More Than a Gift: What Grandparents Want Their Grandchildren To Have
September 24, 2026
You've bought the toys. You've written the checks for birthdays and graduations, and most of that spending is spent or outgrown before the next holiday rolls around. AARP research found that 86% of grandparents buy gifts for their grandchildren, spending an average of $805 a year on exactly that kind of giving.
So, what is the most meaningful gift a grandparent can give a grandchild? September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and for a lot of families, the answer turns out to be life insurance, with a second layer to it that catches most grandparents off guard.
Why a Life Insurance Policy Is a Gift That Grows
A juvenile life insurance policy works differently from a savings bond or a check tucked into a birthday card. Buy coverage while your grandchild is young and healthy, and you lock in a low premium along with guaranteed future insurability, meaning your grandchild stays covered later in life regardless of what health changes come up along the way. An added benefit with the 1891 life policy is the generous Living Benefits Rider.
A policy set up now protects a future you can't fully picture yet: A grandchild who grows up, starts a family of their own, or develops a health condition later on will still have the coverage you arranged, at the rate you locked in decades earlier. Waiting costs money — the earliest years of a child's life are the cheapest and simplest time to buy coverage that will only get more expensive, or harder to qualify for, with age.
The Part of the Gift Most Grandparents Don't Expect
Here's what usually surprises grandparents once the policy paperwork is signed: At 1891 Financial Life, your grandchild isn't only insured. They also become a member of 1891 Financial Life, eligible for grants and scholarships as they move through school, along with volunteer and philanthropic programs as they get older.
Those member benefits may not be top of mind when grandparents compare life insurance options for a child, but they can extend the gift's value well beyond the coverage itself.
Giving a Grandchild a Place in Something Bigger
1891 Financial Life operates as a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society. Membership isn't an add-on to the policy; it's the reason the Society exists in the first place. Every certificate connects a family to a community built around mutual support rather than shareholder profit, funded by the same premiums that pay for coverage.
A grandchild who grows up connected to that kind of community, and who later benefits directly from it through a scholarship or a grant, absorbs something a check can't teach: that support runs in more than one direction.
FAQ on Gifting Life Insurance
Can grandparents buy life insurance for a grandchild?
Yes. Grandparents can purchase a juvenile life insurance policy for a grandchild, typically with the consent of the child's parent or legal guardian.
What other benefits come with a juvenile life insurance policy at 1891 Financial Life?
Beyond the policy itself, a covered child becomes a member of 1891 Financial Life, which comes with eligibility for grant and scholarship programs as well as volunteer and philanthropic opportunities as they grow older.
Is a life insurance policy a good gift for a baptism, birthday, or graduation?
It can be. Milestone moments like these are common times for grandparents to set up coverage, since a grandchild is young, locked in a lower premium, and guaranteed future insurability.
A Gift That Keeps Showing Up
The toys get outgrown eventually, and the checks get cashed and spent within weeks. A life insurance policy set up for a grandchild works differently: It sits in the background for decades, and the membership behind it keeps producing scholarships, grants, and community ties your grandchild will likely use well into adulthood.
If you're a grandparent thinking about what to give next, contact us today for personalized guidance and to explore your options.
About the Author
Thomas Adamson, CLU, ChFC, FICF, AMTC, CFFM
Thomas Adamson launched his insurance career in 1968 with New York Life and developed skills in management, marketing, recruiting, training, and development of new and experienced agents.
Tom has been involved in fraternal Home Office Sales, Marketing, Product Development, and Training for the last 20 years. He truly appreciates the opportunity to blend his faith with his profession. He has been an advocate for the agent in the Home Office and brings a unique perspective to marketing and product development. Tom is also involved in philanthropic efforts and community-based activities; as a dedicated parent and grandparent, it has been his passion to volunteer on behalf of children.
Tom’s mission is to “provide an environment for agents to successfully design insurance plans that give our clients and members the financial peace of mind they deserve.”
About 1891 Financial Life
Our culture is about looking out for you, for others, for family, for the community. That is how we go “Beyond Life Insurance.”
At 1891 Financial Life, we don’t just sell policies, we offer possibilities. We take pride in giving back to the communities we serve by providing quality and comprehensive insurance solutions. We are a not-for-profit life insurance Society, which means the sales from these financial service products help fund member benefits, along with social, educational, and volunteer programs designed to respond to community needs. Our commitment to excellence has been recognized by Forbes, naming 1891 Financial Life among “The World’s Best Life Insurance Companies” in 2023 - and for the second time, as one of “America’s Best Life Insurance Companies,” ranking #1 in Term Life Insurance for 2026.
Our portfolio is extensive, ranging from various life insurance policies to our annuities to support your financial needs, no matter what stage of life you’re in.