[vel0city]

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.

[oblio]

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.

[vel0city]

> Is a Lego Technics set a toy?

Expensive plastic, still a toy. Guess you're right it's not cheap. Definitely depends on the kid on this one. Legos can be OK toys, one of the few rare exceptions.

> Is a model plane that requires assembly a toy?

For the kind most people would just give as a gift? Absolutely just cheap plastic trash. It's definitely a hobby one can get into, but the quick gift stuff is pretty poor quality. And that model, once built, is probably fragile. Kids aren't often known for handling fragile things well.

> Is a drone a toy?

The cheap ones? Absolutely.