Small useful presents for 12, 10 & 8yr old.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

They have no idea, I have no idea. We are moving next year so going useful and minimal!

They like - science, animals, Harry Potter, Hunger games, Lord of the rings, board games, camping, swimming, climbing, cycling, piano/drums.

Ideas so far:-
nice fountain pens, ink, paper
Hogwarts Battle
Replacement pillow pets
?? Echo dot
Audio books
Highlighter pens
Dvds
Duvets.

Looking for a mixture of stocking fillers (generally all get similar things in different colours) and bigger presents (but not too physically big as will either have to move or chuck them within 6 months of Christmas). They generally get things rather than experiences (as we go out quite a bit anyway). Not massively materialistic so they may never come up with a list themselves. They don't need electronic stuff or bikes. Youngest still believes in the magic of Christmas!

Do they have torches?

When I was early teens I really, really wanted a multitool - might be good for the eldest if you think they are sensible?

Stocking fillers - initial mugs (Sainsbury's, M&s)
Fun socks (Tesco did some really cool Star Wars ones a couple of years ago.)
Toblerone
Cheap headtorch

Oh, and I picked up some Minions Fart Gun key rings in Home Bargains this week for stockings. My dc love Minions.

Oh yes usually get mugs thanks for the reminder and socks. They have torches.

These are fantastic fun! Easy to pack up and take with you too. Popular with all ages the last time we used them in the garden.
drzigs.com/

fun stationery bits and pieces
charger cables
stylus, phone cover
backpacks (decathlon do handy small ones for about £3 in fun colours)
hat
gloves
funky underwear
emoji cushion
Primark usually have loads of HP themed stuff
edible treats for the stocking
themed Monopoly

I just got the Amazon echo for dh (birthday) and the kids LOVE Alexa... so a Dot would go down well!!!

Card games like monopoly deal, cluedo shufflel, trivial pursuit etc. Just a pack of cards sized box mini version of the games.
like this cluedo one

Dd likes nail files and hair bobbles etc. DS likes animal rubbers, new swimming goggles and hats and gloves. Travel monopoly was a birthday gift they both liked and very small (dc9)

Cross post with daisy love your username!

Oh those backpacks look perfect for a cycle trip or shopping hiking. Yes some chargers sound good. Need to organise a trip to Primark and Tiger. Actually just playing cards might be good.

Getting more persuaded about the dot - would be that or Hogwarts Battle as their joint present. Do you need a subscription beyond having a broadband? Presumably it only works at home.

If you trust them - penknife and flint fire lighting tool. Carabina keyring. Harry potter trivial pursuit (it's small!). Headphones/battery power charge thing.

If they are LOTR fans, I got some 'Argonath' book ends (they will
Know what that is) when I was younger. i still have them now

We have a Harry Potter trivia game which they do play. Not too sure about the pen knife, the 12yr old would like to have a cross bow, but don't think that fits into my small and useful category! Never room on bookshelf for bookemds! Will look into more LotR stuff though. Have found a One ring necklace that I thought the 8yr old would like and then maybe get similar stuff for Harry Potter and Hunger games for 10 & 12yr old. Nearly 8yr old getting a LotR game and top trumps for birthday. 12yr old expressed interest in a LotR colouring book. None of them really do colouring though! Will get some keyrings too.

I am finding it harder now, the days of being able to produce some plastic tat as a main present are over. They mainly do homework, activities, read, play games (which we have loads of) or go on computers. We have an old console but it is rarely used. When we move and have more space we might update it but they are more into empire building type games than console games. I can see why people end up buying toiletries and Jack Wills hoodies, but none of them are really into fashion or labels and so they wouldn't see them as gifts because they get clothes anyway iykwim. Maybe that will be enough.

If they enjoy reading would a kindle be an idea? I've kept my favourite paperbacks but I use my kindle for the £1-2 books that I tend to read once. I do still buy cheap from charity shops and recycle them in the same manner, but I do enjoy my kindle as well.
Kids got kindle fires last year for £30 in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

They tend to like actual books or audio books more, but worth considering. Might put it on my list instead 😁.

If they like books then maybe a nice new set?
dd is very into Harry Potter, but had borrowed most form the library, so one year we bought her a complete nice boxed set of her own.

if they like Hunger Games, they will probably like the Gone series, and the Nought and Crosses series and Flawed (and the sequel)
Also the Maze Runner series and the Divergent series

Let them chose the decor for their new bedrooms. Give them the duvet covers as Christmas presents, and a "IOU" for the rest, that they get to choose - rugs, curtains, lamps etc.

We do have loads of books. The eldest tends to get them from school library now and we have plenty for the younger two, although 10yr old has slightly different tastes and might enjoy Eoin Colfer set.

Hand held microscope : the kind you can attach to a smart phone and magnify/take pics of what you see.

A compass: a good one not a plastic one. Mine are going through a phase of treasure map games

Invisible ink pens

Small but decent binoculars

Walkie talkies: again get good ones, not kiddie or character ones. We get lots of use out of ours on holidays too.

Moon ball /lava ball

Electronic kits : eg the kind that builds a burglar alarm for your bedroom door

Sugru

Spirit level ( I know, my dc are weirdos )

Craft bits: jewellery set, crochet or knitting kit

Strong magnets

jewellery/brush/pencil roll

Gadget shop or similar usually carry a range of key rings - some are bottle openers/ secret money stash/ mini flash light/ etc They usually have a variety of credit card type gadgets too

Book light

Book marks

Glow in the dark star stickers for new room

Rainbow/star projector

I have bought Harry Potter and Hunter games jewellery (necklaces and earrings) from Amazon in previous years.
This year I have put away Harry Potter fleece blankets, pjs, socks, wash/toiletry bags, tshirts, Harry Potter backpacks - all from Primark in the past few weeks.

Oh and Harry Potter duvet cover from Primark as well.

Bike computers...Decathlon have them for about £10.

More great ideas. Strangely enough one of mine probably would like a spirit level to go with last year's set square!