I give the young people in our extended family a check and a box of candy for Christmas. I don’t even bother with a gift card, it’s too much trouble for them to keep track of. They probably use the money to buy electronics. If the kids are real young, I make the check out to the parents and mark it, for college fund. They appreciate it. The kids get tons of junk and toys anyway.
For Christmas for the toddler in our clan, I gave him a little gift bag of kiddie cookies and crackers (after consulting with his Mom of course) and then a check to the parents which they could spend on what the kid needs. That kid gets tons of toys and doesn’t need more crap. The Mom says, no stuffed animals, they have too many now.