A First Communion gift that's about the child
First Communion gifts tend to look alike: a cross necklace, a medal, a rosary, a children's Bible, a keepsake box. They all have their place, but a child can end up with two or three of the same thing. If you're a godparent or grandparent looking for something more personal, a personalised colouring book is one option: photos of the child and the people around them, from their baptism to today, as colour pages and pages to colour. This guide also covers other ideas, religious or not, for boys and girls alike.
A few examples that work for this case
First Communion gift ideas
A First Communion gift depends on two things: what the family expects (a religious keepsake or something more neutral) and who's giving it. Godparents traditionally give the most meaningful piece, often jewellery. Grandparents, aunts and uncles round things out. It's worth checking with each other first, so the child doesn't open three crosses.
1.A cross necklace or a medal
The classic, often from the godparents, in gold or sterling silver, sometimes engraved with the date. Something to keep for life. Check with the family first: the child may already have one from their baptism.
2.A rosary, prayer book or children's Bible
A natural pick for a practicing family, especially if the child likes to read or already goes to Sunday school. If faith plays a smaller part at home, a beautiful book on a subject the child loves will be just as welcome.
3.A personalised colouring book
Photos of the child and their family, from baptism to First Communion, turned into colour pages and pages to colour. A personal gift with no religious content, which suits any family. It won't replace a symbolic keepsake if the family wants one; it goes alongside it. Allow a week or two to gather the photos.
4.An engraved keepsake
A memory box, a night light, a frame with the date of the day. These find a spot in the child's room and bring the day back to mind. Double-check the spelling of the name before you order.
5.Money in a card
In many families, especially in North America, a card with cash or a contribution to a savings account is a common First Communion gift from relatives. Practical, and easy to pair with something small to unwrap.
6.A day out with their godparent
A concert, an amusement park, a day for just the two of you. At this age, kids remember time spent together in detail. Hand it over on the day as a card, so there's still something to open.
First Communion gift for a boy or a girl: does it change anything?
Less than store aisles suggest. Gifts get sorted by colour, but what a child enjoys depends far more on personality and age. A quiet boy who draws all the time will love a colouring book as much as any girl. A sporty girl might rather have a day out than a necklace. Ask the parents what the child is into right now, and start from there.
Age matters more than anything. First Communion usually happens around 7 or 8, often in second grade in the US. At that age, kids still love to colour and love seeing themselves in pictures, which makes a colouring book of their own family a good fit. For an older child receiving the sacrament later, a more grown-up keepsake may suit them better, unless they enjoy drawing.
Whether the family experiences the day mainly as a moment of faith or mostly as a family celebration, a personal gift that respects the occasion always goes over well. Just steer clear of joke gifts or anything unrelated to the child.
Putting together a First Communion keepsake book
The book works as a thread from baptism to First Communion: a few photos of the child as a baby, the baptism day with their godparents, then highlights from the years since, like a birthday, a vacation or a family gathering. Photos from religious education classes or a retreat, if you have them, fit in too.
Choose sharp photos where faces are easy to see. Pictures taken inside a church are often dark, so favour the ones from outside the church or at the meal afterward. To include photos from the day itself, give the book after the celebration, once you've collected the best shots. Plenty of godparents give jewellery on the day and the book a few weeks later.
You pick the cover title, the occasion (My First Communion, for example), a dedication printed on its own page, and the 'from' line. The child's first name goes on the title page. Every page is checked before printing.
When to order a First Communion gift
First Communions usually take place in spring, often between April and June, on a date set by each parish. Ask the parents as soon as it's known. For a book that arrives before the ceremony, order about three weeks ahead: allow 5 to 7 business days between the order and shipping, then delivery. Spring is busy for families, so keep a little slack.
If you're running late, a gift card slips into a card on the day: the child and their parents choose the photos afterward, including ones from the ceremony. The printed book costs £19.99 to £51.99 depending on the size.
Our tip for a First Communion
Build the book around your bond with the child. If you're the godparent, open with a photo from the baptism, then a few moments you've shared since: birthdays, vacations, days out. Finish with a recent photo of the two of you. With the parents' blessing, add a portrait of the whole family. For the dedication, a few honest lines beat a famous quote: tell the child what you love watching grow in them. One practical note: at 7 or 8, kids colour with real care, so pick photos with some background detail around the people.
Recommended format
24-page book, £34.99
Hardback
12 photos are enough to cover the years between baptism and First Communion, with plenty of pages for a child who loves to colour.
Create the First Communion bookHow we make your book
Printed on demand by our print partner, close to your delivery address. Square 21.6 cm format, 90 gsm uncoated inner paper that holds pencils and water-based markers well, hardback on the 12 and 24-photo formats (saddle-stitched on the 6-photo format).
- 21.6 cmsquare format
- Stays flat when open on the table, the right size for colouring.
- 90 gsmmatte uncoated paper
- A grain that grips coloured pencils and won't bleed with markers.
- Soft or hardcover
- Softcover for the 6 photo format, rigid hardback for the 12 / 24.
- 5 to 7days to ship
- Printed as a single copy by a professional printer, then shipped with tracking.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give for a First Communion?
Traditionally a cross, a medal or a rosary, often from the godparents, while other relatives choose a book, an engraved keepsake or money in a card. For something more personal, a personalised colouring book brings together photos of the child and their family, from baptism to today. It pairs well with a symbolic keepsake without doubling up.
What's the difference between First Communion and Confirmation?
In the Catholic Church, First Communion usually happens around age 7 or 8, when the child receives the Eucharist for the first time. Confirmation comes later, often in the teenage years, with the timing set by each diocese. Both are celebrated with family, and gifts tend to follow the child's age: playful for a 7-year-old, more grown-up for a teenager.
When does First Communion take place?
There's no single date: each parish sets its own, most often in spring, between April and June. Ask the parents for the date as soon as possible. To have the book in hand before the ceremony, order about three weeks ahead, since it takes 5 to 7 business days before shipping, plus delivery time.
What should a godparent give for First Communion?
Godparents often give the most symbolic gift: a cross, a medal, a rosary or a piece of jewellery. To mark your bond, a book that retraces the years you've shared with the child since their baptism means a lot, because it shows what you've lived together. The two combine well: the keepsake on the day, the book a few weeks later.
Is the book right for a family that isn't very religious?
Yes. There's nothing religious in the book: it's made of the photos you choose, with a dedication you write. It suits a devout family, who can include photos from the ceremony, just as well as a family that mostly sees the day as a happy celebration. That makes it an easy gift when you're not sure where everyone stands.
Is a colouring book too young for a First Communion child?
Not at 7 or 8: most kids that age love colouring, and pages made from detailed photos give them something to get absorbed in. For an older child who doesn't enjoy it, the book keeps its colour pages and works as a keepsake of the day. If you're unsure, ask the parents before ordering.
Our personalised books made from your photos
Three ways to turn your family photos into an activity book, from free colouring to guided play.
- Personalised colouring bookEach photo becomes a colour keepsake page and the same scene to colour freely.
- Personalised colour by numberYour photos as numbered zones with a colour legend: guided colouring, true to the memory.
- Personalised dot to dotThe drawing of your photo appears as you connect the numbers, then gets coloured in.
Ready to create your book?
Every page is checked before printing.
Create the First Communion bookRead more
Practical guide
Everfold, My Colorful World, Us in Colors and Memory Pencil: one page per photo, or two?
Everfold, My Colorful World and Us in Colors turn each photo into one black-and-white line-art page. Memory Pencil, which wrote this comparison, makes two: a colour reference page of the memory, then the same scene to colour.
Practical guide
How to choose a dot-to-dot book your child will actually finish
Between a child just discovering numbers and one who can follow a long sequence, the right book is not the same. Real difficulty, readability, number of dots, themes: the guide to choosing well.
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