Ideas for main Christmas present for 5 and 8 yr old boys

[poppysallygeorge]

I am at my wits end as a grandparent for ideas. Please no lego suggestions as they all that fathers plus new releases.

thanks

Bikes
Gadgets
Wooden railway
Hot wheels - plasticky but much liked
Books
Expensive collectibles like Scheich dinosaurs,
Dress up clothes

Lego would have been the front runner, sorry!

What do parents suggest? We used to collaborate with grandparents on large presents.

Electronics kit (eg Hot Wires)
Board games (DS1 is getting Labyrinth and Blokus)
Puzzle games for playing solo if they're into that sort of thing (eg Rush Hour, Smart Games IQ puzzler pro, Genius Square)
Toy robot (loads on Amazon with good reviews)
Magic set

The above suggestions sound good for a 5yo but my 8yo is really only interested in Lego, board games, video games, rather than toys per se. Maybe a skateboard for the 8yo if they don’t have one? Or a scalextric for both of them to share?

5yo:
Robo Alive
Botley robot
Really RAD robot
Vtech switch and go
Playmobil

8yo:
Gravitrax
Sphero mini
Roller blades
Meccano
Knex
Kidizoom watch or camera
Remote control car
Magnetic dart board

Gravitrax and hot wires have been popular for us.
8 year old loves computer games, board games and books.
My nearly 4 year old has asked for roller skates which I think we will get him.
Also escape room type games : operation escape room and bank attack my son has liked