Our sons are in their twenties now so I'm not up to speed on the current crop of kids. We only purchased presents rarely.
Mostly the boys would have a sleep over for their birthdays and go to their friends place on their birthdays. Parents fed them and basically let them do their own thing which they seemed to enjoy greatly.
I remember one year we had a couple of truck loads of soil dropped near the garden. We had 8 boys over for the weekend and they spent the whole time building roads, dams and houses in the mountain of soil. One mother remarked later that her son son told her it was the best time he had ever had in his life.
Later on we used the fill as intended in the garden and the whole thing cost very little. We have always believed that experiences endure and material things are soon broken and forgotten.
Regarding elderly parents they usually don't need more appliances and the like but they are desperate for help. Doing the harder things like tree trimming, washing windows etc will be appreciated any day of the week. Doesn't cost anything except your time.
