The Perfect Gift

Shopping for Your Adolescent Grandchild

By Sue Marquette Poremba

The arrival of holiday gift catalogs was a major event in my house for many years. My daughter with her blue highlighter pen and my son with his orange highlighter pen would attack the catalogs, marking everything that struck their fancy. Later in the night, after they were in bed, I would go through the catalogs to see what they marked, and from their personal wish lists and my own opinions on what they needed or would use more than once, I created holiday gift lists for the grandparents, aunts, uncles and others who would beg, "What do the kids want for Christmas?"

This system worked for years, but then two things happened: Gift cards became popular, acceptable presents, and my children became teenagers. It was easier for the grandparents to buy a gift card and let my son and daughter pick out their own gifts. While my kids appreciated the thought and enjoyed the chance to splurge on something special, they were both disappointed that being a teenager somehow meant their grandparents stopped putting the same loving care into buying gifts as they once did.

"As a grandparent, you want to give a memorable gift," says Sheliah Gilliland, director of public relations at eToys. "That requires lots of communication between everyone involved."

Gift giving is the perfect opportunity for grandparents to learn more about their adolescent grandchild, especially if they don't spend much time together. It is easy to put the grandchild into some kind of time warp. Before buying your granddaughter that cute teddy bear calendar, first ask if she still likes teddy bears. Her answer might surprise you!

Want to see more?

• (At Grandma's) Home for the Holidays: Create Memories with Your Grandkids This Thanksgiving
• Family Gatherings: Party Hearty – and Healthy!
• All Tied Up: Unwrapping a Stress-free Holiday Season
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