s one toy that kids will be hunting, it’s the Star Wars Bladebuilders sets. These are customizable lightsabers, the iconic laser swords from the films. If you’re shopping for a little Jedi this year, grabbing a gift from a galaxy far, far away is tough to beat.

Video Games

Video games have become ubiquitous for kids, with most having at least one gaming console (ex. PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch) or computer. This makes video games a safe gift.

Before purchasing a game, get the approval of the parents first.

Before purchasing a game, get the approval of the parents first. The content of some games may be too much for a young grandchild. Additionally, it’s important to buy the version of a game that matches the gaming console your grandchild has.

So, what are the hot games this year? Well, there are many genres out there, but you should get a feel for what they’d like. For example, Call of Duty: WWII generated a lot of interest after it was announced the popular shooter series would return to World War 2. Destiny 2 is another extremely popular option with similar gameplay. If shooters aren’t their genre (or their parent’s), they can try the action-adventure Assassin’s Creed: Origins. The game might even influence an interest in history.

If you want something more family-friendly, Nintendo tends to skew that direction.

If you want something more family-friendly, Nintendo tends to skew that direction. In fact, one of the highest-rated games of the year, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is only available on Nintendo consoles. If they’re into retro gaming, the Super NES Classic (discontinued in 2018) comes loaded with 20 classic games from the early ’90s Super Nintendo era.

Animal Lover

Many kids are animal lovers, whether they want to be a veterinarian or are inseparable from the family dog. Gifting them an interactive animal toy can delight and entertain. The sustained popularity of animal-like toys can be seen in the Furby-frenzy of the late ’90s or 2016’s Hatchimal craze.

Gifting your animal lover with an interactive animal toy can delight and entertain.

This year, Hatchimals are expected to be big sellers again, with the release of CollEGGtibles and Hatchimals Surprise. Hasbro’s FurReal Roarin’ Tyler, The Playful Tiger has also been pitched as a must-have toys of 2017. The other hot toy this year is Fingerlings, animatronic monkeys that are both interactive and affordable.

Something Personal

As we said, every kid is different. You’ll know them better than we ever will. After all, they’re your grandkid.

If you’re particularly close with your grandchild or share an interest with them, try giving them something personal. This is a great opportunity to get them something to do together. Let’s say you enjoy doing puzzles together. Buy them a large puzzle that you can do together. If the two of you watch a sports team together, get them a matching jersey for when you watch.

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These are only a few ideas of gifts we expect to be popular during this holiday season. What your grandchild wants is ultimately down to them. Talk to their parents, or the child, to get an inkling of what’s on their list, and watch their faces light up when they open their gifts this year!

Further Reading

Sixty+Me — Gift for Grandchildren: Choosing a Present They Will Remember