Birthday Present Dilemma

And/ or " adopt" an animal, either from an international organisation, which will give regular updates

One Christmas I took out a subscription to the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs to sponsor a puppy each for my two grandchildren.
They both got a soft toy puppy and regular updates on "their" puppy's progress.
As each puppy "graduated" I kept the subscription going and they now have a new puppy to follow.

It's lovely that you're giving it the consideration it deserves. I learned from the presents a relative bought the GC that I will absolutely always ask the parents. For example, he bought our son a Harry Potter book - nice but he already had it. Well intentioned but a waste of money (he was offended when we asked if he kept the receipt). There are some great suggestions here but honestly who knows him better than his parents. I still ask my nieces and nephews unless I know they'd prefer money. If you really want to wing it, give the parents the receipt separately. My husband used to get a Boots voucher from his auntie every year. He had little use for it so exchanged it for cash with my MIL. The thought was kind so he never said.

Seapebble

It's lovely that you're giving it the consideration it deserves. I learned from the presents a relative bought the GC that I will absolutely always ask the parents. For example, he bought our son a Harry Potter book - nice but he already had it. Well intentioned but a waste of money (he was offended when we asked if he kept the receipt). There are some great suggestions here but honestly who knows him better than his parents. I still ask my nieces and nephews unless I know they'd prefer money. If you really want to wing it, give the parents the receipt separately. My husband used to get a Boots voucher from his auntie every year. He had little use for it so exchanged it for cash with my MIL. The thought was kind so he never said.

I always ask his parents what he would like .
They grow up so quickly and are always into different things . Every week he goes to squirrels, kung fu lesson, a swimming lesson and an horse riding lesson. He's a busy little bee ( his brother does the same )

The cinema and an Asian Lunch out ..

A film that the kids like at this time and either Chinese, with chop sticks - Fideos with strips of veal or prawns -- learning how to eat fideos or a "fast food" on the healthy side, Italian, a pizza for example or a lasagne.

V3ra

And/ or " adopt" an animal, either from an international organisation, which will give regular updates

I did the same for my GD and we’re now on our third guide dog. She loves getting the regular updates. The best present I ever bought when she was about five was a Tonni story box. You then buy little figures that, when you put them on the box, plays stories. There are hundred of age appropriate different stories. Now that she is nearly eight she enjoys the ones that tell jokes or interesting facts. Search for the Tonni store or on Amazon.

Mabon2 there is no need for rudeness , there are a number of reasons why Nanato3 may not want to ask the parents.

In general I find girls much easier to buy for .Girls usually like anything creative and The Works is a very useful shop .

I think that it's best to ask his parents.

My grandson is football mad and I try to buy him football themed gifts.
He used to like dinosaurs and has got bored with them. He doesn't like anything creative
and isn't an avid reader.
He's outgrown Duplo and prefers Lego.

Wicked Uncle is a very useful company
An Amazon gift card is a very good idea..

mabon2

Ask his PARENTS, - SIMPLE AND RELLY A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.

Are you really a Gran?

Part of Granhood is "magically" finding your GC a perfect gift that nobody else had thought of.

mabon2
Ask his PARENTS, - SIMPLE AND RELLY A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.”
I think some people come on here, as they do on other social media platforms, just to deliberately start an argument. I think we should all feel sorry for them, they must lead very sad lives.

My mum buys premium bonds for her great nephews now. She can easily add to their holdings for Christmas and birthdays. We always hope they’re going have a win, but it’s gradually building up into a little savings pot anyway.

Yes, Butterandjam. ‘Part of Granhood is "magically" finding your GC a perfect gift that nobody else had thought of.’
We bought our 2yo GS a little torch that projected pictures on the wall for Christmas (and put some more money in his ISA). For the first time ever he crept out of bed and back downstairs - his parents found him playing quietly in the dark front room with his torch.
We absolutely loved the fact that our relatively small and simple gift was such a hit.

Allsorts

I always asked their parent to make sure. I had bank accounts for all mine and put money in Christmas and birthdays and gave it to them at 18.

Yes, but it’s nice to have something to open on the day, and esp. at this age it doesn’t need to be anything expensive.

I never buy children premium bonds since a friend had real problems. GPs bought them for both children, they won the odd £25 all good. One child suddenly won a big prize, six figures. Parents thought OK we will share it between them, GPs said no it is that child's money, you have no right to split it and we will report it if you do.

So one child has alot of money and the other child doesn't, parents and GPs have fallen out.

I know the chances of a big prize are pretty small but it did make me think.

I think Mulberry Bush online toyshop has a better selection than Wicked Uncle and not quite so much plastic stuff.

I always conferred with the parents of our five grandchildren over birthday and Christmas gifts, I did buy small gifts as well, usually books or Lego. At that age our grandson loved Curious George, he was thrilled when we got him a Curious George tee shirt from American and he also loved Horrid Henry.

theworriedwell

I never buy children premium bonds since a friend had real problems. GPs bought them for both children, they won the odd £25 all good. One child suddenly won a big prize, six figures. Parents thought OK we will share it between them, GPs said no it is that child's money, you have no right to split it and we will report it if you do.

So one child has alot of money and the other child doesn't, parents and GPs have fallen out.

I know the chances of a big prize are pretty small but it did make me think.

Only a parent can buy PB's for a child and the Parent is then solely responsible for managing the childs account until they reach 16. Parent can with draw money m choose to reinvent wins in PB etc.

All GP's can do is give money to named account holder to invest for the kids.

We have EXACTLY this situatiON Two GC each have an PB account initially founded by us, set up and run by their dad, and various relatives and the kids themselves sometimes add gift money to it. . We ALL have PB accounts and announce the months winnings in family whatsapp every month, geat exceitement to the teens.

If GC#s have a small win (25) their dad matches same to the other childs account. If one kid has a larger win, he moves half to the oher account. The children are perfectly happy with this, so are we.

They are having a valuable lesson in savings, risk, and
what sharing and mutual support really means in a family . The latter has always been an important theme in our particular family ( sharing time, help, skills, tools meals, responsibility) we and our sons try to role model it for the grands; they are taking it on board.

I also always ask the parents, no point getting something they're already buying. My older GC get prepaid cards that they can use in most shops.
I usually take younger GC (on their own) to a shop like John Lewis that sells both clothes and toys. Many children now like clothes for presents I've found. Our local JL is very close to Hamleys, but they often just buy the first thing that they see there, or something like a remote control car which won't last for long.

Magenta8

I think Mulberry Bush online toyshop has a better selection than Wicked Uncle and not quite so much plastic stuff.

Is Mulberry Bush still going? I can't make their website work properly.

cc

Magenta8

I think Mulberry Bush online toyshop has a better selection than Wicked Uncle and not quite so much plastic stuff.

Is Mulberry Bush still going? I can't make their website work properly.

I'm just looking on the Mulberry Bush Website.
It is working.

My grandson, aged 4, loves the Brio construction set he plays with at our house. I have bought him a large set for his birthday next week

A present that went down well with my great nieces was fabric paints /pens plus a couple of plain white tee shirts for them to decorate.

Wicked Uncle is a great suggestion lots of unique ideas there! Magnetic blocks or a fun sticker book could also be perfect for sparking creativity at that age.