Christmas Gift Ideas for Grown Children

Wondering what to get your adult son or daughter for the holidays? Check out my handy gift recommendations *from an actual grown daughter!*

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Updated Aug, 2020.

Need a gift for a grown son or daughter?

It's hard to buy Christmas gifts for adult children - or so I'm told! I've found lately that I'm *constantly* being asked for suggestions about what to buy for grown children and their spouses. Grandkids = super easy to buy for. Their parents, apparently not so much! And people like me (grown children without kids)...a particular minefield.

My husband and I are both very fortunate to receive great gifts from both sets of our parents, so I'm sharing a few tips from them, as well as tips I've picked up while doing a bit of canvassing on both sides of the equation. First, I'll offer a few high-level tips on the "minefield" aspect of giving gifts to adult children: how to avoid offending grown children with Christmas gift selection. Then, I'll walk through a few options, and then, at the very end of the post, under "Shop the Post" I've founded up a few suggestions, to make your shopping quicker!

Christmas Gifts for Adult Children:
​The Basics

Before we get started, let's discuss a few over-arching points to keep in mind when shopping for grown children.

Things to avoid: the minefields

Obviously, it depends on the specific individuals involved, but just a few high-level suggestions to avoid, when shopping for gifts for adult children and their spouses:

• Gifts that enforce your values that your children may not share.
  
• Gifts that send a message (Think your son dresses too casually at work? Don't buy him dress shoes and a tie).
• Gifts that rope the grown children into an event they may not otherwise attend.
• Juvenile gifts that do not reflect their age.
• Clutter & trinkets.
• Clothes, unless you really know what they like. It can be very difficult, especially with sizing. 

Helpful: include a receipt!

Try to include gift receipts whenever possible.  No one wants their hard-earned money going to waste and if your children end up receiving an item they will truly never use, or a duplicate of something they already own, so it's better for all concerned if they are able to quietly switch it out.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Grown Children

Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
​Thoughtful gift ideas for newlyweds

If you have newlyweds on your list, you're in luck! That said, they've also just had an influx of a lot of new possessions, so it might be worth asking if they have room for anything else, before you start purchasing! If they say no, head on down to the gift cards and charitable donations section!

​As a generation, we have a tendency to live in smaller spaces, so we tend to eschew too many possessions, often not because we don't like them, but because we simply don't have anywhere for them to live!

A few gift ideas for newlyweds to get your juices flowing:

• Items from their wedding registry that they didn't receive - it'll tell you what they like!
• Monogramed tree skirt
• Personalized coasters, blankets, & home decor
• Commemorative ornaments
• Commemorative wedding items from Minted, or design a wedding scrapbook from Shutterfly, if you're crafty!

Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
High-end Christmas Decor

Christmas decor can get expensive. And, for many younger people, investing in high-end Christmas decor can seem a bit onerous. If you feel comfortable that you know what might fit into their home, consider some nice Christmas decor from a store you know they like, such as Pottery Barn.

Check out my Traditional Christmas Decor Guide!

Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
Useful gadgets

Gadgets are always fun to give and get. Why not get them a gadget that they definitely want, but that might feel like an extravagance. My mom got us Airpods a few years back and we are *obsessed*. We wouldn't have bought them for ourselves, but now we're considering upgrading to the newest model! Call us converts!

If they don't already have one, an Apple Watch is becoming a new tech staple, as well! Keep in mind that it does add a bit of money to the monthly cell phone bill, but the "start-up" cost of the Watch itself is definitely a huge gift!

​Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
Unique gift cards & memberships

Shopping for someone who loves England? Stop by my list of Christmas Gifts for Anglophiles!

Many of us live in small spaces, so sometimes additional clutter is exactly the opposite of what we're looking for. While cash is fun, it does sometimes feel a bit cold or perfunctory. So why not give it in the form of a thoughtful gift card?

How about a favorite restaurant or? Or a Ticketmaster gift card so they can buy tickets to an event? Or a membership to a gym or club they've mentioned? Or a high-end store where they might not shop without a gift card? Or even a Hilton or Delta gift card for us travelers, thinking hopefully of getting back out into the world this coming year?

​Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
​Thoughtful charitable donations

For the person who has everything, giving to others can be a thoughtful gift, particularly if it is accompanied by a few small gifts for the recipient. Be sure to chose a cause that's important to the recipient. Local food banks, homeless shelters, & wildlife causes are all very popular this time of year.

Christmas gift ideas for grown children: Subscriptions

It's always fun to have something coming to your house, even after Christmas is over! How about a monthly subscription? For physical gifts, there's everything from beer to hot sauce of the month subscriptions! I recently found Wickbox, a luxury candle subscription box - a new take on a fun gift!

And, we're all watching far more TV than ever this year, so why not consider BritBox or Acorn TV subscriptions, for the period piece or mystery lover, or an Audible subscription, for someone looking for something a bit more intellectual?

Is there a blogger in your life? Check out my Blogger Christmas Gift Guide!

​Christmas gift ideas for grown children:
​Anything alcohol related

Let's be real... what we really want to Christmas is probably alcohol. A bar cart, cocktail set, fancy glasses, and, of course, the booze itself would make for an excellent (and useful) surprise! Wine aerators are definitely all the rage at the moment, for the wine lover in your life!

Shop the post!

Thanks for stopping by!

I so appreciate you taking time to read through my suggestions on what to buy adult children for the holidays. If you have suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below! Happy Holidays!

You may also like:

• Christmas Gift Ideas for Anglophiles
• Traditional Christmas Decor Ideas
• Christmas Party Outfit Ideas

Love it? Pin it!