Letter to my grandchildren.
Grandparents’ stories, to keep close.
A letter to my grandchildren: it’s the simplest way to pass on what only grandparents know – how life used to be, what Mum and Dad were like as children, the Sunday recipe, the song you used to play together. You can write it today and choose when they’ll read it: on a birthday, on their 18th, on graduation day.
The things only grandparents can tell
Grandchildren grow up fast, and some stories only you know. When they’re little they half-listen; when they’re grown up they’ll want to hear them again, properly. A letter keeps them safe until that day.
- What Mum and Dad were like as childrenThe mischief, the first words, the day they broke the good vase.
- What life was like back thenSchool, games in the playground, the first holiday by the sea.
- Family traditionsThe Sunday recipe, the summer party, the way the first present was always opened.
- What you’ve learntA lifetime of advice, told in your own words.
Grandparents are the family’s memory. A letter turns it into a gift.
How to write a letter to your grandchildren
Five tips for grandparents who’d like to begin, even if they’re not writers.
- Tell a story, not a moral. “When I was your age…” works better than any piece of advice.
- Talk about their parents. Grandchildren love finding out that Mum and Dad were once naughty children too.
- Remember something you did together. A walk, a song on the piano, the burnt biscuits: those are the memories that count.
- Write without worrying about how it sounds. Use your nicknames, your words, even your local dialect if that’s how you talk to each other.
- Choose the right moment. A birthday, their 18th, graduation: every moment asks for different words.
Where to begin: 6 opening lines
Pick the line that sounds most like you and carry on from there.
Short notes for your grandchildren
Sometimes two lines are enough, written on a card or saved for the future. Here are a few, for the moments that matter.
When they’re born
- “Welcome, little one. From today, our family has one more heart.”
- “You arrived, and I became a grandpa. Thank you for this gift.”
For their birthday
- “Every year you grow a little taller, and every year I’m a little prouder of you.”
- “Happy birthday, sweetheart. May your life be full of cake and laughter.”
For their first day at school
- “Bag on your back and eyes wide open: the world is waiting for you.”
- “Your mum was scared on her first day too. Then she learnt to fly.”
For their 18th birthday
- “Eighteen years ago I held you in my arms for the first time. Today I watch you walk on your own.”
- “The keys are yours now. But Grandma and Grandpa’s door is always open.”
For graduation
- “Grandpa never studied this much. But he’s the proudest grandpa in the world.”
- “You’ve worked so hard. Today, enjoy every moment.”
From aunts and uncles
- “Being your auntie is my favourite title.”
- “For the secrets you don’t want to tell Mum and Dad, your uncle is always here.”
A letter from a grandpa to his granddaughter
The loveliest letters from grandparents start from a moment you shared. Here’s an example, written by a grandpa for the day of his granddaughter’s first piano recital.
Dear Emily,
Today we spent the whole afternoon at the piano. You decided the black keys are “the sad ones” and the white keys “the happy ones”, and you’ll only play the happy ones.
By the time you read this, you’ll be on stage for your first recital. Maybe your hands will shake a little. Mine used to as well, you know. Then the music starts, and your hands remember what to do all by themselves.
If you play a wrong note, smile and keep going. Nobody listens to the wrong notes: everyone’s listening to you.
And when you get home, we’ll play together. The sad keys too, this time.
Love, Grandpa
Writing to your children? You’ll find more ideas in the guides Letter to my son and Letter to my daughter.
Not just words
There’s so much you can leave your grandchildren: a voice, a tune, the smell of a favourite recipe.
- Your voice.A bedtime story read by you, with all the pauses and the characters’ voices.
- A tune.The piece you used to play together, recorded on the piano at home.
- A recipe.The Sunday one, with the ‘by eye’ quantities finally written down.
- Photos from back then.With a couple of lines for each: who was there, where you were, what happened next.
- The family tree.Names, places, trades: where your story comes from.
- A video.An afternoon together, a walk, a dance in the living room.
Make it arrive at the right moment
A letter from Grandma or Grandpa deserves to arrive on the right day: a birthday, a milestone, a moment that matters. With Erabox, it takes just three steps.
Write or record
Text, voice, video, photos, a tune: everything you’d like to leave your grandchildren.
Choose who will receive it
Your grandchildren don’t need to sign up or download anything: they’ll receive a personal, secure link.
Choose the moment
Her first recital, their 18th, graduation, or a date that belongs only to you.
Not very confident with technology? Ask one of your children to help you get started: writing is as easy as sending a message. Your words are kept safe on servers in Switzerland.
Letter to my grandchildren: frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer? Write to us via Help.
Other words, for other moments
Grandparents’ stories are a gift.
Make sure they arrive.
Write to your grandchildren today. They’ll receive your words on the day you choose.