8 Fun Gifts For Parents
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Parents can be hard to shop for, because they often have everything they want. A little thought goes a long way, though. These eight ideas are practical, personal, or both, and most of them will get used every week.
1. Aura Digital Photo Frame
A digital frame fills the house with the photos your parents never get around to printing. The Aura Carver connects over WiFi, and you can send pictures to it from the Aura app or by email, so new grandkid photos show up without anyone touching the frame.
It suits parents who love photos but not technology. You do the setup, they just enjoy the pictures.
2. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
A 10.25-inch Lodge skillet comes seasoned and ready to cook, and it is made in the USA. It goes from stovetop to oven, so it handles everything from cornbread to a weeknight steak.
Give it to parents who cook a lot, and add a note that it gets better with use. Cast iron lasts for decades.
3. Family Photos
When was the last time you had photos taken with your whole family? For many people, it has been years. Hire a professional photographer and get everyone together. Even if you dislike having your picture taken, a good portrait beats the phone shots of you mid-bite or rolling your eyes.
Print one for their wall. Pair it with the digital frame above and you have a gift that fills itself.
4. Thermapen ONE Thermometer
For parents who roast the turkey every year, a Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer takes the guessing out of doneness. It is the kind of tool serious cooks buy for themselves only after someone gives them one.
It is a good fit for the holiday host in your family. Check the store for the colors in stock.
5. Fire TV Stick 4K Select
If your parents are still juggling cable and a DVR, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is an easy way into streaming. It plugs into the TV, streams in 4K, and lets them find shows by talking to the Alexa voice remote.
Set it up for them before you hand it over, and put their favorite shows on the home screen.
6. Push Pin Travel Map
If your parents love to travel, a push pin travel map is a nice way to mark everywhere they have been together. It comes with pins, so they can color code trips: family vacations, couple getaways, trips with friends.
It also works as home decor, and it gives them a reason to plan the next trip.
7. Hydroponic Herb Garden
A countertop herb garden suits parents who like to cook and garden but are tired of the work or the pests that come with a backyard plot. The AeroGarden Bounty Basic is an indoor garden with LED grow lights, so fresh herbs can grow on the kitchen counter all winter.
8. Mug Warmer
Affordable and practical, a mug warmer keeps coffee, tea, or hot cocoa warm until the last sip. Your parents can drink at their own pace instead of rushing to finish a cooling cup.
Pair it with a nice mug to make it feel like more than a gadget.
Think about what your parents do on an ordinary Tuesday, then pick the gift that makes that a little better. Our guide to giving gifts people love has more on that.
