Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

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.

Allira Thu 01-Jan-26 20:38:07

Yes if someone buys their GP a gift that’s wonderful but I think it’s very immature to expect it

We don't expect anything and we are not immature.

knspol Thu 01-Jan-26 20:39:40

My granddaughter now age 16 has always bought me and late DH Christmas & B'day presents. When young of course they came via parents but since being age 10 or so she's always chosen them and paid for them herself and they've always been very thoughtful. She also always sends thank you letters.

Mmc123uk Thu 01-Jan-26 21:42:47

My children are 20 & 22 at Uni, my mum is 97 & lives with us. My kids buy my mum themselves, they have since they were about 15 with their own money.

henetha Thu 01-Jan-26 23:26:18

I taught my grandchildren when they were young to give their parents little gifts at Christmas and birthdays.
And their parents taught them to give gifts to grandparents
I get lovely gifts from 3 out of my 4 grandchildren. The other one ignores Christmas altogether as she hates it.

Jane43 Fri 02-Jan-26 00:54:35

We have received gifts from our 26 year old granddaughter since she was 16 and started her first part time job and this year we received small gifts from our two youngest grandchildren who are 16 and 15.

Franbern Fri 02-Jan-26 09:04:27

I love it when g.children give me something they have made themselves. So, I have paintings, embroidered pictures and other forms of handiwork, all proudly displayed in my home.

I would not expect any of them to give me something they have purchased until they are reasonably well established in employment.

Much to my very pleasant surprise my eldest g.daugher's partner gave me a lovely little present this xmas - a box of assorted teas. Yes, he is post-graduate and employed, but it was very unexpected.

I have never understood the idea of parents paying for 'presents' from young children. If the child wishes to give anyone (including their own parents and siblings), then they need to be taught to save up from their pocket money for that purpose.

Geordiegirl1 Fri 02-Jan-26 10:20:36

If their parents had never prompted them to ‘buy’ granny a little gift from when they were small, I can’t see it will happen for you now.

67notout Sat 10-Jan-26 13:28:47

Here it depends on the parents. Son’s children have enjoyed buying gifts since early teens with saved pocket money, then weekend earnings. It’s lovely because you never know what to expect. Adult gd gives the most wonderful presents but buys them through the year. However daughter’s late teens offspring never buy any thing, it’s as much as a surprise to them when gifts are opened as it is to the recipient 😂. I suspect the gifts come from their mum’s present drawer.