Choosing a toy for your grandchild should be one of the enjoyable bits of being a grandparent, but knowing what to buy isn't always easy. Children’s interests change, you may not know what is already filling the toy box, and toys themselves can look rather different from those you remember.
A good place to start is with four things: your grandchild’s age, what they enjoy doing, the type of present you want to give and how much you would like to spend. You don't need to know the name of the latest must-have toy to choose something they'll enjoy.
At Mulberry Bush, we've been helping families choose toys since 1996, and grandparents have always been an important part of that. Here’s how to narrow down the choices and find a present that feels right for your grandchild.
Where should you start when choosing a toy for your grandchild?
Start with what you know rather than browsing hundreds of toys and hoping something jumps out.
Age is the easiest way to reduce the number of possibilities. After that, think about your grandchild’s current interests. Perhaps they love animals, vehicles or dolls. They might spend ages drawing and making things, building, playing imaginary games, doing puzzles or finding out how things work.
If you don't see your grandchild regularly, don't be afraid to ask their parent what they're interested in now. You don't have to ask for the name of a particular toy. A simple “What is she enjoying at the moment?” can give you all the direction you need while leaving you to choose the present yourself.
It's also worth deciding on a comfortable budget before you start shopping.
If you know some combination of your grandchild's age, interests and your preferred price range, the Mulberry Bush Gift Finder on our homepage is a useful place to start. You can use the information you have to narrow down suitable gift ideas.
How important is the age recommendation on a toy?
The age guidance on an individual toy should always be checked before buying, even if you know your grandchild well.
It's tempting to think back to what your own children played with at the same age, but the individual product information is a much more useful guide when you're shopping now.
You can also browse Mulberry Bush toys by age, from baby toys through to gifts for older children. Once you've narrowed the selection by age, you can concentrate on finding something that fits the child's interests.
Remember that children of the same age don't necessarily enjoy the same things. Age is a useful starting point, rather than the whole answer.
Choose a toy that fits what your grandchild loves doing
A toy is much easier to choose when you think about how your grandchild likes to spend their time rather than simply what toys are popular for their age.
A three-year-old fascinated by cars might be delighted by the Stack & Count Garage. Suitable from age 3, it has ten wooden cars that can be stacked in its parking tower, with a sliding counter that changes as cars are added and removed. It combines vehicle play with opportunities for sorting, counting and matching.
Another child of exactly the same age might ignore the cars and head straight for the crayons, dolls or dressing-up clothes.
For an older grandchild who asks endless questions about how things work, a science kit could be a better fit. The Glow Lab, for example, contains experiments exploring glow-in-the-dark effects.
The important thing is not to find a toy that every child their age is supposed to like. It's to notice the things your grandchild keeps coming back to.
Traditional toys can make lovely presents from grandparents
There is something rather nice about giving a grandchild a type of toy you recognise from childhood, particularly when it still suits the way they like to play.
Wooden toys, building blocks, dolls houses, train sets, shape sorters and traditional games can all make appealing presents without relying on a passing craze.
Noah's Shape Sorter Ark is a good example for a younger grandchild. Suitable from 18 months, the painted wooden ark has wheels and comes with Mr and Mrs Noah and pairs of wooden animals. The animals can be posted through the corresponding openings, while the removable roof and sliding hull door allow them to become part of imaginative play too. The ark can also be personalised with a name.
For a preschooler who loves vehicles, the wooden Double Decker London Bus is suitable from age 3 and offers a familiar vehicle for imaginative play.
The key is to choose a traditional toy because it suits the child, rather than simply because you remember something similar yourself.
If this is the type of present you have in mind, have a look at our guide to wooden toys that make the perfect gift for more ideas.
Educational gifts don't have to feel like homework
If you'd like to give something with an educational element, start with what the child finds interesting.
For younger children, that might mean a toy where matching, sorting or counting is simply part of the play. The Stack & Count Garage is a good example because the child is still playing with wooden cars rather than sitting down to complete a lesson.
Older children might prefer science experiments, construction sets, puzzles or games that give them something interesting to investigate or solve.
A useful rule is to choose the interest first and the educational element second. A science set is unlikely to become a favourite simply because an adult thinks science is worthwhile. For a child who is already fascinated by experiments, however, it can be a very different story.
You can browse our craft and educational toys if that sounds like your grandchild.
When is a personalised present a good choice for a grandchild?
Personalisation can work particularly well when you want a present to feel individually chosen, perhaps for Christmas, a birthday, a new baby or another family occasion.
Our Wooden Name Puzzles are made using the child's own name, with versions available for different name lengths. As well as being something to play with, the finished puzzle is unmistakably theirs.
There are plenty of other personalised gifts for children, including toys and gifts for different ages.
The practical thing to remember is that personalised presents usually need to be ordered earlier than standard toys. Check the delivery information on the individual product before ordering, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.
If you like this idea but aren't sure what to choose, our guide to personalised gift ideas for children goes into much more detail.
What can you buy for a grandchild who already has lots of toys?
When a grandchild seems to have everything, try thinking about what the present gives you or them to do rather than trying to find an object unlike anything they already own.
A game is a particularly useful option because it can become something you play together. Children of the World, for example, is suitable for ages 5–10 and can be played by two to six players. Players travel around a picture map of the world and collect stamps in their passports, and the game can be played with or without questions depending on the children taking part.
Other possibilities include a puzzle that offers a fresh challenge, a craft or science activity they can complete, or an addition to something they already enjoy. If they have a wooden railway, dolls house or favourite type of small-world toy, for example, an accessory that expands their existing play may be more welcome than starting another collection.
Traditional children's games can also be good choices when you'd like a present that can come out when family visits. Just check the stated age and number of players before choosing.
When should grandparents ask the parents before buying?
For everyday presents, you probably don't need parental approval. For larger or more expensive toys, a quick conversation can be very worthwhile.
It's particularly sensible to ask before buying:
- a large dolls house, play kitchen, workbench or other toy that needs permanent floor space
- an expensive main present, in case somebody else has already bought something similar
- an addition to a collection when you're unsure what the child already owns
- something that needs particular accessories to be used
- a toy where you're uncertain about its suitability for that individual child.
This doesn't spoil the surprise. You can still choose the exact present yourself after checking the practical details.
If you're hoping to give a substantial Christmas present, coordinating with parents can also prevent the unfortunate arrival of two enormous dolls houses on Christmas morning.
How much should grandparents spend on a toy?
There is no correct amount a grandparent should spend on a grandchild.
Set a budget that feels comfortable for you and appropriate for the occasion. A £15 game that becomes something you regularly play together can be every bit as welcome as a much larger present.
You may also decide to spend differently depending on the occasion. A Christmas or milestone birthday present might have a different budget from a little gift brought along on a visit.
Starting with a price range can actually make choosing easier. Rather than browsing everything, you can concentrate on finding something your grandchild will enjoy within the amount you wanted to spend.
What if you don't know what your grandchild wants for Christmas?
If you're buying for Christmas and don't have a wish list, there are a few ways to gather clues without asking for the exact product.
Ask their parents what they're interested in at the moment. Listen to what your grandchild talks about when you see or speak to them. You could also look through a toy catalogue together and see what catches their eye.
We've written before about the simple joy of a toy catalogue. Browsing together can be an enjoyable activity in itself, and you may come away with a much better idea of whether they're currently interested in animals, building, crafts, vehicles, imaginative play or something completely different.
For older grandchildren, interests can become an even more useful guide than broad age categories. Our screen-free gift ideas for older children are another useful place to look if you've reached the stage where you're hearing “I don't know” whenever you ask what they'd like.
A quick check before choosing your grandchild's present
If you've narrowed your choice down to two or three toys, ask yourself:
- Is the toy suitable for their age?
- Does it fit something they're genuinely interested in now?
- Do they already own it, or something very similar?
- Is there enough room for it at home?
- Does it need additional pieces or accessories?
- Is it within the budget I wanted to spend?
- If it's personalised, have I allowed enough time for it to be made and delivered?
You don't need to find the biggest present or the toy everyone else is buying. A good gift for a grandchild is one chosen with that particular child in mind.
At Mulberry Bush, we've been a family-run toy retailer since 1996, with traditional and unusual toys remaining an important part of our range. If you're still deciding, you can browse toys by age, have a look through our wooden toys and personalised gifts, or use the Gift Finder on our homepage to narrow the choice by the information you already have.
