When grandchildren come to stay, it doesn’t take long before the question comes: “What can we play with?” My child often makes the comment that Poppy has no toys at his house so we have to pack everything plus the kitchen sink when we go to visit.

My Grandma had a chest of Barbies that we were allowed to play with and now her great-grandchildren still play with. Toys at Grandparents houses are the toys that don’t have to compete with screens, don’t make an overwhelming amount of noise and can entertain children across different ages. Better still, they’re the kinds of toys that encourage grandparents and grandchildren to play together rather than simply keeping children occupied.

Lovevery has built its reputation on creating educational toys that grow with children, and while many families know the brand for its subscription Play Kits, it also has a range of larger activity sets designed to be used over several years.

I was recently gifted Lovevery’s Music Set and the new Maths Skill Set to try with my children, and they’ve quickly become two of the toys I would happily recommend keeping at a grandparent’s house or gifting for Christmas.

The first thing that stands out is the quality. The pieces are beautifully made from durable materials and feel like they’ll withstand years of enthusiastic little hands.

They aren’t toys that will be outgrown after a few months, but resources children can return to as they grow and change how they play.

The Music Set is designed for children aged from around 18 months through to four years and beyond, introducing concepts like rhythm, tempo and simple note reading through six real instruments, song books and guided activities. The instruments use a pentatonic scale, meaning they naturally sound harmonious together, even when children are simply experimenting.

That design choice is something parents and grandparents will probably appreciate just as much as children.

Let’s be honest, many musical toys are noisy enough to be hidden in the back of the cupboard after one afternoon. This set is different, the sounds are gentle and surprisingly pleasant, making it easy to encourage musical play without instantly regretting the decision.

It’s also one of those rare toys that appeals to a wide age range. Younger children love exploring the different instruments, while older children are equally drawn to it because they can begin following songs and experimenting with rhythm. Rather than pressing buttons that play pre-recorded tunes, children are making the music themselves.

Just as importantly, it naturally encourages adults to join in. You don’t need to be musical to sit together, shake a rhythm instrument, copy simple beats or work through one of the included songs.

The Maths Skill Set offers a different kind of shared experience.

Rather than relying on worksheets or flashcards, it introduces mathematical concepts through games, stories and hands-on activities that connect maths with everyday life. Part One focuses on counting, addition, subtraction, patterns and spatial reasoning for children aged roughly three to five, while later activities build towards practical skills like telling the time, understanding money and place value as children grow.

For grandparents who help with homework or regularly care for school-aged grandchildren, it’s a wonderful way to make learning feel like play instead of work.

I particularly liked that the activities invite conversation. You’re not simply watching a child complete a puzzle, you’re counting together, talking through problems and celebrating little breakthroughs. Those moments often become just as valuable as the educational benefits.

The games also keep children engaged for surprisingly long periods because they’re actively solving problems rather than passively being entertained.

Perhaps that’s what makes both sets such good additions to a grandparent’s home. They’re not toys that flash, beep or hold a child’s attention through overstimulation. Instead, they encourage curiosity, conversation and connection.

Children still have fun, but grandparents get something too, the opportunity to sit alongside them, learn together and create memories that don’t involve staring at separate screens.

If you’re looking to invest in a handful of toys that grandchildren will genuinely look forward to visiting again and again, choosing well-made, open-ended activities like these can be a worthwhile place to start. Long after the latest novelty toy has been forgotten, they’ll still be reaching for the bells, the counting games and asking, “Can we play that one again.