A birthday card for your grandson, short enough that he'll read it
Pick a picture, type his name and send him the link. It's a free birthday ecard, ready in about a minute, with nothing to sign up for. He opens an envelope and finds a plain, warm letter from a grandparent who is proud of him.
A birthday letter for your grandson from his grandparent
The message is the same for every grandson card. Only the name changes, so there is nothing to sign up for and nothing to store.
Dear their name,
I've been looking forward to your birthday, mostly because it gives me an excuse to tell you a few things.
I like the person you are. I like your questions and the way you tell a story, and I like that you still put up with my stories, even the ones you've heard before.
I don't need you to be anything in particular. I'm proud of you already, and I expect I'll keep being proud of you for things neither of us has thought of yet.
Have a good day. Do something you enjoy, and come and see me when you can. I'll make sure there's something good to eat.
Love always. Happy birthday.
Plain words, because grandsons skim
Most boys, and plenty of grown men, will skip a long birthday message and go straight to the bit with the money. So this letter keeps it short and says the two things grandsons rarely hear out loud: I like who you are, and I'm proud of you without conditions.
It doesn't mention school, sport, girlfriends or jobs, so it works for a grandson of five or of thirty-five. The line about putting up with your stories tends to get a smile at any age.
From Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Dada
The letter never says who sent it, so it reads right from a grandmother, a grandfather or the two of you together. In the message you paste the link into, sign it the way he knows you: Grandma and Grandad, Nani, Opa, Pop. That tells him who it's from straight away.
Step-grandparents, great-grandparents and grandparents by marriage can all send it. The words don't depend on which branch of the family you're on.
Sending it, even if you don't usually send links
Choose a picture on this page, type his name and press the red button. A link appears with a Copy button. Open WhatsApp, Messages or email, start a message to your grandson, and paste the link in.
If he's young, send it to his mom or dad and ask them to show him. If he's a teenager or older, send it to him directly. Teenage boys notice when a grandparent has his number and uses it.
- To paste, press and hold in the message box, then tap Paste.
- Happier on the phone? Ask a family member to send it while you're on the call with him.
- Send it early. Grandsons are often the last to check their messages.
What to add in your own words
The letter is fixed, but your message isn't. Grandsons like specifics and plans more than praise, so mention one: the fishing trip, the match you'll watch together, the money in the post, the dinner you'll cook when he visits. A shared joke works too. If he's away at university or working in another city, ask him when he's coming home. He'll know what you mean.
The three pictures
One is photo-style: a grandfather in a flat cap and his grandson sitting on the tailgate of an old blue pickup at the edge of a wheat field in autumn, a small cake and a dog beside them. One is bright 3D animation of a grandmother in a sun hat driving a red tractor down a farm lane while her grandson waves, with a cake and balloons on the trailer. The third is a painted storybook scene of a boy throwing a paper airplane from a hilltop, hot air balloons over the valley and a picnic cake on a blanket.
All three show a young boy, which grown grandsons usually find funny rather than odd. The pickup at sunset is the most grown-up of the three.
Questions people ask
What do you write in a birthday card for a grandson?
Something short and true. Tell him you like who he is and that you're proud of him, then add a memory or a plan. The letter on this card says the first part, and your own line goes in the message with the link.
Can I send it from both of us, Grandma and Grandpa?
Yes. The letter works from one grandparent or two and never names the sender. Sign both your names in the message you send the link with.
Will it suit a teenage or adult grandson?
Yes. The letter never mentions his age, school or job, so it reads just as well at sixteen or thirty. The pictures show a young boy. For an older grandson the pickup truck at sunset usually fits best.
What do I write to a grandson I don't see much?
Keep it warm and don't dwell on the distance. Say you're thinking of him, mention one thing you know he's doing, and suggest a call or visit. A short card from a grandparent he rarely sees often means more to him than he'll say.
Can I use it for a great-grandson or step-grandson?
Yes. The letter only assumes you're his grandparent in the way that counts. Great-grandsons, step-grandsons and grandsons by marriage all work.
Can I write my own letter instead?
Not on the card itself. The letter is the same for every grandson card, and only the picture and his name change. That's why it's free and why nothing about your card has to be saved.
How does he open the card?
He taps the link, then the envelope, then the picture, and the letter opens with his name at the top. It works in any phone or computer browser, with no app.