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My parents spoil their grandchildren with days out to the beach or local farms, or with ice creams & toys. And with the time that my husband and I just don't have. Being with their grandparents is a treat in itself for my kids!

Treats are earned for helping out at home voluntarily; for enquiring about someone's welfare without being prompted; for demonstrating good manners without being reminded or for achieving good results at school or at an extracurricular activity.

All treats begin with recognition and verbal praise. Additionally, the children usually like to choose things to have rather than things to do. Having said that, now that they are getting older, they will occasionally ask for a day out, instead.

Books, toys and games are the most popular choices for treats but they also appreciate money if they are saving for something special. They have never asked for anything that cost a silly amount or was in any way inappropriate for their age or for the reward.

I was given sweets and fizzy drinks as a treat when I was young. I never, ever promise or give food of any sort as a treat.

We reward the older grandchild with books in whatever he is interested in, usually to do with animals birds or insects.The younger grandchildren like sticker books,colouring books, Lego, and crayons.

I'd make a distinction between treats and rewards. Treats don't have to be earned; rewards are for doing something well.

Exactly Anno

When the GC stay for tea and overnight then we have a special pudding as their treat. Rewards include time on my iPad

The only treats my grandchildren get off me is trips out to the park or beach and a picnic we have brought with us. Money is tight time is free.

My DGCs tend to get lots of stuff bought by their other grandparents, so I usually only buy things for Christmas and birthdays. I usually buy small things and give their parents money to put in their savings accounts.
I do buy books from time to time, though, and give them money for their piggy banks.
What they all love apparently is getting things through the post, so every few weeks I send them a postcard each.
When we go to stay (they all live some distance away) we take them out to places that their parents don't really have time to do.

With my own DC, I used to buy books and 'worthwhile' toys like Lego and Galt toys, but their only treat was regular pocket money with which they were allowed to buy a small packet of sweets once a week [hard mother emoticon]

janea!

Bet they've got lovely teeth though!

I did let them have cake or ice cream for tea if they'd eaten their main course

If you don't see them often, or even if you do, send them postcards or short letters. Use coloured pens and stickers if you, or they, like them. Even pre-school children love getting post addressed to them. Post them an occasional small surprise package. Send teenagers brief supportive texts asking how their week is going. If an email is amusing, amazing or beautiful forward it to them.

janeainsworth: apology - I hadn't seen your mention of postcards until I posted. Don't they just love them?!

I want to be 'Grand' it's in the title so I spoil my grand children all I want. If I have it I'll get it, I love watching there faces light up when they get a new present, they deserve it x

My grandchildren love coming to stay with us or even just to come for a day. We do cooking - they love to make their own pizzas with toppings they fancy - playing hide-n-seek in the garden, sitting in our little summerhouse at dusk to watch the badgers come to feed and generally helping around the house and garden. They seem to think it is a very special time and so do we!

We like to treat our granddaughter Sophie to experiences like the Snow White ice show. She got so involved she captivated everyone with her dancing to the music. Every one went home with a smile on their faces, and not just because of the brilliant show.

I find the small treats of going to the park with a picnic are the most appreciated. However the eldest is a huge Lego fan and a few years ago I took him to LEGOLAND in Windsor, for a Birthday treat. He absolutely loved it. Needless to say a lot of the big, big Lego's on sale in the shop were far too expensive or me to get him. It did not stop him looking, admiring and dreaming :-)

They do love them Elrel and I hadn't really realised how much.
DGD1 who is 5 and lives in the USA can just about read by herself now and is starting to write - while we were there recently she laboriously composed a letter to her Aunt Liz in England.

I can't wait for the first 'Dear Grandma'! Treats are a two-way thing, aren't they?

My grand daughters think baking at Grandma's is a huge treat, they love taking their creations home as presents for Mum and Dad. Now that they're a bit older they have started giving a running commentary on what they're doing, as if they were presenting a cookery programme on TV, which is hilarious. Another big treat is being allowed to play outside in the rain! Or get their clothes soaking wet running through the sprinkler. We put money into their money boxes intermittently, it's also a big treat to count it to see if they have enough to buy something they need/want. Then we help them find it on the Internet and they dutifully pay up. The big birthday treat is trip to ToysRus. We get a trolley, and the birthday girl is able to put in anything they want. But as soon as there are three items in the trolley they have to put something back if they choose something else (sorry store staff!). The non birthday one can choose one small treat, same rule applies. This was a risky strategy I know, and means I have to spend up to two hours trailing round behind them, but I've never had a huge bill, one year my 10 year old GD eventually chose a hula hoop, a squishy ball and a model tiger - less than £10!

I reward good behaviour with an extra chapter of Sea Quest at bedtime for DGS, after we had great fun making popcorn fish for tea. DGD isn't quite into rewards but I give them both money for treats if they go away for a few days. DVD nearly 6 so I think we're going to be talking about a little regular pocket money soon.

Grandson is easy to please its usually a cheese twist and a doughnut

I probably overdo it for their birthdays and at Christmas but apart from that it is mainly by simply giving them my undivided time. The eldest is only five so they don't really need much but if they have a hobby when they are older I will probably buy whatever they need whenever they need it.

I do not see my grandaughter a lot as she lives a long way away from me.
To her the best treat I can give is my time, so when I am with her we spend time together, mostly making things. Our last venture was ice dying some material, and then, when it was dry, making it into a bag she could carry on her back. Our time together is not always so productive, sometimes it is just playing I spy or making cakes, but as long as it is done together, she is happy

I love to treat my grandchildren with a day out usually at a soft play area where there is outdoor activities for my older grandson. Not always that easy as they are aged 2 and 13! As I can only see them once or twice a month I try to fit in as much as possible into our day. It usually works out just fine depending on the weather! The most important part for me is just being able to spend some quality time with them and seeing their happy smiling faces ... you can't put a price on that!

In comparison to when my children were young there wasn't a lot of choice of places to go for family days out but we were just as happy going to a swing park and having an ice cream as a treat.

I have 4 grandchildren from ages 4 to 8 and they are all very keen on building Lego (which we usually buy!)
The youngest loves to be read to and afterwards she looks at the pages and makes up her own version out loud!
My 8 year old grandson has a reading age of 11, according to his school, and is on the go constantly, wearing us both out.
All 4 of them have very different personalities and they are a pleasure to take care of,

I like to buy clothes for my three grandchildren as I love shopping for cute little outfits and it helps my daughter as well. For example, my grandson loves his new Spider-Man swimming trunks and is looking forward to wearing them on holiday. He also loves Lego which I sometimes buy him for a present.

my grand daughters love it when we play together. I roll around the floor , jump on the bed, chase them around the house,make dens, play hairdressers and beauty parlours, sing songs and dance. the older one likes to play teachers but I'm very naughty and get told off a lot!
my relatives used to give me a tenner or sweets which I loved and still do !! (wink)