To not want to get my kids any more toys this year?

For that age I would got with a board game of some kind, even something like uno, art set, one of those how to draw books, science lab kit, maybe kids knife set of they may want to get involved in cooking?

I bought my niece a kids camera when she was around 8 and she loved that.

Can you suggest that she keeps some of the presents at their house? I have grandchildren but don't go crazy on anything. This year two of them have sweatshirts and another a set of Narnia books.

We also have toys for those who come to see us

Oh OP I feel your pain. Mine are 3 and 6 and it's my MIL that buys sacks for both of them (more than what Santa gets basically) and there is no more room in the house. We don't have a garage and we have a tiny loft. I'm dreading it this year. It was two sacks per child she got last year and despite gentle suggestions to perhaps not buy as much she went in a major huff so I've not said anything this year. Neither has DH.

As PP have suggested, my solution is I have gone with a couple of big presents for each of them in their Santa sack and the rest are more disposable things, like making gingerbread, craft making, paints, pencils, colouring in and play dough. Stuff that eventually can be used up and won't clutter. Also some dressing up outfits and for autistic DS sensory things. I'm hoping the hints of not wasting money have penetrated into MIL but I'm not hopeful... Bless her she just really loves Christmas but it can be overwhelming.

Ask for tickets and passes to shows or zoos etc

One Christmas we made tokens for activities for our boys and hung them on tree. Things like swimming, ice skating, bowling, cinema, go karts, going to the park etc. We didn't buy vouchers so we could take them when we wanted. They loved them and they lasted for months.

Sunscreen? Towels? Cooking ingredients?! Come on, these are not gift material in the slightest.

OP I would have a good clear out - charity shop it or Vinted. And assess from there, I wouldn’t just not buy anything though, they won’t be little for long

I like this. Last year, FC sent each of my kids magical (caligraphy and glitter) letters with a choice of 'experiences'. My little boy chose a reptile petting experience, but there were cinema trips, clip & climb, theatre tickets etc. to choose from. I also bought these cardboard box engine and castle toys that kids colour themselves. With LED lights draped over them they added to the Christmas morning magic. I get a lot of my kids toys on Vinted. I can't stand creating landfill and it's great not having to deal with so much wrapping.

Experience gifts like tickets to the cinema or a trip to your nearest city?

You are wrong to put puppy in there, it should be kitten or unicorn 😁

One year I gave my kids a voucher for a party in our garage over the Christmas break. I put it in a pack containing pizza dough mix and a list of ingredients and a voucher for them to buy these ( I made the vouchers and paid in the supermarket), also voucher for ingredients for knickerbocker glory, I put sparklers in the pack.
I put paper , pens, sticky tape, balloons , string and instructions for making bunting, balloon decorations, party invitations and bunting. They spent the whole of Christmas and Boxing Day decorating the garage, their dad helped by relocating the Christmas tree and lights.
They delivered the invitations and all their friends came lunch time on the 29th. All the kids made their own pizza, fruit mock tails and knicker bocker glory.
They played party games and did a lot of karaoke. Most parents stayed, we had peace In the house, different grown ups took turns supervising. It was the best Christmas ever

New Xmas PJs or slippers and accessories for those bikes and a family game to play

Underwear, socks, lip salve, selection box, colouring/puzzle book.

Books pjs fluffy socks hot chocolate kits pens colouring pencils colouring books
Hope all that not to old fashioned

Don't they get a gift from grandma/uncle Tom etc?

In our house FC fills your stocking with little bits. Bath bombs, sweets, card games, book etc.

DH and I buy a "big" present. Eg one thing - bike, big lego set or the like. Then there's usually one "family" gift under the tree, nearly always a board game.

DC get a present from grandparents and from 4 aunts/uncles. Thats enough?

I have exactly the same problems. The kids have too many toys and not enough time to play with them.

I was also going to suggest consumables like bath bombs, hot chocolate kits, craft items, etc and I often wrap up things they need or give them stuff for christmas that I'd have bought anyway like clothes or stationary. Things like air clay get used up really quickly so I'll get some more of that.

I would go for clothes, books, board games and ‘consumables’ ie playdoh, slime, craft sets, paint your own ornaments etc that will all get used up throughout the year. We go through SO much of this, I store it all in a big box in the garage that we dig out a few times per week.

Why can’t Father Christmas just bring the stockings? That’s what we have always done and then all the other main presents are from whoever bought them.
I do hear where you are coming from though with more toys. Mine are getting Lego this year as they have way too many other things that don’t get played with. We’ve done one big trip to the charity shops this year and will do another run next week.

Yup. This.

I still remember the birthday when my 'main' present was something I needed for school (for a music group I didn't really care about, not something I was keen on). It was incredibly disappointing - not sure how old I was but old enough to know I had to pretend not to be disappointed and hurt. Still rankles that my mum tended to buy cheap tat (when we were well off) or things she liked (including a subscription to a grown up hobby magazine I had zero interest in and would have been too technical for a child even if I had liked the topic) without considering what I would like. Short version - a high viz jacket is a rubbish gift for a 5 year old.

I think you are just going to have to have a clear out op.

It’s way too Grinchy to give a five year old vouchers on Christmas morning. I mean five is still really little, but it doesn’t last … The eldest will be a teen before you blink. Just embrace the magic when they are still young enough.

Yep this is a problem if kids are used to getting 'piles of things'. And surely your 9 year old doesn't still believe in Santa?
You've had tons of suggestions but I'd also start trimming back the amount of gifts! When they hit their teens the presents will become exponentially more expensive.

I think the key to buying non toy items is to pick a theme and build a larger present or set of items around it.

Magazine subscription to the Phoenix or similar. Also lots of subscription boxes to choose from like Kiwi which is science and engineering.

Outdoor games like a big badminton set, basketball hoop, swingball, see saw, frisbee, archery set, cricket set.

Baking things are good. For my tween in the past I've bought a chocolate fountain with a big hamper of marshmallows, chocolate, sweets, kebab sticks. Also did a baking hamper with cupcake moulds, decorations, icing bags, cake toppers, recipe book. And a slushie set with a slushie cup you put in the freezer (Argos and Asda sells them) with those syrups you buy at B&M. I put them together in big boxes with cellophane and tissue paper to make them look exciting as a 'set'. You could also do a popcorn machine with those striped popcorn boxes, flavoured sprinkles etc.

Things for their rooms, light boxes, fairy lights, Bluetooth speaker, flashing disco lights, projector, stars that stick on the ceiling, fold out chair bed for sleepovers in each others rooms.

Mini Instax or Polaroid type camera, there are loads of versions some come with a mini black and white printer. For your 5 year old my two loved their VTech Kidizoom cameras at that age. Could include a homemade voucher to take them for a special day out to seaside or countryside for a day of photography together and make up a photo book of your best shots.

A 'sleepover kit' including sleeping bag, a little overnight suitcase or holdall, eye mask, wash bag filled with mini toiletries and new pj to use in Brownie pack holidays, sleepovers or school residential.

Art and craft sets.

Similar here. Mine are getting baking kits, bath bombs, socks and pants, PJs, new oversized hoodies (instead of dressing gowns), stationary, a new book each, new bike helmets, top trumps card game each. In previous years they've enjoyed new character bedding sets, new hats/gloves/coats/cycling jersey/clothes/personalised 'star baker' aprons, new swimming costumes/goggles/hooded towels, new water bottles/cups. Selection boxes, hot chocolate sets, etc. - so either useful stuff or stuff which can be used/eaten etc. over a period of time. They also like Lego, and outdoor activity things, so bikes, roller skates, footballs, tennis rackets, kites, etc

We still buy toys for this age but we make sure to pass on the ones they don’t use to other kids/free on Facebook/to charity shops. Then it doesn’t feel like a waste.
other than that, craft stuff, books