plastic tat won't work anymore dd(10/8), ds(6)

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

I can no longer look at a website and find half a dozen generic toys that will do. I have to put some though into it all. My dc are busy little people. They do lots of activities and we don't want to add more in. They do netball/football, swimming, dancing and guiding/beavers.

At home they don't particularly play with toys. They might set up a school with soft toys (WE HAVE NO MORE NEED FOR SOFT TOYS!). They might draw - again well supplied. They play on devices, dd has just got a brick phone & laptop and that counts towards part of her Christmas present, so looking for cheap stuff for her. Not giving any more electronic things yes I know that all your friends had their own ipad at birth, but no . They aren't into any branded toys (silvanians, superheroes etc). They all read and I will get them one set of PJ, books and a DVD each.

Things which went down well previously - pillow pets, blankets, microwaveable hot water bottles, mugs, mp3 players, kapla blocks (dd2), sewing kit (dd1).

I aim to spend 50/60 on dd1 (due to afore mentioned phone/laptop - she knows and is happy with this) and 100 on the other two. Plus need to come up with present from FIL of about £20 each.

Dd1 is yr 6, she is fairly academic and independent and doesn't follow trends and although I might get her some make up and cheap jewellery she isn't a massive consumer. Likes cats, sewing, books.

Dd2 is more of a consumer but wants stuff she won't be getting. She is a bit quirky, likes drawing, construction, avoiding reading. Likes maths.

Ds is a fairly bookish child, only just 6. Likes having a completed lego model but doesn't really play with it. Reads lots but we have hundreds of suitable books. Likes maths & reading.

So far I have thought - speed stacking cups (all enjoy so might get one set each so they can race). Colouring books - more grown up ones. Dd1 - chemistry molecule building set (from FIL), Dd2 - netball. Ds or shared by all three - HP board game (all fans - was charity shop bargain), robo fish (have somewhere from a 342 deal), chess set. Will probably also sew something - not sure what yet. I've lurked on bargain thread but not seen much which I think that they will use beyond Christmas morning. Any ideas?

Experience days. Go ape etc.?

Trip to science museum? You could make a token on the computer and put it in an envelope. They could each get a token for a special day out with either mummy or daddy all to themselves, lunch included at their choice of eatery.

Obviously if you live a long way from London choose a more local museum / attraction.

Magazine subscriptions?

DD1 a sewing pattern for eg a skirt/simple shell top, plus quirky fabric from Clothkittens?
DD2 - does she have her own materials eg good quality drawing paper and charcoals/pastels/chalks?
DS - my DS was recently given an amazing Lego City set that was about £100 that included all sorts of buildings and a rather handsome tram

I'd go with the experiences - season pass for local attraction, something at the theatre (can recommend charlie and the choc factory which my 10 and 6 year olds both loved), or magazine subscription.

Kindle for the six year old if he's sensible enough not to break or lose it?

Craft ideas: Djeco craft kits (don't buy from Amazon, shop around online), Aquarelleum

Sponsor an animal at a zoo so you can visit it?
Cooking stuff?
Knex rollercoasters look like fun
Somebody linked to a science museum hovering sky writer thing on the bargain thread.
Origami sets/books

Experience days won't really work. I work quite a few weekends (oct-may), we visit elderly parents and with three children there are lots of parties. We tend to do trips etc as holiday treats or in the summer and if we give it for Christmas dd2 will just be asking constantly when we are going.

FIL gives them a magazine subscription but they don't really read it.

Sewing and cooking stuff goes down well. Might get a canvas and acrylics, those went down well before. Lego I don't want to spend too much as he just makes it and puts in cupboard (his choice). £100 each is inclusive of stockings, little presents, main presents, don't want to spend more than about £30 on any one thing as they will probably spend more time playing with the 50p stocking filler!

DS would adore a kindle but he has problems (gets really cross) with stopping screen time and having his own would just exacerbate those. He has access to three smartphones, a laptop and dh wants a tablet which he will be able to use too.

It is tricky!!

Watching with interest, I have 3 similar ages and same attitude to you re tech toys / screens. Also have similar budget (£100 per child for everything including stockings).

My bookworm eldest (10) wants a kindle but I want to get him one only for reading (ie a normal, original kindle), but he's after a kindle fire as he wants to listen to music on it too... I don't know if it's mean to not get him a fire but I do not want him to be able to use it to go online / watch stampy long head etc ...

I see you bought a MP3 player - how does that work? (Clueless!)

Anyway have you looked at The Mulberry Tree catalogue? Lots in there. My ds2 (age 7) wants

roller skates
Lego
Where's wally books
Hornby train set
Light sabre
Nerf gun
Pens

HTH a bit?

For your DS, how about this monkey gear set? Here.

Would either of the girls be interested in a cupcake maker and decorating stuff?

Have a look at musical instruments. I think you can get a starter-level keyboard or guitar for about £60, or smaller things like ukulele for about £20. They don't have to have lessons, there's a lot of fun messing about with colourful teach-yourself books etc.

Story cubes for the youngest?

Teach yourself a foreign language CDs and books for the eldest?

Gears thing looks good. Dd2 would love roller skates but not until she stops frequenting a & e. Will look in Mulberry Tree, thanks.

Mp3 players have been a hit. In some ways they are expensive for not much, in that a cheap mobile does the same, but it means that they aren't getting the other things which ds particularly gets obsessed with. Dd2 got one for Christmas, dd1 saved pocket money because she wanted one and ds asked for it for birthday. They are most useful for holidays/long car journeys. Dd2 gets car sick but this distracts her. She also asks an endless stream of questions if not plugged in, which I find distracting on a long drive. They listen to music and audio books (mainly loaned from library/ free classics), I do sometimes buy audible books for more contemporary favourites. It also helps dd2 who struggles with reading but loves stories.

Sewing machine- hobby craft do a good one on offer for kids at £40 or the JL mini is £50 and a good starter?

If they like rollerblades/bikes/scooters etc they might like a ramp. My DCs get heaps of use from this
www.amazon.co.uk/Skateboard-Skate-Scooter-Double-Platform/dp/B00NB1X2YQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443859573&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=double+skate+ramp&psc=1

although we got a cheaper one than this.

Would Meccano be good for the ones who like building?

Ds loves story cubes, but already has a collection. Dh has numerous instruments which they play on. Dd1 hates languages but younger two both learn Spanish (as well as French in school) so maybe something like that, maybe could download some stuff for their MP3 players. Or Spanish DVD. Getting a few more ideas now.

Something sporty/outdoorsy (from balls to raquets, to scooters and sleds, roller blades, thermals, protective gear, wellies, other outdoor shoes or warm gear, spare kit, lessons or activity days each... Sometimes It's something they were going to get anyway and just havevto wait for it.
A special item of clothing (always new PJs here) each
A book or 3, or book tokens each
An 'IOU' set of vouchers for hugs, special meals or favourite treats and trips, sleepovers, camping (in or out), party, fun ideas, sights, shopping, friends round/out, movie nights, taxi service, etc
Something homemade each
Something personalised each
A family game to share
Some foody treats each
A tiny gadget, or miniature toy (nano lego went down well, so do torches) each
A Christmas jumper

Look on Free/secondhand and charity shops for construction toys, family games etc.

Oh I did mean the normal plain Kindle - just for books. I don't think a 6yo needs a Fire (for anything other than keeping them out of mischief in certain situations to benefit the parents!!).

My DD had hers (just a book one, no other functions) when she was 8 and it's been fantastic, no more buying books or carrying them around on holidays. She loves it!

How about cameras? Ours have fairly decent underwater ones which are great for normal camera use but have the added feature of being able to use in the pool or at the beach which is quite fun.