10+ Truly Sentimental Gifts For Parents That Will Touch Them To The Core

Choosing gifts for your loved ones, especially for parents, is always not such an easy process as it may seem. It's really challenging for many of us, especially if we want to give not something trivial but a genuinely sentimental gift.

Many sentimental gift ideas can bring tears of joy to parents. In particular, the best options for such thoughtful presents for parents are a photo album with memorable photos, a joint trip, a family tree, or even a DNA test kit. Other ideas include personalized gifts, such as mugs and jewelry. 

How often have you chosen something practical when looking for a gift for your parents' anniversary, mom's birthday, or Father's day?

Study proves: sentimental gifts are more valuable than practical ones.

It may seem that we usually choose useful gifts because we know our loved ones well and understand what they need. But in most cases, we prefer a more practical gift instead of one with sentimental value because it's easier for us.

We think that practical gifts are more valuable because of their functionality and versatility, but this is not always the case.

A study by Julian Givi and Jeff Galak of Carnegie Mellon University found that people tend to receive sentimental gifts. Researchers note that although emotional presents are not applicable in everyday life, they have a high subjective significance for the recipient.

It's true that sentimental gifts are always more heartfelt and touching. They demonstrate our sincerity and promote closeness with our loved ones. So don't be afraid to give your parents really memorable gifts that will awaken positive emotions and feelings of joy.

Sentimental gifts are a sincere expression of your love and care. They shouldn't be expensive or large, most importantly, they should be special for your parents. Well, let's explore the best sentimental gift ideas which your parents will definitely like.

Photo Album:
Collect The Best Memories

A photo album is one of the best sentimental gifts you can give to your parents.

Please, don't listen to anyone who says that photo albums are outdated and unnecessary in our life.

No digital photo archive can replace a real tangible photo album with favorite photos and handwritten records.

However, you will have to make a lot of effort to make an ordinary photo album the perfect sentimental gift. It's not enough to just order a photo book with a beautiful cover.

You will need to select bright, memorable photos, print them, carefully insert snaps into the album, and don't forget to write sincere words of love and gratitude. It's really a time-consuming process.

Just imagine how happy your parents will be with such a gift. Their eyes sparkling with joy will be worth all the effort you put in.

Thanks to the wide range, you can easily choose a photo album with a thematic cover, whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or Mother's Day. You can even customize the photo album cover and make your gift even more personalized and cute.

A beautiful, stylish photo album will preserve for you the most precious memories and happiest moments. A photo album is a remarkable gift that will help to recall pleasant life episodes in minutes of nostalgia. It's like giving your loved ones a kind of time machine.

Family Portrait:
Give A Unique Family Heirloom

A family portrait is probably one of the best ideas for a memorable gift for parents.

Family portraits have been an integral attribute of a cozy home for centuries.

A unique family portrait from a photo will be an exquisite gift for your parents for almost any occasion, whether it's a wedding anniversary or birthday.

If your parents are also true lovers of the art of painting, then a family portrait will be for them not just a memorable gift but a real family heirloom.

A beautiful and original painting makes not only a great addition to the interior of your parent's house but a real symbol of family unity and home comfort.

A family portrait is not necessarily a large canvas in an elegant frame. There are many different types of painted artwork, from oil and acrylic to charcoal or colored pencils, and even digital painting.

Besides, you are not limited only to having a realistic family portrait painting. Whether it will be a picture in an abstract or historical style, you can choose the perfect option just for your family.

If you have a knack for drawing, you can try to paint a family portrait by yourself. And even if your picture will not be a masterpiece, your parents will no doubt highly appreciate your efforts. 

You also can ask your children (if you have them) to draw the best family portrait for their grandparents. You just need to insert this cute children's painting into a beautiful frame, and it might be the most sentimental gift for your loved ones. 

It doesn't matter if the family portrait is painted by a professional artist or five years old grandson; in any case, such a keepsake will definitely delight your parents. It's a truly heartfelt gift that will be a pleasant reminder of your love and care for many years to come.

Personalized Painting By Numbers:
Create Your Own Masterpiece

A personalized painting by numbers kit is another way to present a family portrait.

It just has to be drawn by yourself! Such an impressive and original gift, isn't it?

The painting by numbers, created from your photo with parents, is a great sentimental gift idea. Just imagine that your loved ones will create their own masterpiece as a result of the exciting process of drawing. I'm sure such a family portrait will have significant value for your parents. 

You can customize any photo, and it makes a personalized painting by numbers kit an excellent gift for any occasion. Besides, it's a great opportunity not only to unleash a person's creative potential but to relieve stress and get a positive mood.

Moreover, this unique painting will be a fantastic addition to the interior. Such personalized canvas will definitely bring coziness to your home and be a lovely keepsake for your parents.

So, without a doubt, a personalized picture by numbers kit is an original gift idea for your loved ones. After all, you give not just a canvas with paints; you allow your mom or dad to feel like a real artist, creating a beautiful work of art.

Photo Frame:
Take A Favorite Photo In A Prominent Place

A photo frame with a favorite photo is another kind of sentimental gift that will undoubtedly touch your parents' heartstrings.

I'm convinced that framed photo makes a great reminder to your loved ones how much they mean to you.  

So why not surprise your parents with a gift that will have great sentimental value for them? 

Just choose one photo that will be especially important to you and your parents. It can be a photo from graduation, a wedding, a joint trip, or just a picnic.

It also doesn't matter if it's a professional photo or just a picture taken on your smartphone during a family dinner. The main thing is emotions and feelings.

There are many different types of photo frames: wooden, ceramics, decorated with gemstones and metals, and even digital photo frames, so you will easily find the option that will perfectly complement the interior.

A favorite photo in a beautiful photo frame is sure to take a prominent place in the home interior and be a charming reminder for your parents about their happy and bright moments.

Video Greetings:
Become A Director Of The Best Greetings

Want to make an original and heartfelt gift for your loved ones?

A bright video greeting or slide show is one of the best options that can evoke a lot of positive emotion.

I'm sure such sentimental video greetings will definitely make your parents feel special.

Besides, it's much easier to make such a greeting video on your own than you think. Thanks to many different online software programs, you can quickly and easily make an attractive video greeting or create a cute slideshow of the most memorable photos.

You don't need to have any specialized knowledge and skills. All you need is a camera and a computer with the internet. And, most importantly, a cute idea of greetings.

No worry if you don't have any ideas on how to make your video greeting really impressive and unforgettable. I'm happy to help you with it. So get inspired!

• The life story is a perfect idea for video birthday greetings. Create a mini-biography that includes photos of the significant moments of life from birth, school, and student years, to marriage, the birth of children and grandchildren, vacations, and hobbies. This is all that everyone wants to keep in their memory and heart forever.

• Another great idea for almost any occasion is a collective video greeting from family members, friends, or colleagues. Ask everyone to make a short video or photo where they hold posters with different inscriptions, whether it's a wish or just sincere words that describe the recipient. Such a video greeting will be a great surprise for your parents.

• A video clip with your parents' love story will be a fantastic gift for the wedding anniversary. Such a kind of video will not only remind them of all the happy moments of married life but become a symbol of their love.

And these are just a few ideas. Your choice is limited only by your imagination. Create an original greeting video that will be a fantastic keepsake for your parents.

Family Photoshoot:
Capture The Happiest Moments

You probably have dozens or even hundreds of photos with your parents taken on your smartphone or camera.

But how often did you gather the whole family for a joint photoshoot?

Rarely, or even never? It's time to change the situation!

A photoshoot is not only great professional photos as a result, but more importantly, it's a fantastic opportunity to have fun with the family. Gather your whole family together and fill up the family photo archive with new bright shots.

The number of ideas for a family photoshoot is impressive. For a Christmas photoshoot in the studio, you can wear funny sweaters in the style of a family look, or you can arrange a photo session in nature, whether it's a picnic on the beach or a walk in the park. 

You even can invite a photographer to your home and capture what you like to do with the whole family, be it cooking, board games, barbecue in the backyard, or just relaxing in the garden.

Whether you choose a studio photoshoot, photography in nature, or at home, this time spent together will in itself be an amazing gift for your loved ones. Positive emotions and a good mood are guaranteed for everyone. And beautiful photos are like a nice bonus.

Experiences:
Create Pleasant Memories

Did you know that experiential purchases bring much more happiness than buying material things?

So if you are still thinking about the perfect gift for your parents, it's time to choose an unforgettable experience for them.

Such a unique gift it's undoubtedly a great way to show your care and love.

Bright non-trivial experiences are a truly original and thoughtful gift. Just imagine how much joy, positive emotions, and impressions will bring an unexpected or, conversely, such a desirable experience. 

A yacht ride, a romantic dinner at a favorite restaurant, a culinary master class, or a weekend trip are just a few ideas for a memorable gift for your loved ones. Or perhaps your parents always dreamed about flying in a hot air balloon or trying scuba diving? Make their dream come true!

I'm convinced that this type of gift will have significant sentimental value for your loved ones. After all, you give not just a new experience, but sincere emotions and vivid impressions. That's why everyone wants to remember these pleasant moments forever. 

Family Tree:
Back To The Roots

Each of us has thought about family history at least once in our lives.

How about amazing your parents with a remarkable gift that can bring tears of joy?

A unique family tree is just such a gift.

The family tree is the best way to preserve the memory of each family member and a great opportunity to learn the history of your family, with all its happy and sad pages of life.

Creating a family tree is a long but fascinating process. Old photos, letters, stories of grandparents about their large family make a great start point to find your roots.

The most important thing in the study of pedigree is the opportunity to spend time with family. And as a result of long, sincere conversations, memories, and searches for information, it will be a beautiful family tree.

There are excellent online tools to help you build your family tree. You can find many patterns and designs of the family tree, so you have to choose the one that best reflects the spirit of your family.

The family tree, no matter if it's designed as a picture, poster, or family book, will undoubtedly have a significant emotional value for your loved ones. It's a unique thing that reflects the history and traditions of the family. 

A family tree is one of those types of gifts that will not leave anyone indifferent. After all, the family tree is a symbol of family unity and strong ties between generations. 

DNA Test Kit:
Discover Your Roots

How about giving your parents a DNA test kit - a unique gift, the emotional value of which cannot be compared with any practical thing.

A genetic ethnicity and traits test is an original gift that can cause sincere admiration. Your parents will undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised by such an extraordinary gift idea.

A genealogical DNA test will provide your dear ones an opportunity to reveal their exact ethnic origin and determine which nationalities have left a mark in their genome. 

Such a kit will allow them to learn more about their origins and explore their roots, which makes an excellent opportunity not only to learn about their family history but to understand their personality better.

Besides, a DNA test can inspire your parents to create a family tree and even establish relationships with all family members.

Thanks to a DNA test, a person can trace the path of ancestral migration on the world map and even identify their distant relatives. A vast database of DNA consumers makes it possible to find a match in DNA and show connections with people wherever they live. 

Personalized Home Keyholder

Parents are our dearest people, and their house is a place where we always feel comfortable.

If you are looking for a cute little gift that will be both practical and a bit sentimental, then the best idea is a personalized home key holder engraved with your parents' initials.

A personalized key holder is a small thing that will be a great reminder that a home is a place where your parents are always waiting for you and happy to see you. In addition to its sentimental value, the home key holder is a functional accessory that will be a bright addition to the interior.

This original and handy gift will undoubtedly impress your loved ones.

Personalized Cup

Mugs and cups are things we use every day, but we don't often pay attention to their design. 

Just imagine how delicious morning coffee would be if your mom drank it from an original mug with words: "The best mom in the world."

I'm sure your dad also will be happy to have a personalized cup with the inscription: "The best dad ever."

You even can add a personal touch to mugs by decorating them with your family photo, which makes them the perfect option for a cute and practical gift.

Individual printing on mugs will cause a lot of positive emotions; it will show that even choosing such a simple gift, you tried to make it unique. Such a lovely present will remind your parents of your care and love every day.

Personalized Jewelry 

Personalized jewelry makes an excellent sentimental gift for your parents.

Exquisite locket pendants and medallions with engraving or photo inside is a great way to express your sincere feelings and emphasize the significant connection with your parents.

The engraving on the pendant, ring, or bracelet will make it a unique gift for any occasion. The letter, monogram, name, or even some short phrases on the accessory will personalize it and remind your parents of significant moments in their lives.

Thanks to the wide variety of designs and materials, you can easily choose the perfect option for your loved ones.

Personalized jewelry is a great keepsake for your parents. Such a small accessory that holds so much love.

There are so many fantastic sentimental gift ideas that can touch your parents to the core. No matter what you choose as a gift, most importantly, how much love you invest in giving. Cute sentimental gifts can indeed make our loved ones a little happier. And this is the main thing.