Ideas for presents that won't take up too much room?

[reddaisy]

We live in a teeny, tiny house and it is overflowing. The children share a room with no floor space to play although we do have a playtable in the living room for them and some shelving. I want to think of ideas that they will love but that aren't huge hulks of plastic or stuff they are excited to receive but rarely play with! DD will be 6 and DS will be 3. Any ideas? I would love to take them to a London show but I think they may be nonplussed with that as a present on Christmas Day!

PS. I am already clearing out their current toys to make room for another influx! They both have bikes.

Ok, I know this is a few days old now, but I've just had an unexpected nighttime encounter with the World's Biggest House Spider, and need to distract myself...

Have you considered toys that are big when assemble but pack away small? Things like doorway theatres that can be rolled up afterwards and kept behind a bookcase or pop up tents that fold flat and can be slid under a bed? You can have them ready set up on Christmas Day if you want the wow factor of a big toy. Scooters are another one, most scooters for under 10s will fold in half, and some have handles that fold in too, so they can live quite happily in a car boot or understairs cupboard.

If you need stocking fillers, inflatable swords and globes etc are great cheap and cheerful gifts that will be well played with but can be stored easily. Again, they can be inflated before wrapping if you prefer.

We have limited space so are going for play dough/ craft bits as consumables always find their way out and dress up clothes. Good luck!

Would DS like a pop up tent- they fold away super flat afterwards :)

Something like this: www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-3-in-1-pop-up-centre/210-4232.prd?skuId=210-4232 Although when I bought this last year it was reduced instore to £10.

Lego is the winner for my two! They were 5 and 3 when we started their collection.

The advantage being that you can keep adding to it and it doesn't really take up much more space if you just tip it into the box!

For dd how about a 2DS with a game like Animal crossing. Harumika, top trumps and uno are all small and great fun.

Is DS into anything? At that age my DS loved trains so was easily impressed with a new engine and a new bit for his track and like fuzz with her lego, we could just throw it in the box