Ideas for kids gifts that look bigger or more expensive than they are

[Deminism]

We are on a tight budget this year. Stocking are sorted but we have birthdays and Christmas for kids turning 3, 6 and 8. I don’t want to buy rubbish that will break quickly. I am happy to buy on eBay though. Any ideas for toys and games that look bigger/more expensive than they are? Eg I just bought a v cool brio train shed on eBay for ds. It is huge and looks way impressive. He will love it. But not that expensive as was £25 second hand.

Garden games? ... like a basket ball net or a goal? they are always seen as big presents but can actually get for cheap?!

What about things for their bedrooms? Flying Tiger has rag rugs in at the minute for £10. They come rolled up and would look like a big gift, but only a tenner. My 8 year olds love choosing things for their room

Ikea also good for that kind of thing - rugs, cushions etc.

Dolls house, toy garages, toy kitchens and toy workstations? Ride on toys /balance bikes
Dolls crib /pram. Dressing up box with clothes

The Works do 10 books for £10.

The Enchantimals play house is HUGE and only £25-£30 brand new. The dolls are also only £6 too. I got it for a 5 year old in my family last year and it went down an absolute treat! It's still up and getting played with now. It also looked impressive because it came in a gigantic box!

I’ve been able pick up he big imaginext bat cave in a charity shop in the past. I also brought. A bundle of second hand ELC houses with characters on eBay. I wrapped a huge box and put it all in there.

Play tent
Teddy bear blankets in their favourite colour
Easel for the little one
Slime/ other experiment sets for the bigger ones.

I’d look at Tesco’s half price toy sale (and Sainsbury’s is starting next week too apparently).

I bought my two year old a massive toy car transporter filled with 14 cars and a load of other bits and bobs for £15 reduced from £30 in the sale. It is huge and he’s going to love it. There’s loads of other bits (including lots of licensed Paw Patrol / PJ Masks / Shopkins / My Little Pony / whatever gubbins). Really recommend a walk around if you get some time.

This is the transporter. The photo doesn’t do it justice, it’s hugs. We’re giving it to him as his main present :)

Little Tykes car transporter, well made and huge - they last for years. Comes with two large chunky cars. £25 in at the moment. Smyths do them too.

Meant to say in Argos...Smyths do them too!

That car transporter linked above is great! Ive bought it for 2 year old ds and I know he will love it. Its also in a massive box so will look very impressive.
Asda have got giant plush toys at the minute. I bought a dinosaur one the other day and its easily the same height as my toddler and he is tall. There £25 but ive seen similar at much more in the past. They have different ones as well. I also saw unicorns and llamas.

A spacehopper.
Hula hoops.
I would probably wrap up something your older two have grown out of for the little one, if you have any such stuff lurking in the loft.

Bean bag for their room
Fluffy blanket from pirmark
Fairy lights from primark
Big box filled with crafty bits, like a hamper

There was mention on the bargain thread of a lego bundle for sale in tesco. May be all snapped up but worth a look if you have a big tesco nearby.

Halfords have stunt scooters reduced from £80 to 24 in the age 5+ section and from £70 to 24 in the age 8+ section (Although the dimensions and details are pretty much the same for both). Can also get a stunt scooter ramp for £15 from amazon which will all wrap up nice and large! Sorry I can’t do links.

Oh these are great ideas thank you. I think 8yo would love a bean bag for her room (except how do you stop them opening the bloody zip like she did to one in the holiday villa we rented this year!)

Basketball net in smyths 39.99, we have bought it.

Asda do dolls houses and a play kitchen and shop that are amazingly cheap for what they are. DD us getting one of them for Xmas. If I can choose!

Why do gifts have to look bigger and more expensive than they are? Surely kids don't care about how much you spent but rather about getting something they like?

A helium balloon

B&m do lots of toys fairly cheap and they had 2 for £16 on recently

Look at Facebook groups and Market place. You just got to sift through the glitter glass and all of that.

Also some toys in Amazon are cheaper.

Also B&M- love it

Things from gumtree!

Dd got a really nice toy kitchen v cheaply last year, ditto a lovely rocking horse, as new, for IIRC £50.