A first-school-day gift from grandparents: what lasts

What grandparents give for the first school day, in short

In Germany the first school day comes with a Schultüte, the big cone of sweets and small things, and the parents buy the satchel and the cone. Grandparents give what fits beside it and lasts: something personal, not the biggest parcel. Five ideas that have proven themselves:

• A book in which the child plays the lead, with a dedication for the start of school.
• A wristwatch for learning to tell the time.
• A pen or a pencil set with the name.
• A savings amount with a card the child can keep.
• An afternoon together after the first school day, written as a voucher.

The book is the only one of these gifts that tells of the first school day itself: a child learning to read, and the first book is about them. What a personalised children's book is and costs is in the guide.

What fits in the school cone and what does not

Into the cone goes what is small, light and quickly unwrapped: pencils, an animal-shaped eraser, a lunch box, a few sweets, a little card. A printed book of 21 × 28 cm fits a large cone but squashes everything else; it is nicer beside it, as a parcel of its own.

An eBook fits any cone: as a card saying that a book is waiting on the tablet in which the child appears. Many grandparents do both: the card in the cone, the hardcover in the evening.

Heavy things, toys with batteries and everything that is collected in at school right away do not belong in the cone. The parents will thank you.

How much grandparents usually spend

There is no rule, only an observation: most grandparents spend between 20 and 50 euros on the first school day, more when they chip in for something big like the satchel. More important than the amount is that the gift does not compete with the parents'; agree it between you.

A personal book sits in that range: the eBook costs €7.99 incl. VAT and arrives by e-mail, usually the same evening, anywhere in the EU. The hardcover with eBook costs €37.98 incl. VAT plus €5.95 shipping, within Germany only; outside Germany the eBook is the choice, and printing it is allowed.

If several grandchildren start school at once, each gets their own book with their own photo; one book for two does not exist, and the child would notice the difference. How grandparents give the book is on a gift for your grandchild.

Which story suits the first school day

The first school day suits a story about setting out. At Amberro that is outer space: the child finds a fallen star, climbs into a cosy rocket and checks on the star map where the journey goes. All roads are open, as on the first school day.

School itself does not appear in the story, and that is deliberate: the book stays readable when the first school day is long past. The occasion goes in the dedication, for example: "For Sophie on her first school day. Now you learn to read, and the first book is about you." More examples in Book dedication for a child.

If the child prefers the fire brigade or dragons, take those; the theme should fit the child, not the occasion.

When you need to order

The eBook arrives by e-mail, usually the same evening. If the first school day is tomorrow, that is enough: you read it on the tablet or print it and put it with a card.

The hardcover is printed to order and reaches a German address within 5 to 10 working days; outside Germany we do not ship it. If the grandchild lives in Germany, order about two weeks before the day; the dates differ by federal state, from early August to mid September, and are usually known in spring.

If it is getting tight, make the eBook for €7.99 first and order the hardcover afterwards from your book page; the dedication stays the same. How the book is made in three steps is on the home page.