£30ish presents for 3 & 5yr old DSs - help??!!?

[strongblackcoffee]

I have bought them a starter box of lego as a joint present, and will get a few books as well. But I am really stuck on something else to have as their 'main' individual presents. I'm trying to come up with something around £25/30 that looks quite impressive to open.

DS1 (5) really into active, sporty things, loves cars, Batman/Ben 10/Pokemon all the usuals, typical predictable boy stuff really.

DS2 (3) similar, but also loves music, drawing, taking things a bit slower.

They have bikes and scooters already. I was wondering about remote controlled dinosaurs or something like that. But not remote controlled cars, we already have one of those that lies around with flat batteries all year... Any suggestions would be a massive help!! Thanks

[iamnotreallysure]

Not sure this is on the same wavelength you are thinking but - a biggish (wrapped) box containing individually wrapped small presents - hotwheels / toy cars, pens, crayons / felt tips / chalks, note pads, toy soldiers, novelties from HarpersBazaar, small packs of sweets etc.

our DC's get this from their grandparents plus a larger present each year - the larger present (like your remote controlled car) have a short life whilst the box of 'goodies' leads to endless inventive and creative games for the whle year or more.

The fun for our DC's is in the unwrapping and the simple games.

[healthyElfy]

A ukelale and a guitar each?

[strongblackcoffee]

oooh thanks, they're both really good ideas, I'll have a look into the instruments. They do have stockings as well, so they tend to get those sort of little bits in those, but that is a good idea to have a big box full of things.

We seem to have endless presents from relatives with huge battery requirements and very short life spans... Lovely that they buy things for the kids, but my heart does sink when I see another 8xAA required!! My mum asked if I thought they'd like remote controlled cars for xmas this year, I had to be very diplomatic...

[TheHouseofMirth]

Maybe a marble run or a bit over budget but Darda cars are very good.

What about a baby grand for DD?

[colditz]

I have bought this for 4 and 7 year old boys Ds1 is a tad young for his age.

[colditz]

I wouldnm't bother with a remote ocntrolled ANYTHING, they cause fights.

[strongblackcoffee]

Both those marble run things look great but they got an elc marble run last xmas. That's the thing I find really hard - they just seem to have so much stuff already. And again with the cars tracks, although they love them, they've got a couple of other hotwheels ones from previous birthdays. They love them, but I just feel like we're stacking up endless versions of the same toys

[TheHouseofMirth]

I feel your pain strongblackcoffee. We're not even bothering with "main" presents this year because of that. Luckily at 5.5 and 2 years old my DSs aren't old enough to be aware of that kind of thing.

[colditz]

how about a road rug?

[strongblackcoffee]

road rug - great idea, but again we've already got one somewhere (stashed in loft due to extreme grubbiness..!). It's ridiculous!!

[TheUnmentioned]

Imaginext stuff, ds (4) loves it.

space shuttle

They are 3 for 2 in Argos too it seems. They are pretty hardy too.

[TheUnmentioned]

There's also the boat thingy which I just bloody paid forty quid for which is MASSIVE and reduced to £22 here

[TheUnmentioned]

This looks quite sweet, very twee but it is a doll's hosue so its meant to be!

[TheUnmentioned]

A big aquadraw for dd?

[TheUnmentioned]

sorry, dont know where i got yyour dd from!!!

[strongblackcoffee]

I love that doll's house!! The idea of DS1's face opening the wrapping on christmas morning is priceless

(he is currently of the opinion that there is a different world occupied by boys to the pink one that girls live in... I won't get worked up right now, that's another whole thread... but very funny in the context of the dolls' house)

[strongblackcoffee]

Hmmmm aquadraw is not a bad idea. We did have one a few years ago, but that was quite a while ago...

[5ElvesMooningSanta]

I second the imaginex stuff, it is great, really sturdy and has lots of hidden extras.

[charlieandlola]

playmobil pirate chest or playmobil football

stomp rocket

swingball

marble run

scalextrix

[strongblackcoffee]

Yes, I'm just looking properly at the imaginex stuff, it looks great. (aquadraw seems to be marketed at pre-schoolers, so not ideal after all... sigh...)

[Dexterrocks]

The imaginex series has a Batman set - I saw one in Toys'r'us. My ds is 6 and still enjoys his space shuttle.

[vicbar]

We got our 4 DS a playmobil pirate ship from Tesco for £25. We thought we could then add to it at bday's etc.

[strongblackcoffee]

[Dexterrocks]

this