Last week we brought you the best gifts to get the seniors in your life. This week our gift-giving post is aimed at seniors who want to give a gift that they can use with their grandkids. This doesn’t make the gift a selfish one on the part of the giver. Rather, it provides another avenue for interaction, communication and bonding among the generations, all of which can be easily overlooked with today's busy schedules and tech-obsessed culture. For Younger Grandkids Zhu Zhu Pets - Funhouse Set with Hamster The Zhu Zhu hamster is a lot like a real hamster. It moves, squeaks and enjoys its endless series of tunnels. The only difference is that you won’t get in trouble for buying your grandkids this hamster without their parents’ permission. A toy pet provides hours of interaction, especially one that comes with as many tunnels as this funhouse set does. Help your grandkids strategically set up the tunnels and watch the hamster go. You can also purchase other accessories, such as slides, blankets, wheels and even skateboards, for the hamster, which will keep your gift list full all year round. Fisher Price Elmo's Tickle Hands Grandkids love to be tickled, cuddled and hugged. These three activities are fun enough, but Elmo’s Tickle Hands can make them even better. The red gloves vibrate whenever they touch a surface, such as a tummy, providing extra tickle power. Those who aren’t able to get their fingers into the gloves can simply place them against the palms of their hands and they’ll work the same. The gloves also feature a song sung by Elmo, as well as the little red monster’s famous laugh. After the kids are done experiencing what it’s like to be touched by the Tickle Hands you can put them on their fingers and let them tickle you. This is one toy that is sure not to get old — to the children, anyway. Easy Bake Oven & Snack Center by Hasbro Includes 3 Mixes It’s hard to believe that a toy invented almost half a century ago is still popular with children today. The Easy Bake Oven is, however, and any boy or girl who’s ever made cookies with Mom will be excited to have a baking unit all their own. You can create dozens of uniquely decorated baked goods with your grandkids, all while telling them about the Easy Bake Oven you or your sister had when you were young. This toy can link the two of you even when you’re not around — simply ask what they’ve been baking lately, tell them how good it sounds and ask if they’ll make you a batch the next time you come visit. Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker (The Ice Cream Ball) What goes better with cake than ice cream? Fortunately, the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker is the perfect complement to the Easy Bake Oven. Making the ice cream is more like undertaking a fun science experiment, and once all the ingredients are in place even more fun begins. This is because the Ice Cream Ball must be shaken for 10 to 15 minutes to mix all the ingredients. While shaking it can be fun, what’s even more fun is playing hot potato with it. This ball is so compact and lightweight that it’s easy to take this project outside if parents think it’s too messy for the house, granted the weather is nice. It's also perfect for camping trips. Star Wars Star Wars Science - Force Trainer This is one interesting toy, especially for Star Wars fans. This toy actually allows kids to use their brain waves (aka the Force) to elevate a ball in a tube. Not only is this concept fairly unique within the toy realm, but Star Wars fans will delight in advancing through the 15 levels, starting at Padawan and ending at Jedi Master, with the help of Yoda. Though you two can’t use the toy at the same time, this is as much a spectator sport as it is an interactive toy. Your grandkids will delight every time you move the ball, while they’ll feel endless pride as they advance through the levels. Just be sure to buy more than one if you’ll see multiple grandkids around the same age at Christmas — no need to start any fights. For Older Grandkids Wii Sports Resort If your teenage or college-age grandchildren already have the Wii — and chances are they do — then a pack of trendy interactive sports games should be much appreciated. Kids, even older ones, love to show off their skills and find it both exciting and entertaining when grandparents join in on very ungrandparent-like activities, such as basketball, wakeboarding or skydiving. If you’re not up for jumping out of a plane, then the next best thing is jumping out of a virtual plane. You can also take turns teaching each other playing strategies: let the grandkids show you how to wakeboard, and show them how to achieve the perfect golf swing. Bop It Extreme 2 It may not be rocket science, but the Bop It is actually quite hard to master. It relies on fast reaction skills to keep up with the unit’s commands, which are hurled at the players at an increasingly rapid pace. This can be a solo game or one for the whole family. The best way for grandparents to get in on the fun is to take over one command, which should be based on an action they’re comfort with. This means that if you have arthritis you might want to man the Spin It command, as the slightest touch will cause the wheel to spin. If you have sufficient dexterity, feel free to take over Twist It or Pull It. Those who still find the game too fast-moving can ask the grandkids to point to them when they need to activate their function. Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 (Blue) These cameras are so reasonably priced that you’ll want to buy one for yourself as well. This is a good thing, since you’ll be able to experience video chat the way your grandchildren will when you’re talking to them. The LifeCam provides clear sound, which is amplified by acoustic noise blockers, and a clear picture that maintains its integrity even when the camera zooms, tilts or pans — a feature that’s ideal for college kids who want to show you their new dorm. The Beatles: Rock Band You like the Beatles, your grandkids like the Beatles — so why not enjoy them together? Growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, chances are you wanted to join a band at some point during your life. Your grandkids will likely feel the same way, if they don’t already. The beauty of the Rock Band series is that even those without talent can still jam like rock stars; it’ll just be on a plastic guitar in the living room instead of on a Fender in Madison Square Garden. Decide whether you want to be John, Paul, George or Ringo (and for added conversation, discuss why) and get to it. If you’re not able to work your fingers as quickly as the guitar requires you can still get in on the action. Be the lead singer. Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials There are few activities that can bring the generations together better than tracing one’s genealogy and creating a family tree. This can be an especially meaningful gift for both you and your grandchildren as long as you make it fun and interesting, and not a tedious, task-intensive project. Let the kids chart their own course, picking up on the leads that interest them. You can follow along with them and fill in information that isn’t readily available through all the advisable avenues. When you're done the two of you will have the perfect gift for the generation between you, the parents.