Just do not know what t get my kids (spolit by extended family)

[MrsBloodCurdlingscrEames]

We have a large extended family who always get the kids loads, I protest every year. There's 3 boys in a cramped room already and it's just ridiculous the amount of toys in there.

So I don't want to get them any toys/ lego/ knex. They have it all.

I don't want to get them electricals. They already have 2 Nintendo DS's and a wii (which is never used) and their Dad has a PS3. I'm always having to tell them 'games only on the weekend' and a tablet or something will just add to that.

Really stumped. They are aged betweeen 3 and 11.

Tickets for a day out?

Yes, an experience rather than stuff. Theatre tickets, or a theme park day or something.

Do you live close enough to things to make good use of something like a Merlin card? Or a National Trust membership to go out lots?

Board games to be kept in family area
Dice
Books
Consumable stuff - choc etc
Stuff you can keep outdoors - garden stuff like footballs etc
Nice/trendy tshirts/clothes for the eldest
Sports kit
Rubik's cube
Stationery

I have a similar problem. Our house is absolutely bulging with toys, it's obscene. Again due to large extended family and birthday parties with 15 kids attending! I have a cupboard full of stuff (prob 25 items) they've been given over the last 2-3 yrs that we haven't even got round to opening. Sometimes on a free day, we get something out of the cupboard!

Annual membership to the local zoo, or trip to legoland, or clothes?

Our two get spoilt by the relatives and I usually end up getting them very pratical stuff. They've just moved into bunk beds so this year one of the presents they will be getting new bedding (might as well wrap it up).

Trampoline?
Day out tickets?
I know you said 'no electricals' but maybe a iPad to share?
Adopt a animal ( we did this for dd's birthday and it came with a ticket for the sealife centre )?
Bikes, go carts, scooter?

nothing - save the money for treats later in the year when the Christmas glut is over.

Merlin card isn't really an option as we use public transport and it's a pain to get to these places without a car.

Trampoline might be cool but can't really put it up for a while after christmas.

I like the theatre tickets idea!

course at local leisure centre? eg 10 trampoling lessons/ice skating/ kickboxing?

If it is hard to get to a place, see if the travel agents do 'days out' at them, including bus?

I'd definitely start a tradition of a Christmas experience rather than gifts.

Magazine subscription?

Toucan box? It's a craft box you get through the post once a month with all the materials and instructions to make that months project. There are various subscriptions, some include activity books. We are getting it for my two girls 3 and 5.5 - you can add extra identical materials so they get to make the same thing....

You personalise it by the way, according to age, what they are interested in etc...