Kids' art gifts grandparents actually keep
The gifts grandparents keep are the ones that make the art easy to hold and enjoy: a hardcover book of the year (coming in November), titles in your child's own words, and a finished piece sent from your phone. Start with one drawing.
Ask a grandparent what they would love, and many will say: more of the drawings, in a way that does not get lost in a drawer.
Grandparents already love the drawings. The trouble is what happens next. A magnet on the fridge for a few weeks, a pile in a drawer, a piece that gets a little bent on the drive home.
The gifts that last are the ones that make the art easy to keep and easy to enjoy. Here are a few that feel personal without feeling like clutter.
A book also works well for a birthday, a holiday or a visit, because it arrives as one tidy thing. There is nothing to assemble and nothing to frame. The gift is the year itself, in your child's own hand.
What about a hardcover book of the year?
This is the gift that tends to get a gasp. A hardcover book (8x8), coming in November, made from your child's pieces, each with its title and date, is something a grandparent can hold, flip through and keep on the table.
Hardcover books are coming in November, in time for gifting. Choose a small set of favorites, and let the year sit on one shelf instead of in ten different places.
In the same 2019 Canon survey, 53 percent of parents said they regret not having more keepsakes from their kids' art. Source: Good News Network on the 2019 Canon survey
What about titles in their own words?
Part of what makes a drawing precious is what your child said about it. In Yearloom, kids' own words can be added as a note and are used in the title.
So the piece is not just "Drawing." It is the words your child gave it, which is often the line a grandparent repeats at dinner for years.
Pair it with a book and you have a gift that goes on giving. The gallery brings new pieces through the year, and the book gathers the best of them in one place.
How can I send a finished piece to grandparents?
Not every gift is wrapped. Yearloom is a private gallery just for your family, and from any piece you can share the finished image. A grandparent across the country can open it on a quiet afternoon and see what arrived this week.
It is a gift of presence. They are not waiting for the mail to find out what their grandchild made.
A handwritten note from your child tucked in the front can make it even more personal. Even a few shaky letters will be treasured.
How do I keep the gift simple?
A few things help it land well:
- Pick fewer pieces and let each one breathe
- Choose drawings with a story, not just the prettiest ones
- Include the date so the moment is remembered
- Let your child help decide what goes in
That last one matters. When your child picks the pieces, the gift becomes theirs to give.
Think about what the grandparent loves most. Some enjoy animals, some love a good story, and some just want to see a name written in careful letters. Choose pieces that speak to them, and the gift feels chosen, not bought.
How do I start with one drawing?
You do not need a big plan or a deadline. Snap one drawing with your phone and see what comes back: cleaned up, titled and dated. Start with a free trial, so you can build a small gift and see if it feels right.
If a drawing is sitting on your counter right now, begin there. The best gifts often start with whatever is already in front of you.
What about the originals?
Keep the originals you love in a small box, and keep every piece in the gallery. Nothing is lost, because the gallery and the book hold the pieces too.
Grandparents tend to understand this better than anyone. They have boxes of their own.
Questions parents ask
When can I give a Yearloom book as a gift?
Hardcover books are coming in November. They are optional and sold separately. See the FAQ at yearloom.co/faq for details.
Is my child’s art private?
Yes. It’s visible only to your account, and we never use it in marketing. We never sell your data or your art. You own it: Yearloom claims no ownership of your child’s art.
How does the free trial work?
You start with a free trial. A card is needed and you pay $0 today. If you cancel during the trial, you are never charged. For the plan and price, see the FAQ at yearloom.co/faq.
