Gift ideas from Santa for 8yr old DD and 5 yr old DS... but not...

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... just plastic tat.

DD wanst fancy dress stuff for her birthday, DS is hopefully getting a bike for his birthday

So come Christmas,their lists will be dictated by the Argos catalogue!

But what other than 'tat' can i get them?

They have a scooter, loads of books, playmobil (sold loads earlier this year) DS has wooden train set / TTE trackmaster / take n play stuff, DD has monster high / barbie stuff that she is so-so about

I want to find something that will be enoyed by them nut not just more toys!!

(DS did havea big cardboard rocket, but although it was ace we just don't havespcae for anything that size now)

They don't have tablets /ds as they love reading and I want to try keeping them away fromthat stuff til they are a little bit older.

arrghhhh!!! Would really appreciate inspiration and all suggestions!!

Have the exact same DC so place marking! I will add that DS (5) is currently into magnets in a big way. Any magnets, but he is loving his Geomag set.

Lego is a non starter too

Do they like playing schools? Have they got a whiteboard, dd has loved her white board since she was about ,8 to play schools with and a real School register from amazon.

You could get ds some bike bits- horn that does sirens! Fancy hub caps.

Christmas DVD.

Board games

Bop it

Dd liked the game headbanz last year and ker plunk

How about spy or den kit for the 5 year old?

thanks every one!

We have a wall painted in blackboard paint,

Chocolatespiders, where have you seen the bike horns that are like sirens? they might be good

Have seen a laser light for about £25 that they might like in their bedrooms....

If you google bike siren toy you will get a few up to chose from

If creepy crawlies are of interest Argos sell a Bug Barn. It has good reviews on amazon. They sell a wormery too which doesn't have such good reviews.

why is lego a non starter?

What about small garden toys e.g. a space hopper etc etc

Roald Dahl books

Melissa and Doug do nice play castles e.g. like this

Usborne lift the flap books

A magic trick set?

Oh science experiments?

My 8 year old dd is into crystal growing kits at the moment and science kits, how about baking kits? Dd2 has asked for a electric guitar, not sure if she will be getting one though, I'm hoping she will change her mind.

Mine doesn't like Lego much either and pretty much everyone got him Lego for his birthday!

thanks everyone.

bothdcs have been bought lego and aren't that interested in it (i have kept all mine from wyen i was young and Ilove it!!)

DD did have a gross science set last year and quite liked it, DH wants to get her a chemistry set for her birthday in early December

they love book andhave loads, dd has done harry potter and any jaqueline wilson one that I have vetted and let her read (try to avoid issues that are a bit too grown up...) she has horrible history and horible science box set

ds has the big elc wooden castle so like the melissa and doug but may be duplicating what he has..

arrghh!!!!

ooh will looka t bug barn thanks!

What about a season ticket for something - like the zoo or pictures or football?? Something that they will enjoy without it having to take up house room?

Roald dahl or david walliams cd collection from book people. Cinema tickets or pantot tickets for boxing day. What about a magazine subscription so lasts all year ?

I don't have girls and my boys are big now and were lego obsessed but a few ideas:

Puppets/puppet theatre?
Instead of lego as such, what about lego games, particularly creationary?
pogo stick?
set of goals for the garden or maybe a basketball hoop to share?
some kind of craft set or jewellery making maybe?
Road rug and vehicles?
Things for the bath?
Torches/head torches for reading in bed?
Star wars outfit and lightsaber?
A tent/camping gear for the garden - or put it up in their bedroom for sleepovers or as a secret den?
Baking equipment and chefs outfits?
Proper walkie talkies?
remote controlled helicopter or car?

For the slightly non girly DD - have you ladies seen the "once upon a zombie" dolls?not bargains but very cool (I want one!) basically zombie disney princesses! Argos do snow white/rapunzel and a couple of others!