A Unique Gift for Grandchildren from Grandparents: A Personalized Photo Calendar
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Is a personalized photo calendar the first thing you think of when considering gifts for your grandchildren? Probably not. But not only do we think it should be, we are going to tell you why. Then we’ll show you how to create one, and introduce you to our favorite photo calendar maker. Are you ready to be convinced?
New grandparents agree that making memories is one of the things they are excited to do, and with good reason. The time you spend with your grandchildren is special for both of you. It’s what builds the close relationship you hope to have.
Reliving those memories is just as important, and a personalized calendar is a meaningful way to ensure the memories don’t fade. Each time your grandchild turns to a picture of another memory, they’ll be able to relive the feelings of that moment. But even if you don’t have a dozen pictures of times you’ve spent together, a photo calendar can be a way to build connection.
Why Personalized Photo Calendars Are Perfect Gifts for Grandchildren
Anyone can go to Target and buy the latest Lego set. And while that will definitely entertain your grandchild for a few hours, there is nothing in its giving that connects it to you. Giving a personalized gift, one that you’ve specifically designed for that child, shows your love and thoughtfulness while creating and celebrating connection.
When a child receives a gift that someone has made just for them, it boosts their self-esteem. “I still remember how special I felt when my godmother gave me a blank book that had my name embossed on the front,” one grandmother told us. “She was an artist, and she’d sketched a special message on the first page. I rarely saw her, but that book made me know that she was thinking of me, and I felt close to her despite the fact we didn’t spend much time together.”
A photo calendar will show your grandchild that you think they are special, and that you love the time you get to spend together. And it won’t be set aside after a few hours of play: it will be a reminder of your love all year long.
How to Create a Personalized Photo Calendar
Once you’ve decided that a personalized calendar is the perfect gift for your grandchild, you have a few more decisions to make. First, you’ll need to design the calendar, and then you’ll need to make it—or have it made. Neither one is tricky, even if you don’t consider yourself creative! Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Get ready to create a personalized photo calendar
1. Choose a Calendar Format. This may depend partly on your grandchild’s age. The Perpetual Desk Calendar from Pinhole Press is fun for preschoolers—and helps them understand the passage of days. For older grandchildren, you may want to consider a desk calendar or daily planner. A simple wall calendar is a safe bet for almost any age. You can see a full range of calendar options at Pinhole Press.
2. Pick a Theme and Style. While a calendar full or memories you spent together can be the most meaningful, don’t feel tied to that. You may want to create a seasonal calendar, with photos highlighting the holidays and special family occasions throughout the year. You could share your own adventures from the last year, or your favorite photos of the people and places you want to share with your grandchild. You could even create a family tree calendar, with photos of family members and ancestors.
3. Select the right photos. Depending on your theme and the format you’ve chosen, now the fun starts. Find the photos that you want to use and gather them in a folder on your computer or album on your phone. Look for high quality images for the best results, and pay attention to whether they will fit well in the layout you’ve chosen.
4. Choose a website like Pinhole Press to create your calendar. We like Pinhole Press for their easy-to-use personalized calendar maker and their clear tutorials. We’ve found their products to be of the highest quality. Read this post to see why we love their photo books, too.
Choosing a Photo Calendar Maker
While we love the ease of use and support at Pinhole Press, there are other services that will print your calendar. If you’ve previously used another website to create photo books or personalize cards, you may want to stick with what’s familiar. Shutterfly, Snapfish and Mixbook are just a few of the other options.
Once your calendar has been delivered, take a little time to make it extra special. Add captions to the photos and mark important dates with stickers. Include some stickers for your grandchild to add when they get the calendar, too.
If you are more of a DIY grandparent, you could take a true hands-on approach. You can buy a blank scrapbook wall calendar from Amazon as a starting point, or craft the entire calendar from scratch.
Whichever route you choose, your grandchild will have a special gift from you. Depending on the theme you’ve chosen, it may be a year-long reminder of the memories you’ve made together. It may be a glimpse into your life, or a visual representation of the family they are a part of. Whichever it is, it will let them know you took the time to create something just for them. That sort of special attention is what strengthens the bond between you. What could be a better gift?
Have we convinced you that a personalized photo calendar is the perfect gift for your grandchild this year? A gift that will build connection and strengthen memories? Then it’s time to start creating! Go choose your format and photos, and get that calendar started today.
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