What to buy dds? They've got everything!

[Sprogstersmum]

DDs will be 5 and 2 at Christmas - any ideas for main presents? Having 2 girls we've got every girly toy imaginable - kitchen, dolls house, dolls, art stuff, toy piano, prams etc - dd1 doesn't like Barbie/Sylvanian family and dd2 already has most of Happyland! Any ideas? Thanks!

An Oxfam goat?

Seriously, they sound as if they have plenty of 'stuff' already - do they need a main present in the way you mean? At their ages, they aren't going to have a clue what things have cost - why not scale Christmas back in terms of pressies?

I wasn't neccessarily meaning anything big, just looking for ideas I might not have thought of - dd1 was v impressed with flower press for birthday. Last Christmas we got her a Crayola tracing drawing thing as her main present. I think they're probably a little young to be told ' oh you've got everything so no presents for you!'

Could you arrange some kind of treat day out instead of a main present and just have some token bits for them to open?

Do they have stuff like roller skates, scooters, bikes? Board games? Junior monopoly, guess who, cariboo, zingo and hulabaloo are all popular in our house - the 5 year old would be old enough for all those.

For the 5yo - Camera and some craft things for doing her own little scrapbooks.

2yo - again craft stuff would be good. Does she have an Aqua Draw?

Something to build with? Eg Duplo

What about toys which are marketed for boys. DD is 5 and likes to play with toy castle with knights on horseback, elves etc and wooden train set.

Agree with craft ideas (a 'doing' present rather than a 'having' present)

Lots of lovely things here including lovely tempting boxes of mult-coloured materials to keep them interested.

i am getting crayola paper fantastci for dd1 who will be 6 in march. she asked for it, so i will get it for her, £16.99

dd 4 got Doodle Daisy for her b'day last week - it's like a battery operated spirograph! my 2 (4 and 2) girls love it...my 7 year old not crafty boy secretly loves it too!

ELC pink binoculars, also big hit.

new bikes? mini micro scooter for the wee one?

Does your little one have Fisher Price snap n style doll? I'm thinking of extending our collection of these for our doll loving 2 year old...

Have they got any playmobil? I got my nieces aged 6 and 4 the animal clinic and the ice cream parlour. They sit for hours playing make believe with it.

What are they into - what do they play with most?
Books? - my niece is 5 and I'm getting her lots of books I enjoyed when little - things like pippi longstocking etc
What about Hama beads? or other crafty stuff that will get used up throughout the year.
Clothes?
Something for their bedroom e.g new lamp or mirror?
I got laughed at the other day for buying my dd1 (4) an electric toothbrush for one of her pressies but I know she'll love it..
We always need dressing up stuff..

A trip to Center Parcs instead of a big pressie, you could get them lots of stocking fillers such a dvd's, books, dressinng gown and slippers. I'd love to take mine away for Christmas instead of expensive presents but DH usually has to be back at work Boxing Day.

A real piano

What about one of those baking sets - one for each of them and a recipe book?
A knitting nancy thing?
My dd1 loves playing with paper dolls - changing their outfits etc..
A new backpack, school bag?
I'm quite lucky in that my dd2 (2) is the opposite of girly dd1 - loves cars, trains and dinos so we have a whole wealth of new stuff open

There's a Mare and Foal sanctuary near us, and you can sponsor a horse - but can actually come and visit it... it's in Devon - if you're this way? but they can see the horse in the flesh....

Over than that - colouring books?

I always include non-toy stuff in Father Christmas presents, like pyjamas, duvet covers with characters they like, lamp for bedroom, bookends, new felt pens, bags, that kind of thing. Stuff I might have bought anyway. When he was 18 months I even wrapped up a packet of crackers (food, not christmas).

Bikes/scooters/balls? Xylophone? Music box? Hair accessories? Character bubble bath?

Honestly, I would never run out of ideas. I quite envy you - at least you're unlikely to over-spend

DD1 would love a real piano but it ain't gonna happen! Short of getting rid of the sofa there's nowhere for it to go!

Thanks for all the ideas - I'm embarrassed to admit they pretty much have all the stuff suggested! Might go for something for bedroom for dd1 as her room is still decorated more as a nursery - she likes a bed canopy thing in Ikea - did think maybe that, pic for her wall and one of those dressing table type mirrors with a little drawer.

Got Daisy Doodle at NCT sale for £2 - was quite impressed with that. Will have a look at snap and style doll and crayola paper fantastic.

Was also going to get a board game as we always got one each year as a family present for us all to play and was thinking of reviving the tradition as dd1 is probably old enough now. (we do have some games, but not ones I would think of as for the whole family)

Thanks again - any more ideas gratefully received!

Oh forgot to say - I've got DD1 a cheapy CD player boombox thing as she loves dancing around to music...

A clock for DD1's bedroom or maybe a watch? A recorder? What about one of these frames for their bedroom walls?

another idea!