Why grandparents are the most likely family members to be in trouble at Christmas

Millions of grandparents admit to being told off - for spoiling their grandchildren on Christmas Day, a study has found.

A poll of 1,500 grans and granddads revealed one in four have faced a dressing down from their son or daughter for buying too many gifts or spending too much money on their little ones.

But parents may be justified as it also emerged the average grandparent will spend sh.8,800 on each of their beloved grandchildren at Christmas.

With an average of four grandchildren, that will see them splash out on gifts worth a total of sh.35,000 each year.

Across the nation, with an estimated 8.5 million shillings grandparents set to celebrate this year, that means a staggering 300 billion could be spent on presents.

Ian Atkinson, director of marketing at Sun Life, which commissioned the research, said: “Everyone knows a grandparent loves to spoil little ones at Christmas.

"But they can also struggle to know what they might want and end up buying presents that are either unwanted or inappropriate, so we have a free grandparent’s gift guide.”

The study also found almost half of grandparents say their favourite thing about the Christmas season is simply spending time with their grandkids, with one in five loving to give people presents.

But 80 per cent admit they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren, with more than one in twenty even having times where they worry they’ve not spent enough on gifts.

It also emerged that looking back on their own Christmases gone by, elderly Brits remember being most delighted by a bicycle or scooter, or a doll’s house.

And those very gifts are still often given to grandchildren today by older relatives who grew up loving them, with one in 10 gifting a bike or scooter last year.

But the survey, which also polled 1,500 kids aged 6-15, found Lego, Nerf guns and a Build-a-Bear are among the top gifts youngsters are asking for from their grandparents this Christmas.

Smiggle stationery, sweets and chocolate and a virtual reality headset are also popular requests.

And they’re also strict about their Christmas wish list – with more kids wanting something they’ve expressly asked for rather than getting a surprise.

Ian Atkinson added: “With over 260 billion shillings being spent, grandchildren today can certainly look forward to more at Christmas than their own grandparents did, and their expectations have probably never been higher.

"If you’re not sure what to get, cash or gift vouchers are really popular presents for children because it gives them the fun of choosing something for themselves, perhaps in the new year when the excitement of Christmas has faded.''