What to do for children who already have too much 'stuff'

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

I'm going to get really stuck this year. Dcs will be nearly 5, 3 and just turned 1.

They already have;
-Toy kitchen with toaster, kettle, coffee machine, mixer, microwave and a ton of food and equipment accessories which sadly don't get used much

• drawing boards, ditto
• duplo
• eldest has quite a bit of lego but we struggle to find time to build it with him
• wooden blocks
• wooden train set
• tons of wooden toys, quite a few plastic ones
• a box of instruments
• a box of 'non toys' - random stuff they like to play with
• dressing up stuff, my old shoes and the accessories get used the most
• quite a bit of playmobil, I'm always happy to add to the collection but they have a habit of breaking it apart, even people's hair!
• stuff like stacking cups, an abacus
• toy cars
• toy animals, mostly dinosaurs so perhaps something to work with
• loads of stuffed toys
• a few dolls and accessories
• loads of books
• lots of games, puzzles, activities and craft stuff
• quite a few kids dvds/story cds/music

I could go on. Basically we have enough to be running our own nursery and all they really want to do is pile up the sofa cushions and jump on them!

Last year I was pregnant so started on August when I usually do it a lot later. I really enjoyed getting it all done early but I went absolutely mad..I can see that now. I hate clutter and they're too small to really tidy up much or care if it's tidy.

I'd quite like to do just a few presents each but I think I need to cut it down gradually so they don't think they're missing out (1st world problem much) I'd really like a smaller budget as I spent far too much last year

So does anyone have any tips on how to cut down on what I buy without it looking too much less? Or ideas of perishable type things to buy so the house doesn't get more cluttered? Or can I do experiences instead?

I'd really like to have a clear out but not sure how to go about it without seeming mean!

I think they are perfect ages to cut back without them remembering how much FC brought last year. They will also have no concept about how much things cost so easy enough to restrict the budget without them noticing.
How about family membership to a zoo/ country park type of thing?
Could you start a tradition of donating some things to charity in the run up to Christmas - a good opportunity to tell them not everyone is as fortunate as they are.

I'm getting my kids aged 3 and 1 a cushion and blanket of their favourite character.

Definitely do a clear out, don't tell them, they won't notice
If I were you I'd do some joint presents, so you say you have lots of animals & dinosaurs, maybe you could buy a wooden farm for them to live in (I am seriously lusting after a gorgeous one in ELC at the moment, don't know how to link sorry)
Then you say perishables, why not do a little craft hamper? Paint, paper, pom poms, glitter - gone in a couple of craft sessions
Things for their bedroom? A cool cushion for their bed? New lamp etc?
Bath toys?

Hope I've given you some kind of inspiration
But definitely do a declutter!

Mine are a bit older and have a bedroom full of stuff they don't bloody play with.

This year I'm getting them ps games, duvet covers, iTunes vouchers, onesies, clothes and trainers, and swimming lessons. I may add a English heritage or national trust pass to that as well.

I assume they have scoters/ bikes/ride ons etc?

Ooo swimming lessons is a good one! Then you could get them a swimming bag/goggles/armbands/towel/trunks or cozzy

A big garden item to share then just some bits like character pjs/craft stuff/DVD etc?

Books suitable for their age.
Puzzle books that can be used and then recycled.
Things for their rooms - my DDs have had character/themed bedding, blankets, cushions, beanbags over the years.
Something perishable. Something that's a treat.

CDs of music or DVDs of things they like. (As you get rid of things they grow out of).
Things that can be stored in the kitchen - plates/mugs of their liking.

I also factor in big clear-outs at 3 times a year. We do their room and the toy cupboard in the living room at each of their birthdays and at Christmas. They understood from a young age that it was 'to make room for things that people give them at Christmas'.

I do like eperience presents too. Panto tickets for Christmas. Zoo tickets. Magazine subscription when old enough.

Wow you guys are fast! Yeah they have a scooter that they share in the garden and DD is getting a bike for her birthday.

Love the craft hamper idea - it's made me wonder if I could do something like an activity one with things I've printed from Twinkl and make it more of a token present as in we will spend time together baking/cutting/sewing etc

I will definitely declutter while they're sleeping. You're right they probably won't notice, there's some things that get played with all the time (duplo, brio, playmobil etc) and other things don't get looked at unless I pull them out and set them up

Oh I forgot we have a dolls house too. I would love to decorate it for them but not sure I'd get the time.

I think they'd like to donate something, we talk a lot about how fortunate we are and they've talked for days about this after we've donated food/clothes or money for various things

Thank you you've all given me lovely ideas. But keep them coming if you don't mind thank you

Art boxes? Buy some storage boxes of your choice and add age appropriate art and craft supplies.

Annual pass to somewhere they love?

A playhouse for the garden?

I read somewhere about getting rid of old/broken toys to Santa for children whose parents don't have much money/that's how he makes sure there are enough presents. I think that would depend on your interpretation of Santa - ie does he make and bring all toys, or just a couple and the rest are from parents.

I think it's important to realise that presents don't have to be all toys.

You can add in clothing with their favourite characters on e.g. pants, socks, hats, sweatshirts, pyjamas, slippers.
Swimming accessories and garments.
New bedding, special blanket. Books.
What about some new tableware for the youngest two, or packed lunch items/drink bottles.
Accessories for the car such as play tray for lap, seatbelt soft cushion character.
Outings and panto tickets, crafty stuff, soft play and other indoor activity subscriptions.
If they have stockings you can put in 'useful' items like bubble bath, toothbrush, character flannel.

We're buying an annual family pass for a farm park nearby as a joint present that we can all use.
Also like girly suggested my dd(5) is having new character bedding she has already picked and will have character pyjamas, underwear. Maybe her own suitcase for when we go away. She also loves baking so she's getting her own baking set, apron and cookbook.

Storage!! We're getting dd this, and filling it with craft etc.

What about tickets for the older two for a show. I am getting my ds a ticket to a panto during Christmas week. And another one for peppa pig in March.
I have is birthday in Jan too and he already has to many toys

I think homemade vouchers are a good way to go. One year I did 1 a month and put them in a calendar. Things we would prob do anyway - cinema, local soft play, mini golf, ice skating, fairground trip, etc January was always a magazine subscription though!
My dds ( 13 and 23mths at Xmas, so neither will expect Santa) will be each be getting a book, vouchers for sets of lessons, new pjs and dressing gown, some chocolate and an orange or two in their stockings.

If you walk to school, a scooter for each child would be useful.

Just give them less this year, they're too little to notice still I think. I do struggle to stop buying because I do think children "need" to change toys as they grow up. For example, we gave them, and asked relatives to give them, board games last christmas because they had outgrown Orchard games and snakes and ladders. Your 5 year old might "need" more grown up books, Top Trumps, games. Your DC2 might have different interests to DC1 so might want more grown up fairy dolls rather than trains, or whatever. I look to get them mainly what they "need" (not true need obviously, but more mature toys to grow into). For about £50 or so they can each have a game, a set of fiction books, a nonfiction book, a craft set and a carefully chosen but modest toy/playset. Add some character pants/pjs/dressinggown/onesie (whatever they are short of), hair bobbles, bubblebath and you are most of the way there.

It's difficult to be fair, especially with 3 as the littlest has SO many toys as handmedowns, but it feels mean to give them less. One option is to top up their bank accounts, especially if they've ended up with less gift money than firstborns.

I have the same problem op!

Family membership to local zoo or whatever.

Generally, experiences are good, especially as they get older.

Mine also 5 and 3. Same problem.

I am getting them swimming sets - goggles, floats, toy for the pool, new cossie.

Also new duvet cover.

And some toys that won't take up much room - eg clothes for dolls they already have.

Also thinking of getting them each a planter for the garden and some bulbs.

Mine are a bit older (6 and 8) but have the same issue. They always get some Lego as they still play with that but otherwise they're as likely to play with some random objects they find lying around the house, as they would with an expensive toy.

I always get them new felt tips, blank notepads and lots of books. This year they're also getting a calculator each (from Poundland) as it was the one thing from the toy box at my parents' that they fought over when we visited in the holidays! Plus a Minecraft hoodie and T-shirt, and a cactus as they're fascinated by them. I should imagine they'll request an Xbox game too.

I know it can be frowned on, but we have had a kitten, fish and hamsters fromthe rspca over various christmases and they are all still with us and are well loved family pets.
garden play like trampoline or playhouse are fab.

ive a birthday before christmas christmas for three then a birthday january this will be tricky ive already started decluttering im removing toys and hiding them see if the miss it if they do it gets returned if not it will be removed i also bought my middle son lego a huge box of it off facebook yes its all mixed up sets but he just loves to craft with it so it wont matter plus it comes with lego men loads of lego men!

ds2 has got a railway im buying him more track and trains to go on it so adding to things is fine but i dont want any new fads this year unfortunately his nan and grandad are pushing paw patrol at the moment (because i cant get it on my tv they claim im being "silly" denying him his precious tv show ) so i get the feeling they will be buying a shit load of the junk for my house i think im sending it back to live at theres if they do

declutter!!!!

Vtech camera and leap pads have been big hits here and are still played with at 6 and 8. And don't take up a lot of room