Every grandparent I’ve ever met has a drawer. You know the one — the wobbly handprint, the card where half the letters face backwards, the drawing that’s technically of them. Store-bought cards don’t make that drawer. The one your kid made does. That’s the whole idea behind these grandparents day cards printable and ready to make: not slick, not perfect, just genuinely from the little person who loves them. 💌
Grandparents’ Day lands on Sunday, September 13 this year, so there’s just enough time to print, colour and post one. Below you’ll find four kinds of card — pick the one that suits your kid’s age and patience, and there’s a free PDF with all of them at the bottom.
The Card Grandparents Actually Keep
Quick honest take before the list: a beautiful Canva card you designed and your child watched you make is nice, but it’s your card. The magic of a kid-made one is the wonky bits — the pink sun, the “I lov yoo Nana,” the six-legged version of Grandpa’s dog. Those are the ones that end up on the fridge for a decade. So these templates leave room for the child to do the actual making. That’s the point.
4 Printable Grandparents Day Cards to Make
Colour-your-own cards
The simplest option, and perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Print a card that already says “Happy Grandparents’ Day” with a big friendly picture to colour — a hugging grandma-and-grandpa, a bunch of flowers, a “World’s Best Grandpa” trophy. Fold, colour, done. My three-year-old’s version was entirely purple, including Grandpa’s face, and it’s still on the fridge.
Fill-in “All About Grandma & Grandpa” cards
This is the keepsake one — the card grandparents read three times and then tear up a little. The child fills in the blanks: My grandma’s best saying is… / My favourite thing we do together is… / Grandma is really good at… / I love Grandpa because… There’s a box to draw a picture of them together, too. Younger kids dictate while you write; older ones do it themselves (and the answers will surprise you — apparently I’m “good at finding socks”).
Handprint keepsake card
Grandparents melt for these. Trace or paint the child’s hand inside the card with a little “these hands love you” line. It’s a size-and-date record they’ll keep forever — and yes, the paint version gets everywhere, so do it at the sink and accept one handprint will land on the table too.
Foldable pop-up card
For older kids who want a bit of a project: a simple fold-and-cut card with a pop-up heart or flower inside. Slightly fiddly, very impressive, and the “how did you DO that?” from Grandma is the entire reward.
Every template has an editable name field, so you can pop in “Nana,” “Gramps,” “Babcia” — whatever your family calls them — before you print.
Stuck on What to Write? Steal These
The blank inside is where every kid freezes. Give them one of these to copy or finish:
- “Thank you for always saying yes to one more story.”
- “You give the best hugs and the best snacks.”
- “I love you more than [their favourite thing].”
- “You make everything more fun.”
- For the littlest ones who can’t write yet: just their name, a heart, and a scribble. Grandparents fluently read scribble.
If your child wants to say more, the fill-in card (#2) does the heavy lifting for them.
Download the Free Card Templates (PDF)
All four cards — colour-in, fill-in, handprint and pop-up — are in one free PDF. No email, no sign-up. Print on slightly heavier paper if you can, so the card stands up on the mantel; here’s our note on the best cardstock and paper for printables.
More Grandparents Day Fun
Making a whole afternoon of it? Pair the card with our [grandparents day crafts and keepsake ideas], and keep the colouring going with our free printable fall coloring pages.
A Few Honest Tips
- Do the handprint card first, while hands are clean and patience is high. It’s the messiest and the most treasured — get it done before the wheels come off.
- Post early. If Grandma’s card has to travel, a kid-made card that arrives on the 14th still absolutely counts, but the 13th feels nicer.
- Take a photo of the finished card before it goes. You’ll want it, and so will the drawer.
Quick Questions
Are these grandparents day cards really free?
Yes — all four cards in one free PDF, for home or classroom. No sign-up. Just don’t resell them.
Which card is best for a toddler?
The colour-your-own card. It already has the message and a big picture; all they have to do is scribble it to life (in whatever colours they fancy).
Can I change “Grandma” to what we actually call them?
Yep — the templates have an editable name field, so Nana, Pop, Oma or Grandad all work before you print.
We’re doing this in a classroom — will it work?
Really well. The fill-in card is the class favourite: one printout, and every child ends up with a personal, keepsake-worthy card in fifteen minutes.
What if my kid can’t write yet?
Perfect — that’s what the handprint and colour-in cards are for. A name and a heart is plenty; grandparents supply the rest.
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