Cant believe I have to answer these questions but here we go
- lego is a toy
- model plane that requires assembly is very likely a toy
- some drones a toy
if you meet a family with a baby or a toddler do not buy them a fucking toy, it is simple as that. it pollutes the planet and brings nothing good to anyone, not a child, not a parent and not you wasting money on stupid shit
As a parent I largely agree with this take. Most toys people buy my kids are essentially cheap plastic trash that won't last a season of interest but emotional toil to try and get rid of.
If you must get something outside of a donation to education savings, please either get a relevant book, something genuinely useful, or some kind of consumable. A pair of fun socks. A good a new backpack. Tickets to a sports game or a museum. A bag of snacks. A few sheets of stickers. New legitimate sports equipment (if they're into the sport and could actually use it). All of these are far better than some cheap plastic noise maker.
The things I listed aren't "cheap plastic noise makers". You can get good toys, most people don't bother.
They wouldn't bother with good snacks (they'll probably buy a huge bag of gummy bears or lollipops) or good socks (they'll get some funny 100% polyester socks).
Oh, and "few sheets of stickers" are also pollution, they're basically 100% plastic.
you hope my childhood was filled with endless stream of useless play-with-them-2-hours-then-get-the-next-one toys followed by phones and tablets when I was strong enough to hold them? very happy to report my childhood was not wasted that way