Birthday Present Dilemma

Kapla wooden building blocks. Expensive but last forever and come in a nice sturdy box. They are small wooden planks all the same size. My 12 yr old grandson has played with it since he was 3 and still does!

mabon2, why so sneery.

A book Chapatti Moon is lovely. Funny and interactive. I am a story lady and this is loved by all ages.

My grandson was 5 last month. I bought him a set of magnetic blocks, he loves them and so does his 10 year old sister.

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

I would ask his parents if he has a list of things he wants. Or is there something he has mentioned.

Otherwise a Amazon Gift Card. They have everything on there, books, toys, clothing etc.

My mother only ever gave books as gifts. Maybe a nice copy of Alice or Wind in the Willows? Her great grandchildren are very proud of the special bookshelf they each have with her books on. We used to take the grandchildren to Smyths toy shop and tell them how much they could spend. We would walk round with a trolley and they learnt to weigh up their choices and make decisions.

Swing ball

Swing all by TP toys. Can be played alone or by two. Fun and good for hand eye coordination.

Tickets to events could be a great idea, but you've got to make sure it's something age appropriate and he would be interested. Is asking the parents an option? That's the most efficient way because they can give you actual ideas or at least a direction, and then you may add something smaller from you personally (I usually make a Smartshow 3d video card as my grandkids live overseas).

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.

How about a subscription to a publication - the choice is huge, so you could consult his parents as to what he would like. Mine have loved the weekly treat.
And/ or " adopt" an animal, either from an international organisation, which will give regular updates, or a nearby animal park, where he can visit his adoptee.

Wicked Uncle is brilliant.

I am also a fan of Wicked Uncle- a great site with lots of choice.

I always ask the parents, also sometimes they get annoyed that they say what to buy and then everyone buys the same thing!

I'm getting my GS a portable badmington net!

I find outdoor toys are appreciated more in the summer.

I second Witzends suggestion of looking at the Wicked Uncle site. (they sell the 'sticky snails' there too.)
My grandson was delighted with a pre-paid credit card to a well known store, I suppose he felt grown up when he used it but he'd probably have been just as happy with money. I don't think he'd be happy if I told him I expected him to 'save' it however
It gets worse as they get older.

My gs loved his slug

I agree about the Slugs. 😬

PS, I just googled and the Sticky Slugs are available for £5.99 from Wicked Uncle.

Does he like Duplo? There seem to be an infinite number of different sets and he is unlikely to have them all.

My GCs liked Julia Donaldson and Peppa Pig books at that age, he may not have them all.

If he likes drawing and colouring in, he might need a top up of paper and pencils.

Perhaps his parents can give you some clues.

How about some cash for his savings account (assuming he has one) plus something little, e.g. a dinosaur sticker book? Usually popular at that sort of age. *

If you really want a bigger present, I’d suggest looking at Wicked Uncle, they have lots of suggestions by age/sex.

*And I forget where I got them, for a grandson of around the same age, but a pair of ‘sticky slugs’ in a sort of large matchbox was a massive hit! Maybe google ‘sticky slugs’?

His parents would probably have a better idea as to what he would like.