Does anyone else feel that their kids have enough toys already?!

[Flighttattendant]

I'm usually really excited about getting Christmas presents early, but this year, well, there's nothing I can think of that they don't already have.

We have got loads of playmobil and lego, any more would be fairly pointless.

The only thing ds1 might want is a new DS game, which we can manage, that's fine - but I don't want to get ds2 anything new because he just doesn't need anything.

What do you do in this situation?

Oh and I think my parents might be getting ds1 a new bike as his is too small, so really, there are things like that.

but ds2-wise I am a bit stuffed.

Should I just get him a few tiny stocking things, or will he notice - he is 3 btw.

yes, mine have a ridiculous amount

we do tend to have a sort out before christmas and try ad get rid of some stuff. although that just seems awful really... getting rid of perfectly good toys to make way for new ones :(

i keep on at the family to give them money or vouchers or book tokens but it seems to fall on deaf ears

I am having the same problem although all 4 DC would be happy with new DS or Wii games! 2 of them need a new scooter and 2 want a new camera which gives me a start point!

Yes we really need a good sort out. Thing is having such a huge age gap (4 years) I tend to keep the 'in between' things for ds2 to grow into later. It's hard to chuck stuff apart from the baby toys.

I only really have my parents to worry about, and they'll respect the need for as little clutter as possible, I hope!

But I will feel awful if there isn't a heap of presents this year. A DS game is tiny to wrap!

I like doing stockings but tbh the stuff just ends up in the bottom of the toy tub and forgotten or broken.

I need to think of an alternative scenario but I can't.

Camers are a great idea but ds1 breaks EVERYthing so not till he is about 12!!! It would be pointless - he's one of those kids who trashes things quickly.

Scooters, bikes, always good and always needed as they grow - but ds2 will have all ds1's old ones!

Poor ds2.

I'm with you on this. I've done the big clear out just after they went back to school in September, and tbh what they have now is manageable. I feel guilty that I don't want to buy them any more stuff, but I would feel even more guilty buying tat that they don't need.

I've also got to think of things for my mum and dad to buy for them. They are only 7 and 4, so still in the enchanted stage with regard to Christmas. I feel awful being Scroogy.

What are you going to do Notwaving? Are you going to give them any stuff?

I am really stumped about this.

Also at 'manageable'.

Last year instead of lots of toys we bought family presents - zoo membership/safari park membership, that kind of thing, depending on what's around where you live.

I have 2.5 yrs between my two (DS and a DD) so they tend to play with the same toys atm -mostly cars and lego. I've managed to clear out some baby toys but need to be more drastic I think. My mum is pretty good at the 'less is more' thing, but MIL seems to be obsessed with spending 'enough' on each child i.e. she can't get a book, some craft stuff or a dressing up outfit, it has to all of the above!

For stockings some of the things I put in are new toothbrush/toothpaste, have seen that some people put socks in... (depends what the socks are like I s'pose). I know what you mean about the tat.

My children also have presents from: my parents, DH's mum, DH's dad and wife, my 2 brothers and BIL. So that's a lot of stuff

Well I am, yes, but am trying to do it sensibly (3 for 2 presents from Boots on the points), not go too mad.

I've just cleared the garage out with a view to having a car boot sale and I feel sick at the amount of money we've spent over the years on things which now will just get cast aside.

It doesn't help that it's DS1's birthday at the end of November!

Ours are 5, 4, 1 and 5 months.

They already have far too much stuff.

I popped into Argos today to have a look at this 3 for 2 toy deal that ends today but after spending 30 mins aimlessly flicking through the catalogue, I left empty handed.

Mine need very little.

They have asked for books, board games and lego. All fine as I know that they will all be used. I have also bought theatre tickets for a nice day out.

I was talking to a friend about it the other day, she is thinking of buying a second Wii to go upstairs as she can't think of anything to buy her 2 DC as they have so much already

Golly a birthday as well..Oh dear!

Sacharissa in theory that's brilliant but what I need, I think, is quantity rather than quality - iyswim - in order to please the kids. They will want loads of little things to open. I haven't much money, either, but that will be alright...it's just thinking what to get that won't be redundant very quickly.

I like the toothbrush idea.

Just realised that my Granny will still buy them stuff as well, and my sister and SIL.

Board games - brilliant! Thankyou.

Ds1 LOVES board games. I'll get one or two of those I think.

Thanks - not too dear but look big!

I second Sacharissa - it sounds like a lovely idea. Although I do magazine subscribtions - my DC love getting post and a regular mag is "a gift that keeps on giving"!!! I am also considering a charity donation where they get updated on a whale/tiger/dolphon type thing.

Also, for those of you worried about the appearance or lack of wonder with small pressies, I save boxes and wrap small and/or obvious things (DVD's, CS's, etc) in different shaped and sized boxes.

We gave them a book each last year and sat down with the kids and talked about charities. What they find important and then 'gave' each child £50 to donate to their chosen charity (s). Will do again this year and the grand parents can buy them presents plus SIL and DB so they will get plenty of presents but hopefully also some sense of what Christmas is really about.....

before I forget they both loved their book and said it was their best present

My DC spent hours with the www.orchardtoys.com/ Orchard Toys catalogue and chose a board game and a jigsaw each.

I'm a bit stumped on what to buy this year, we are drowning in a sea of lego and even the ds's seem to accept we've got enough

DS2 (6) has asked for a camera which would be a cheapy as it may get broken but DS1 has no idea. DS1 has his 8th birthday in a couple of weeks and it has been hard enough getting him to give us ideas for that.

I think we will just scale things back this year and buy them less presents and smaller things.

Flightattendant - how old are they? Would they like a few very large cardboard boxes and some craft materials with which to turn them into rockets/cars/pirate ships? Mine are 8, 5, and 2 and think that is fab. Makes a good BIG present too.

I do stockings on christmas morning with stuff I would have bought them anyway - socks, pants, facecloths, toothbrushes. Character ones, which I might not have bought usually. They seem to like it.

This year dh and I have bought ourselves the children a Wii. 5 lots of presents in one go.

I still have ds2's birthday 2 weeks before Christmas though - he is the youngest and so has inherited every possible toy already. Did the zoo membership last year, it won't feel like a present if I do it again!

I'm feeling very similar this year, DSs are 4 & 2. I can think of ideas for DS1 but I don't want loads of big things, we have too much stuff already.
But DS2 is a problem, a) he has all his brother's stuff & b) he's a bit unaware of the whole new toys thing and just likes his faves that he already has.

Am seriously thinking of a train table for DS1 (off ebay), a small trike for DS2 (ebay too) then some stocking stuff as mentioned, then any other money i would've spent putting into their accounts.

Grandparents, other relatives, etc. will still buy them loads i know.

I am stuck in exactly the same situation with a dd who is 10 and a ds who turns 5 a couple of weeks before xmas. They have a stack of toys already that they don't really play with so I'm at a total loss as to what to get both of them this year. We alos have LOTS of relatives who will want ideas which is a nightmare when I don't even have any for myself.

I asked for a membership or something last year but no one would oblige because they seemed to think the kids wouldn't appreciate opening an envalope - sigh!

One thing that does always go down very well in our house is a bubblegum box. I get a gift box and fill it with all different types of bubblegum and chewing gum. My kids love it and have one every christmas and birthday. Dh loves chewy bars so I did an alternative box for him on his last birthday.

You could try to get them things they do need and pass them off as presents. My are all getting duvet covers and luckily they are still young enough to be happy with that.

Tickets for the cinema or something, would that do?

DS1 has actually asked for a Toy Story duvet cover so that will be a present :)