Step grandson and Christmas presents

My fall back present when I'm stuck is to get a single use camera + a small album to hold the resultant photographs. Everything to do with Dr Who is very popular at the moment. Lots of Annuals & other Books about him in the shops.

Why not ask your son what his partner's son is interested in?

My lot love Lego and that has a huge price range so there would be something in your price range. In my experience of 9 DGC both boys and girls like it. Hope that helps.

Even if he already has some Lego, there's almost always room for more. If you buy a model for him to make up, the bricks can eventually be absorbed into his general collection.

My DGSs have all liked lego and never got bored with the add on's that they where bought I think now that there is Star Wars & Space Age lego sets so you are sure to find something that will excite him in the range.best of luck with your choice.

Lego or Playmobile....endless choice of themes and abilities and its got longevity....my 26 year old daughter still won't pass it on to her neice & nephew...says she's not ready to give it up!! - its even got a decent 2nd hand price!

My grandsons enjoy lego, they also like superhero figurines.

Skylanders figures are all the rage for 8 year olds at the moment. Or, how about a go-karting gift card for a local track? They get to dress up like racing drivers. The 8 year old in my life loves baseball, so is getting a baseball and glove.

You cant go wrong with the star wars lego. spiderman iron man and superman
are also popular.Think lego have superhero sets too. I work in a school and these are the toys the boys talk about most.

Transformer type Robots are always popular, they come in a few age ranges. Lego as suggested. Anything Star Wars or Dr Who.

My vote goes to Lego too! There is Lego technic which is more challenging if he is quite mature but all the Star Wars etc that others recommend are popular in our house too!

We bought DGS1 who is almost 7 a walkie talkie which I am sure he will love together with a small magic set. John Lewis toy department was good.

My 9 year old grandson loves the Wimpy Kid books, the Tom Gates books and David Walliams' books if you want an idea for a stocking filler, or even a boxed set.

I always ask the parents what would be good Christmas presents for the GC. My DiL is brilliant and has never asked for anything that would break the bank. She often gives me an internet link to a suitable product but it's up to me to make the decision. I never know what they've already read, but I do know that both sets of GC have more Lego than they can possibly need.

Great minds Kittylester - have bought walkie talkie set for GCs to share - it will keep them amused. My daughter has developed a little, slightly dishonest, ploy of telling her children that the batteries have run out on the few toys they have that need them. Methinks she might have a couple of years left before the elder sees through this!

I try not to ask the parents what they think is a good idea as it drove me mad when my mum did that - they only got my take on their interests, personalities etc

Their best presents were often 'off the wall' things that my slightly dotty SiL bought them - sometimes they were awful but often something that would never have entered my head and gave them a different take on things.

I found the same, asking my son what my grandsons would like. I finally realised it was what my son really wanted them to have. I had a conversation with my GS 7 and he set me straight. While he likes lego it's not his favourite, computer games are, besides they have more lego than anyone I know. I do buy it for my one of my other grandsons though, he envies his cousins with all their lego.

Another gift I think is nice for older children is a telescope.

MiL asked 4-year-old DS what he wanted for Christmas - this was in July - and he said, 'a metal detector'. Need hardly say that he didn't get it.

It's worth having a look at www.compare4kids.co.uk/gifts - choose the sex, age and money you want to spend and there's a great selection of gifts which will take you through to each retailers individual website.

I've given two of my GSs little microscopes for Christmas at the age of 7. They were well received, especially by their dads.