LBP is disappointing for me atleast its cute and cuddly but at times the game is very unfair and the controls are horrid some PSN games hmm.. thats a hard one there is a geometry wars clone I think its called "everyday shooter" ( don't quote me on that) and there is flower...flower is very calming and literally anyone can play the game its great for when you had a stressful day I personally am addicted to fat princess its fun its a unique blend of RTS with 32 player team deathmatch and cake...a lot of cake trust me you will like it wish I can be more helpful but the PSN to me isn't that great in the downloaded games department

The thing is, with Downloadable games You'd have to make your own account on their playstation first in order to download them before christmas. It may be a good idea to set yourself up with a master account and create sub accounts for the kids (however, sub accounts sometimes have limited online capabilities which may prove annoying for your 15 year old, I'm 16 myself and I would feel it insulting if my parents were to try and restrict any game content from me on games I buy). Good games - Flower is a relaxing experience but probably wouldnt interest the younger kids (maybe a game for you/your wife to relax with?)

Perhaps if you're getting them LBP it would be a good idea to get them some downloadable content for that, like costume packs or level editing tools. (there's a water expansion coming out soon as well as a history pack that's out now)

If your daughter loves RPGS perhaps Eternal Sonata would be a suitable game for her, it's not only fun but educational (how lame does that sound?) It teaches about classical composer Chopin in intervals between chapters. Final Fantasy XIII would definatley be a contendor when that's released. Rathet and Clank may also be a suitable series to look into. It's one of the last conventional platformers that doesn't suck. If your comfortable with you child playing some more grown up games perhaps Uncharted 1/2 would be a good idea, it's a great game if not a bit violent

In terms of good downloadable games: Battlefield 1943 feels like a retail title and it only costs fifteen bucks. It's a pretty amazing value, but I'm not sure if anybody in your family is into FPSs. Bionic Commando Rearmed is also a very cool platformer, if that would interest anybody. Can't think of any more off the top of my head, but I know there are others (check out Trine, by the way -- it just came out, I think).

I can't say what you and your family would enjoy, but I can mention some titles that I've liked or would like to play.

Crash Commando
Shatter
Super Stardust HD
Uno

Also check out some of the PS1 games. There's a few jems in the current selection.

New PS3?! Geez.. you miss a few blogs and you're totally out of the loop.

I can't really recommend any RPGs (unless you count PS1 titles like Final Fantasy VII) but of the few PSN games I've played I would recommend Shatter and Flower. Shatter a fun Breakout style game. Flower is a game the defies description. It really shouldn't be fun, but it is. It's almost a zen experience.

I remembered another one: Lumines Supernova. Very cool, musical, therapeutic puzzle game. I can't imagine anyone not liking it.

Noby Noby Boy looks cool.

i just got a ps3 for my birthday, and there are some interesting downloads. for your kids, i'm not sure.. but you might like 'echochrome', or 'pixel junk eden', or 'noby noby boy' (a sort of physics-based chill-out game). i like those kinds of games.. more 'arty' kind of stuff.

'lumines' too, is a fun music puzzle game.

Final Fantasy VII, Sudikon, and Wild Arms all look like pretty good RPGs for the PSN. There's also games like Locoroco and Lumminies Supernova. And then there's the slightly more obsucres PSN titles like the Last Guy. And the PSN probably has the best versions of mutiplatform downloadable titles since the PS3's D-Pad is more suited to old-style games, so there's Mega Man 9 and Commando 3. As much of a fan as I am of the 360, I honestly have to say that PSN's downloadable service interests me SLIGHTLY more.

@AlmightyMax:

it's good, but the controls take some time to get used to because it uses the sixaxis to tilt and rotate the camera. it's kind of fiddly for young children.

Ah, thanks, guys. Those all sound like great choices.