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At what age do grandchildren give their grandparents presents themselves?

(59 Posts)
Cabbie21 Sat 27-Dec-25 14:14:39

Rather than just being included in gifts bought and given by their parents?
My grandchildren are all young adults. They still get gifts from me, but none of them has started to give me a gift themselves.
Maybe when they have left home and live independently.?
Or never? Or if they have a special relationship with one grandparent in particular? I have no idea. My own grandparents had all died by the time I was 12 so it is outside my experience.

nanna8 Sun 28-Dec-25 05:44:45

Cards but no gifts from any of them. Most cards are from the youngest aged 7. Their ages range up to 32 ( yes, we all started pretty young ! )They do thank me for gifts, though.

Cadenza123 Sun 28-Dec-25 06:42:26

When they started working. 18 - 22.

Imarocker Sun 28-Dec-25 08:43:22

I don’t know. I’m still waiting.

SueEH Thu 01-Jan-26 14:03:19

I don’t remember ever giving my grandparents separate gifts to the “family gift” bought by my parents. Likewise. my adult children haven’t given individual presents to their grandparents (the final one died before Christmas). I’d just always buy something and put “from all of us” on the label.

Redlisa Thu 01-Jan-26 14:18:59

Mine already do, even the 2 still living at home. The 17 yr old gave me a voucher to walk my dog ten times and my 6 yr old gave me a picture she had made. The older ones, 19-25 always buy me something and I cherish the thought that goes into every gift.

Menopauselbitch Thu 01-Jan-26 14:33:52

AuntieE

Never would be my guess if they are all more or less grown up now,

As a child too young to handle money, I went with my mother to the shops and she looked at presents for my grandparents.
She would pick out one or two small things, and ask me, and later my younger sister, what we would like to give our grandparents, aunts and other grown-ups who gave us presents and who exchanged presents with our parents.

As schoolchildren we were given a little extra pocket money in December to use for buying Christmas presents and were firmly told that we could not come and ask for more!

Before going to the shops we made out a list each of those we had to buy presents for (including sister) and then did our Christmas shopping.

This way we learned early that giving presents is an exchange of gifts.

Nowadays a lot of children never learn this as they are included in the gifts their parents buy.

We were too, when we were babies and afterwards if the presents were to distant relatives or acquaintances rather than close relatives or friends. The gift tag would be inscribed as "from the X family" or " from Dr. and Mrs.X and their daughters."

This 👏👏

monami Thu 01-Jan-26 14:40:59

never, they tag on to their parents gifts to you, but spend hundreds on their mates

monami Thu 01-Jan-26 14:42:47

they dont, their parents add their names to your pair of slippers from the, the grandkids are busy spending their money on themselves and mates

GrandmasueUK Thu 01-Jan-26 14:47:03

My 8 year old grandson gave me a recipe that he had written, for French toast, including the words, ‘dip the bread into the egg and count to 20, so it absorbs the egg, then turn it over and do the same again.’ He is bilingual, with Portuguese being his first language. He also cooked it for me as well. My 10 year old grandson painted me a watercolour painting of a tree, with the paints I bought for him last year. These were just perfect gifts.

Nandalot Thu 01-Jan-26 14:56:08

I actually had my first ‘bought’ present from DgC twins 14. Apparently, they went off by themselves in town with their mum and bought her, DH and I a present each. On return, they snuck off upstairs to wrap them. They looked so excited and happy that it was a present in itself.

WelshPoppy Thu 01-Jan-26 15:17:32

I never bought for my grandmother, didn't see her often and never felt welcome when we did. However from the age of 8 I saved my pocket money and always bought a present for my mum, dad, teacher, best friends and my 'aunty' next door (neighbour). It might only have been bath cubes, hand cream or sweets, etc., but I wanted to give from me. My granddaughter uses her savings to buy something for her mum (parents are separated, don't know what she does for her father). Hubby and I don't expect her to buy for us but hope she might when she's earning.

MeowWow Thu 01-Jan-26 15:48:11

I have 4 grandchildren ages 16, 15, 13 and 10. The 13 and 10 year olds have been buying me birthday and Christmas gifts for years - thanks to their mom. I’ve never had anything, not even a card, from the 16 and 15 year olds and I don’t think they’ll start now. The older two are my son’s children, the younger two my daughter's. I’ve always bought for all my grandchildren and will continue to do so whilst I can afford it.

Ilovedragonflies Thu 01-Jan-26 16:16:01

As I've yet to receive even a thank you from either of my DGS for any gifts sent to them over the years (now 13 and 11), I'd be astounded to receive a card let alone a gift chosen by them...

I apologise if I sound a little off but they each have phones and could, perhaps, send a text. It doesn't appear to have crossed my DDs mind to nudge them into it. (As that's not how I raised her, it rankles somewhat.)

MickyD Thu 01-Jan-26 16:34:44

I actually think it's a bit ridiculous for GPs to EXPECT presents from anyone. Xmas - apart from the whole Jesus side of things - is about the magic and excitement for the children. Yes if someone buys their GP a gift that’s wonderful but I think it’s very immature to expect it.

Janet1946 Thu 01-Jan-26 16:53:07

As we are all adults now in our family, we use Elfster, an app. Elfster matches us up with one member of the family for whom we buy one present - we all agree on an amount to spend. Everyone receives one gift - no large Visa bills in January and everyone is happy not to receive things they never wanted!

Juicylucy Thu 01-Jan-26 17:26:02

My eldest GD started for first time this Christmas she’s 20 and working, but saving to go travelling so I was surprised and pleased at same time.

4allweknow Thu 01-Jan-26 17:38:07

All but one GP had died before I was born and the one I can only just remember I've no idea if he received presents in my name. I suspect not. I have a 23 and 15 year old GC and do receive small gifts at Christmas with their name attached but sure bought by parents. Don't feel I would expect to receive gifts when they are adults, by that time I will probably be long departed anyway.

Polwal Thu 01-Jan-26 17:49:20

We have two grandchildren that buy for us and two that don't ...different families. Similar ages. Our grandparents had died before we were of an age to buy so don't know if there is a right it wrong

Wyllow3 Thu 01-Jan-26 17:52:00

I got a box with assorted goodies. Very thoughtful DiL and DS include bits and bobs. Oh, and MnS vouchers for foodie treats, too.One was a handmade pic from a grandchild as she's done some art with me.

^All I want from them is that they thrive and loved and I know they care. They will carry my love till the day I am no more.

I dont feel the need for pressies, and I give them because I want to.

Madgran77 Thu 01-Jan-26 18:19:26

Mine have now started buying or making us a present themselves since they got an allowance when they went to secondary school. They are 13 and 12. I have no idea what will happen as they grow up.

Autumncolours Thu 01-Jan-26 18:25:44

Never, in my experience. Even as adults we were never expected to buy presents for relatives other than our parents and siblings though my aunties continued to put money in our birthday cards right into our forties! I always sent them Christmas cards but not birthday cards or gifts - my parents made it clear that was their responsibility. I send cards and gifts to my nieces and nephews and their spouses and my goddaughter (mostly in their 30s now) but have never had a gift or birthday card from them myself, following the pattern my parents set.

Hellsbelles Thu 01-Jan-26 19:03:57

Mine are 12 & 14 and I don't even receive a thanks for the stuff I send ( don't live local ) but I think thats a fault of the parents .

M0nica Thu 01-Jan-26 19:51:06

The answer is as long as apiece of string. My DGC are 15 and 18. I have no idea whether they bought my presents from them themselves or whether their parents bought them, if they paid, I have no idea when they started to do so.

anna7 Thu 01-Jan-26 20:29:20

I don't care to be honest. I only have one 14 year old granddaughter and I try and buy her something she likes but she doesn't have much of her own money and I don't need anything. She has in the past written me little poems telling me she loves me and that means more to me than a present I don't need.

Allira Thu 01-Jan-26 20:36:08

DIL used to help them shop for us but this year they have weekend jobs and were so pleased to give us gifts they had gone and bought themselves.

Good choices too.