Toys and children seem to go together naturally at holiday time. While toys can be fun both to give and to receive, they need not be the only option. The following are some ideas for grandparents who want to get out of the toy aisle but still choose presents that their grandchildren will enjoy.

Gift Certificates
Just as adults often relish the opportunity to select their own gifts, so do children. Gift certificates enable the recipient to pick out something she really wants, but the giver gets to select the monetary amount and the type of item.

"Gift certificates to clothing stores are tops on my girls' wish lists these days," says Fran Sherman, a mother of three from Highland Park, Ill. Since children and teenagers often have definite opinions on clothing, gift certificates can ease the worry that what you buy will end up buried in the back of a closet. They also eliminate the need to find out or guess sizes. Likewise, if you would like to purchase a CD or DVD for your grandchild but fear your tastes may differ or your present will be a duplicate, a gift certificate to a place such as Best Buy or Circuit City can be a good alternative.

Stores are not the only ones to offer gift certificates. Think of places your grandchild likes to go or things he likes to do. Movie theaters, fast-food joints, video rental stores, pizza places, ice cream parlors, skating rinks, bowling lanes and amusement parks are just some of the establishments young people enjoy but may not have the money to patronize as often as they would like. "My kids always appreciate gift certificates," says Paula Norton, a mother of three from Streamwood, Ill., "Specialty certificates are their favorites, such as a week at summer camp or a session of gymnastics lessons."

Hobbies
Most people think of childhood as a great time to learn new things and develop hobbies. Costs, however, can limit experimentation. If your grandchild has expressed interest in something, think about ways you may be able to create a present that supports that curiosity.

"My 5-year-old loves to take photos," says Frank George of Arlington, Va. "While my wife and I want to encourage his creativity, the cost is a bit much at times. This topic came up in conversation with my mother-in-law, and she put together a great package of film, blank photo albums and Target gift cards (for film processing) for his next birthday."

Craft stores offer a variety of kid-friendly kits to help youngsters learn about sewing, woodworking, painting, jewelry making, scrapbooking and cooking. Other possibilities include a telescope for a budding astronomer, ice skates for a future Michelle Kwan, a journal to collect the thoughts of an aspiring writer or a keyboard for a child with a passion for music. Nature enthusiasts may welcome camping gear, fishing equipment or even a bug-collecting set.

Books
Having ready access to an assortment of books can help make children readers for life. A trip to a local bookstore will reveal, however, that it can be expensive to build up a literature collection. Consider expanding your grandchild's home library with some new material – a bound treasury of stories by a beloved author such as Dr. Seuss, a classic series of books such as those of Laura Ingalls Wilder or a few selections you or your grandchild's parents enjoyed in youth.

If you would like some help choosing more modern titles, check out the American Library Association's recommended reading list. You may even want to establish a tradition of giving an award-winning book, such as annually presenting your grandchild with the most recent Caldecott Medal winner for outstanding illustration.

Also, consider giving your grandchild a magazine subscription. Kids love to get things in the mail and are sure to think of you each time they get a new issue. Browse the magazine section of a bookstore to find age-appropriate ideas or check out the many magazines available for purchase online.

Keepsakes
While toys are often appreciated for a time and then passed over, a keepsake gift can grow in importance as a child ages. A few to consider include a jewelry box, a music box or a baseball signed by members of a favorite team.

"I like giving my grandson an ornament each Christmas because when he's grown he can put them on his own tree," says Paulette Braccio of Matteson, Ill. "Hopefully, they will rekindle happy memories of what he enjoyed while he was growing up – baseball, cars, Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh – and of his grandma."

A similar idea is to start a charm bracelet. Each year a new charm can be added that symbolizes something that was important to the child during that year – perhaps a dog charm for a new pet or a cheerleader charm to commemorate making the squad.

Parents of infants often enjoy receiving items that they can use or display at the moment but also keep for their child for the future. Melissa Durante, a mother of two from Bartlett, Ill., says, "Some of my favorite gifts given to my children have been personalized items, which can be useful at the time and are also wonderful keepsakes for later, such as personalized burp cloths and baby shoes personalized on the soles."

Sharing Yourself
Children love to receive individual attention, so one of the greatest gifts a grandparent can bestow upon a grandchild is the gift of time. With children off from school for a week or two and parents scrambling around doing last-minute Christmas preparations, the holiday season can be ideal for grandparents to schedule outings.

Spend an afternoon baking Christmas cookies together. Take in a holiday flick and then grab some pizza. Dig out Monopoly, Scrabble and Clue for a board game marathon. Drive around looking at Christmas lights before coming home to some hot chocolate. Toys may get broken or outgrown, but good memories last a lifetime.

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• Talk about it!