now that we've established what NOT to buy...what DO we buy???

[cutekids]

I have a dd of 11
ds of 10
dd 0f 9
They love their Laptops....Facebook and MSN lol!...and they still occasionally use their WII,DSs,PSPs.
What on earth can I get them these days????

I've just bought DD (8) a theatre ticket, so she and I can have a girly night out to HSM2 in February.

DS1 (9) is getting a huge Lewis Hamilton print as his main present. I'm going to get it mounted or framed once it arrives, and then probably a few other F1 related bits and pieces.

DS2's (will be 6 by Christmas) main present is a HSM MP3 player - he loves music and dancing so seems ideal. He also wants a calendar so will buy him that and a few random small items as well.

DS3 (2 1/2) is getting one of those junior trampolines from Argos so he can bounce to his hearts content - and probably a few random other bits as well.

Well I would say something non-computer-ish (but then I don't think children should be on Facebook or MSN tbh so may be well off mark here ):

11 year old dd - cute necklaces, badges, brooches / a funky bag from Topshop or Accessorise / clothes / journal and gel pens / sewing stuff / art stuff / Twilight books / skincare stuff / ears pierced

9 year old - journal and gel pens / Klutz fashion designs books / cosy PJs and slipper socks / pastels and nice sketch book / sewing stuff / fairy lights for bedroom

Ds (7) is having a bike from my sisters, mum, aunt and I. He has asked for Guitar Hero for the PS2 which FC is bringing. I've also got him a miniature real tool kit - though I think I'm going to love it more than he is . He'll also get some clothes, socks, boardgame etc

I was also thinking about putting together an album of photos and tickets of places we've been to and things we've done this year.

A car, a house? Seriously - I think it's a bit sad to think that by 11 they have got everything. God - I've turned into my Dad!!

This is the best toy ever made. Ever. I got one about 14 years ago for one of the 5 DCs and it's still going strong. Everyone still uses it.

thankfully still at the lego stage here

ds1 (10) wants a toy aircraft carrier (it is only 20 quid!)
dd (8) wants us to surprise her
ds2 (3) wants some toy cars (matchbox/hotwheel type)

It is going to be an easy Christmas!

Lego

Another vote for the mega sketch (a huge hit in our house)

Playmobil

Wheely bug

Stacking cups

Tea set

Play food

Dd1 has a game called 'market day' which she loves (not sure if they still make it as it was 2nd hand).

Bluebell boot (from ELC).

my daughter is 14 and getting girly stuff (hello kitty)for her room eldest is mostly at boyfriends now so shes moving her stuff there.

By that age my Xmas presents were mostly clothes, jewellry and make up. My parents bought me a colour TV the Christmas I was 10, a stereo the Christmas I was 11.

My family are bugging me for ideas on what they can buy DD (about to turn 4). I am clueless. Last year they bought her everything Peppa Pig, the house, cars, classroom, park etc etc etc and she has played with it all less than a handful of times. I told them a kiddies digital camera as she loves using my camera, and my uncle has given her his old laptop as she would happily spend an eternity on the cbeebies website if I'd let her, but need more ideas for my mum, gran, and aunties. Please help.

dd7 is having (and would like)

a ds lite with cat game, she wrote her her letter this morning to FC, and it consists of the ds, The magic finger by Roald Dahl, and the Girls doodle book.

If your child loves drawing i would totally recommend the Doodle books, they are just £5 on amazon, instead of rrp £10. here!

Have also got her a pop up toaster, and a really cool pretend kettle form tesco. Just need to find a cheap but great dinner set/t set type.

Have also scoured shops during the yr for cheap arty stuff. Oh and i got her Teeniest Tiniest littles pet shop pencil box in Toys r Us, yesterday, at £7. She has loved it for about 6 months!!

I've got ds1 a camcorder which he'll love. Ds2 an electric scooter which is on his wish list.
Amamzon have a brilliant book called Lego star wars visual dictionary on offer for about £10. I ordered it for xmas but royal mail left it out the back with no feckin' note so it was 'discovered.'

Ive got DCs (7,10,13) an ipod touch each. They have hundreds of free games and apps. DD (13) will be able to use facebook. DS(10) will be able to watch Queen on you tube, play games similar to guitar hero for free and DS (7) is having all his Roald Dahl audio books transfered onto his as well as being able to play games like pacman and link up with his bro wirelessly to play 2 player games.

Best of all I will be able to get my laptop back.

cornsilk, i'd bloody love one of those electric scootersthey sound fun.

playmobil!!!!!

and vsmile games.

and dd2 will be inheriting an old gameboy color and pokemon game. pikachu is much loved in our house.

computer games and phones here ...except for dd4 who is getting toy kitchen and light show projector thingy for her sensory corner .

DS1 (8) has been and handed his warhammer wishlist in at Games Workshop - so various rather foul sounding goblins and dwarfs.

DS2 (6) wants lego, which I am resisting as he has no interest or skill in building the models. Otherwise anything Liverpool and footie related.

peeeeeeekachu - ds (8) is more of a piplup fan jemart though he too loves pikachu. In fact, we got him pokemon diamond and pearl for the ds for his birthday and I don't think he's ever been happier . There's a pokemon poster on amazon too jemart which went down v well with ds.

I haven't thought about christmas presents yet. Ds has just got into Astrosaurs and Beast Quest so will get him some of those books.

Dd (9) has started really enjoying historical fiction novels (so like her dad!) so I will hunt out some historical type novels for her.

Got dd some sylvanians in the sainsburys sale (even though she's quite old for them she still loves them!) and some lego for both of them.

My 4 year old got this

and

this

for her birthday in September and both have had tons of use, very popular with visiting children as well. Nice to have something they can sit down and do together.

forcessweetheart- The digital camera? Have you seen the TJ Hughes ad on the TV? They have Disney ones for £10!! I think i'm getting DS (5 by xmas) one as he's very interested in taking pics etc.

DS is getting lots of ben 10 & power rangers figures and a storage tub to keep them all in...

DD1 (3.6yo) is getting a puppy go walkies and a few barbies.

DD2 (10mths by xmas) will get a handful of lamaze toys and a few books.

Amongst the usual clothing, shoes, bubble bath, colouring books etc...

I'm just stuck for what to buy DS for his birthday.... maybe i could get him the camera for that!!

just come back to this....mathanxiety,when i saw your link,i just KNEW it was going to be a megasketcher thing.We got the 3 of them x 1 each when they were about 2,3 and 4 and they still revert back to them every now and again...even now! (not the battery-operated ones though that someone thought they could replace them with...they weren't half as good!)