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13 best gifts for grandkids in 2023 (that will definitely make their parents mad)
The moment you become a grandparent, it’s as if a switch flips. Instead of pinching pennies around the holidays, it’s time to spoil those little ones. Leave the parenting up to your kids; there are too many wonderful gifts out there for grandkids and too many incredible memories to make this holiday season.
We're talking about those gifts that have "parental dismay" written all over them – the giant swing sets or motorized cars. Maybe something that makes a lot of noise or lights up like a disco? They’re the kind of gifts you would never have purchased for your own kids. In short, grandparents have a way of buying big, exciting presents that make parents a little jealous. Maybe even mad. The plus side? Those same gifts earn big bonus points with grandkids who will remember Christmas for years to come.
That's why we've been keeping track of the best big-ticket gifts that will get all the applause come Dec. 25. But fair warning: there is no guarantee these gifts won't get an eye roll from your own children. (In fact, if you’re having second thoughts, might we suggest some more thoughtful gifts for the kids?) Take a look below at our editor's hand-picked gifts for grandkids for the 2023 Christmas season, that will make your kids just a little bit mad.
And for those hard-to-shop for teens, see our list of the best gift ideas this year for teen girls and boys.
An attached garage? A full-sized elevator? Fifteen pieces of furniture? The Melissa & Doug Dollhouse sounds like an absolute dream for the parents, but it’s actually designed for kids to play and grow with. This hi-rise, wooden dollhouse is designed for kids ages 3 to 6, which means it’s a toy that they’ll love playing with for years to come. The downside? It’s going to take up a lot of room in their actual house. But we think it’s worth it for a toy that has such staying power.
Most parents agree, the last thing their kids need is a microphone, but this Bluetooth karaoke mic is hours of fun for all ages. This one features four different LED lights and five different voice effects. Plus, it’s designed to withstand abuse from kids should they drop it. It connects with Bluetooth to your phone or computer, so you can use it with a singing app, and it can last up to eight hours on a single charge. So while it might mean a few more headaches for Mom and Dad this year, the kids will simply adore it.
Screentime is a blessing and curse for parents, but having a kid-friendly tablet is one of the best tools in your arsenal when they’re fussy in public or ready for some alone time. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is designed to stand up to some rough handling and allows parents to set controls for what the kids consume. This is the latest and greatest model with a long battery life, and it comes with a year of Amazon Kids+ content your grandkids will love.
With a slide, rock climbing wall, rope net, monkey bars, swing and ninja ring, we completely agree this play set is awesome, but it's also enormous, even if it "folds up."
A trampoline is the ultimate backyard upgrade grandkids are looking for. This 10' round one has a no-gap enclosure system including a protective net to help eliminate gaps. Bonus: a basketball hoop for hours of fun for everyone.
With two modes, kids can operate the excavator themselves, or parents can control it through the remote control. The flexible bucket lets your kiddo manually control for hours of fun.
This definitely tops our list for the most outrageous item, but also our favorite. This 4-seater wagon boasts all the perks of the stroller wagon with the added bonus of looking like a classic VW bus.
This motorized ride-on has all the bells and whistles the little one in your life will love. The remote control is a nice feature for parents to keep those little drivers close.
You can get some serious yard work done with this tractor ride-on toy. This battery-powered tractor has a trailer attachment so your little one can haul all their greatest treasures around the yard.
This 2-in-1 wood-framed tent is an adorable indoor hideout that comes with a climbing wall on one side, a perfect way to burn off some extra energy.
This inflatable splash pool with slide, clubhouse, climbing wall, and built-in water cannons is the ultimate way to beat the summer heat and keep your grandkids entertained all day long.
Winter is coming and finding ways to burn some energy indoors is a good thing. That's why this indoor playground could be just what your grandkids need if they have a masonry or brick wall to install it on, it can't be attached to sheetrock.
With 100 built-in educational puzzle games there's a chance this handheld game console can convince parents that their kids are developing skills while playing these games.
