It is a small 21st birthday gold key pendant in an embroidered heart-shaped jewellery box, but as it is the only non-perishable gift I ever received from my late maternal grandmother, the sweet memento is something I have cherished for life.
Po Po (Cantonese for maternal grandmother) may not have helped in raising me but the fact that she commemorated my “coming-of-age” birthday with a legacy gift of gold — a timeless Chinese belief that the recipient will be blessed with good fortune and prosperity — is forever appreciated.
Many grandparents play a vital part in their grandchildren’s lives, be it long-distance or closer to home.
According to a 2012 HPB data report, 35% of seniors over the age of 55 in Singapore look after their grandchildren regularly, while one in four households with children under the age of 12 relies on grandparents as the main caregiver.
For instance, an ex-schoolmate of mine helps to babysit her five grandchildren — aged between four years and 20 months — whenever she can.
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If you are a grandparent and thinking of giving a gift for your grandchild to either deepen your connection with them or “something to remember grandma/grandpa by”, consider items that are meaningful and long-lasting or about your experiences with them.
It can be as simple as a personalised photo item to something more substantial like a monetary inheritance.
Here are some mementos that would make good keepsakes for your grandchildren:
6 Legacy gift ideas
- Immortalise as 3D figurines or mini blocks
Ever imagined yourself as a Star Wars action figure or a Lego minifigure? Well, nowadays, you can be one!
Modern technology has not only allowed us to capture our favourite moments on mobile phones, we can also now turn them into personalised 3D figurines.
It can be you in your favourite grab, or you and yours in fancy dress, or you and your grandchild posing together for posterity. (You can even throw in a pet!)
All you need to do is go to the 3D printing studio, let your body be scanned and image-captured from various angles, and a 3D model of your likeness will be colour-printed. Production ranges between two to four weeks, after which you can self-collect or have it delivered.
Figurines’ heights generally range from 9cm to 18cm (the larger size, the better resemblance it is said) and prices start from $69 per one personalised figure.
Companies that provide 3D-scanned-and-printed services include Minify.sg at Tannery Lane and Sharewow Singapore at Marina Square.
Alternatively, if you prefer your Mini-Me to look more like a Lego BrickHeadz, check out personalised mini blocks from Giftedstories.com.
All you need to do is to email good frontal shots of yourself (with or without grandchild) and opt for a background or none at all. A personalised one-person mini block starts from $34.50, couples from $74, and family (3 persons onwards) from $134.50.
For something wackier, Unusually Creation creates clay 3D caricature figurines (15-16cm tall) with “big heads” — that can also be turned into bobbleheads if you so wish — with various backdrops or outfits to choose from. Prices start from $158 (single figure) to $1888 (family of 6).
Also quite cool is the “Stori-2-Tell” gift set from Clayart Touch. It features your clay figure with a specific background that highlights a memorable moment in your life and comes with an acrylic showcase. Prices start from $300 with a single outfit.
- Create a personalised photo memento
One of the simplest yet most meaningful legacy gifts is a nicely framed photo of one of your favourite moments with your grandchild.
You can also opt to have the image scanned onto a fridge magnet, drinking mug or jigsaw puzzle (from $14 onwards) that the child can use or play with.
If you are more ambitious, create a customised photo scrapbook or desktop calendar packed with the best “grandma/grandpa and me” snapshots.
There are many online photo labs such as helluvaphoto.sg and photobook.sg where you can find other practical items on which you can plaster your face(s) onto!
Alternatively, have a professionally taken photo taken at a proper photo studio with funky backgrounds that the whole family including the younglings can be a part of.
For example, Sajeev Digital Studio in Little India — known for their migrant workers’ portraits — provides unique backdrops (painted or digitally added), props and even wardrobe to make your “remember grandpa/grandma” photo memorable. (Rates depend on requirements such as photo size and type of frame.)
Meanwhile, Chunkie! Photo Studio in Aljunied offers an 80s-themed studio that comes with unique props depicting cute food and animals for you and family to pose with. Rates from $80 (1 pax) to $200 (5 pax) per 45-minutes session.
- Record a storybook and/or voiced a stuffed toy
If you often read to your grandchild, consider recording a favourite book of theirs.
There are many recordable children’s storybooks, including well-known Christmas stories, with which you — and even together with your other half — can record yourself reading the story via simple and easy instructions.
Hallmark, for instance, has a wide selection of beautifully illustrated recordable storybooks. Although its US website does not ship internationally, some of their titles and other recordable storybooks can be found on amazon.sg ($36 onwards) and toyscentral.sg ($62 onwards).
There is also The Recordable Book Buddy ($38), a simple gadget with a built-in microphone and speaker that lets you record yourself reading any children’s book without the need for an app or Wi-Fi.
Just attach the gadget to the book and your grandchild can hear you read to them by simply pressing the buttons for the pages concerned.
Another way for your grandchild to hear your voice when you are not around is via a recordable stuffed toy.
Modern plushies have built-in voice recorders where you can record messages to tell your grandkids how much you love them, sing them a lullaby or the song they most identify you with.
You can find many plush variations (from unicorns to capybaras) on various online shopping sites priced from $30 onwards.
- Make a video keepsake
If you are comfortable appearing in front of a camera, record yourself expressing thoughts, life advice or experiences for your grandkids who would cherish seeing you imparting words of wisdom on video.
It could be you voicing your thoughts and wishes for them, telling stories from the past, or doing this-is-how-you-do-it activities such as fixing a car, baking a cake or playing mahjong.
It could even simply be compiling photos of you and your grandchild’s most memorable moments into a video slideshow.
Such videos can be done easily with your mobile phone anytime and anywhere.
The videos can then be forwarded to your grandchild’s phone or be compiled into a physical video book (from $75 on amazon.sg).
- Bestow personal collections or heirlooms
A retired friend, 66, related how her quilting-loving aunt would make big pieces like quilts and blankets for her own children and grandchildren as most of them live overseas.
When the aunt passed on recently at the ripe old age of 99, her children distributed their mother’s collection of quilted items to every relative as legacy gifts.
That was how said friend received a lovely handmade quilted table mat made with horizontal strips of cloth, something she cherished as much as her aunt’s grandchildren did.
Thus, perhaps this would be a good time as any to start decluttering your personal collections — watches, jewellery, vintage toys or furniture, etc — and see if they can be bestowed to your grandchild, memorable keepsakes not just to remember you by but which may also prove to be useful to them.
For example, if you are a good cook, consider compiling your favourite recipes into a cookbook and bestow it to your food-loving grandchild.
If you have noteworthy family photos — not just from your generation but your parents’ generation as well — bestow them to the young ones so that they not only learn what their forefathers (and foremothers) did in the past, but also a slice of history about old Singapore, or whatever time and place the photos were taken in.
Nostalgia is big with kids these days. Record players or vinyl turntables are back in vogue and if you have one that still works, that is an heirloom a music-loving grandchild will be glad to receive from you.
A vintage Singer sewing machine that no longer works? Creative young minds can convert it into an art piece or functional shelf. (Or even sell it for good money!)
Heirloom items will be even more treasured if there is family history to tell, not just of yourself or your spouse, but perhaps of the kids’ parents too.
- Give your grandchildren what they want (What they really really want)
If your grandchild is much older (ie above the age of a toddler), consider giving them things that are close to their heart or where their interests or talents lie.
If they like collecting Pop Mart toys or Lego building sets, they probably would appreciate you helping to add to their beloved collection. If they enjoy music, they may welcome a musical instrument such as a guitar, keyboard or violin.
Or you could get them things they really need for school, sports or travel such as backpacks, phone accessories or training gear.
If you are not sure about their interests, just check with the parents or simply get it straight from the young horse’s mouth.
Your grandchild will appreciate that you care enough to ask them what they want (what they really really want).
Once they receive your thoughtful gift packaged with love, you can be sure they will cherish and remember you for life for it.
Note: Products and services mentioned above are available online. Discounts and special promotions are offered frequently, so listed prices may differ.
