What do you buy your kids when you have no room?!

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

We've moved and lost our playroom.. (Other rooms teeny tiny too and crammed full) and can't extend for about a year...

My biggest concern is what am I going to buy my 3 & 5 year olds for Christmas!

If you have this same space issue, what do you do?

[Sunshine1509]

Place marking

[RebelRogue]

Ipad..doesn't take up any room :p

A wii/xbox gaming system with a few games


Books,puzzles that can be neatly stacked up/put away
Dress up stuff that could go in their wardrobe
Jelly/slushie/chocolate/ice cream maker that can live in the kitchen full of dust
Blackboard wall sticker and chalks.


It all depends on what kind of storage you have,what can be hidden where,what space you have available. Toys don't have to be big to be played with and enjoyed

[Petitcanard]

I always get the kids to have a clear out of their rooms in November. Games or toys that are broken or have missing pieces go in the bin and anything that's unused is donated to a local charity shop.

My kids love to get new bedding, so that's one gift that doesn't take up floor space. You can choose their favourite characters or colour to make it personal to each of them.

Or try buying an experience or visit but wrap the voucher/tickets in a number of boxes inside other boxes so that it looks like a big gift (maybe more suitable for your 5yo than your 3yo).

[swampster]

Lego, Lego and more Lego. I know there are naysayers who hate stepping on it and get really precious about losing bits but we make it, break it, stick it in a box and make something new with all the bits and bobs.

Teeny, tiny pieces, always room for a little bit more and every new bit makes all the old bits come alive again. It is the one toy that never needs to be re-homed.

Three and five is a little bit young but my youngest (of three) wanted Lego like his brothers from that early so that made it easy.

[OSETmum]

Outdoor toys!

[Ihearthickson]

Feel your pain. Smaller presents piled and bulked out with lots of balloons for the 'wow' pile factor.

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

My girls share a room and I have a no toys downstairs rule! You need good storage - ikea kallax is brilliant.

Things I bought and don't take up too much space.
Busy books - normally £5 has a book, 12 figures and a playmat. Different films/characters, I buy with the corresponding dvd and story book - this year zootropolis and finding dory :)

Fold up tent - ikea £17 brilliant value and size folds down and is tucked behind the bunk beds when not in use :) Wow gift too set up in front room!

Arts and crafts - they get used up so no storage issues!

Figures of current favourite characters - this year pokemon, teen titans and paw patrol.

Personalised story books - lost my name and magic chair are both lovely books :)

Playmobil carry cases - all fits inside.

Happyland - quite big but perfect for all the character figures and normally much better quality.

Fleece blankets, new cup/plate/bowl, bedding set, towel, clothes in favorite character.

Top trumps - more for older but fun game.

Kiddizoom camera - big hit being able to take own photos and play the games (still used at nearly 8)

Books!!! Favorites here are sue hendra (all hers are brilliant!), the dinosaur who pooped series, Julia Donaldson, mog, the fairytale hairdresser series and kipper.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

Thanks everyone - brilliant ideas :)

[thatsn0tmyname]

My children are 3 and 5 and both have October birthdays. They don't need more presents so we are getting a fish tank for Christmas. We'll set it up beforehand and they can help choose the fish.

[AnneGables]

They might be a little young for this, but I like to buy tickets for things like a pantomime, theatre, zoo etc. Wrap in a large box with a few corresponding toys, DVDs, sweets, popcorn etc. The big box, gives the wow factor, they like rifling through the bits and pieces, then can all enjoy a day out soon afterwards.

[Cakescakescakes]

Have a really really REALLY ruthless clear out as well. If something doesn't engage my DC for at least 10 mins then it goes to charity shop or on gumtree. We don't have space to store stuff that they fleetingly look at twice a week. And I find my younger da has outgrown younger toys much quicker than his big brother. At 3 and 5 they pretty much play with the same things now.

[Cakescakescakes]

We also buy presents very very sparingly. One biggish thing from Santa and then 3-4 small stocking filler type things (eg a book, dvd, sweets, wind up torch, board game etc) and that's it. I hate clutter everywhere and they get presents from family too and it's already overwhelming for them.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

For the older ones things like days out or experiences. They love to then plan the day out.
For instance
LegoLand
Emma Bridgewater mug painting
Zoo
Natural History Museum
Ice skating
Theatre trips
Cinema tickets

Also things they can make and then put to use in their room. We got them a stained glass window set (sounds boring but was fun) and it looks great in their window - they did Frozen and Harry Potter designs.

Pyjamas, bedding, new school bags, bath stuff (they love a bath bomb), letter writing sets (once they've written their thank you cards it is gone), vouchers for movies on the iPad.
Oh and Lego, there isn't enough Lego in the world.

We also make them donate 5 things each before Christmas which means a good amount of junk is cleared out before more comes in.