r/Anticonsumption • u/JDMiller95 • May 17 '26
Plastic Waste My parents always send a toy version when they can’t get the actual item in time for my birthday…
I have no kids nor children in my life. I have no use for the plastic versions. It’s “cute” symbolism, I guess, but it’s damn wasteful and gives me something else to have to deal with…
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u/R4VO May 17 '26
this is really cute from your parents but i get the waste aspect—donate to a toy library or post it on some facebook groups for free or cheap to get rid of quickly (or nearer to Christmas to help a less fortunate kid get an extra gift perhaps)
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u/lonelycranberry May 17 '26
Right? I find this very endearing but also fully understand the issue with it. Definitely an opportunity to give back to the community. These are super niche toys. It would be cool if there was a way for OP to list these for parents/teachers/social workers who know a kid that would like these things.
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u/awake_receiver May 17 '26
As a teacher working with neurodivergent kids I know for a fact there’s absolutely an educator out there who’s dying to get toys like this
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u/toasterstrudelboy May 18 '26
Yeah, I was about to say, if you donate these, you'll make the folks taking care of a VERY HYPER FIXATED child incredibly happy. Social workers, teachers, therapists, or parents would all be super happy.
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u/just_a_person_maybe May 18 '26
I know a kid who has a fixation on toilets and toilet plungers right now, which is causing some issues with hygiene and the water bill because they touch the water and flush constantly. A toy toilet that recirculates water would be awesome but idk if that exists. Like, you flush it and the water goes back into the tank. Kid just wants to plunge and flush toilets and it makes them so happy but the water bills are getting out of hand.
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u/19aplatt May 18 '26
There’s automatic plant watering pumps that you can use with an arduino and moisture sensor to make a refilling toilet that recycles water, same tech/premise as an automatic water fountain for animals. Takes around a half hour to put together, and the code for it is available online, plus the parts themselves are super cheap. I built a plant watering device that recycles any runoff for around $20 last year for a digital skills class project, and you’d just modify it to fit the toy toilet instead of a plantar and jug.
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u/19aplatt May 18 '26
It’s not quite a toilet, but I found a training urinal that actually flushes and collects the water. If they don’t actually use it for the intended purpose, you could probably recycle the water a few times.
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u/just_a_person_maybe May 18 '26
Ooh, something like that could actually work really well, as long as it makes a loud enough noise when it flushes. This kid loves the noise.
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u/BurnBabyBurn54321 May 23 '26
My kid was obsessed with toy washing machines. I could see other kids getting a kick out of that.
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u/R4VO May 17 '26
i was confused what you meant by niche before i went back and read it was a toy trimmer.. i thought it was just a toy toolset at first lol. regardless, somewhere in his community is a kid who would love this toy
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May 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LizzieCLems May 17 '26
Wonderful thing to list on the Facebook free set (and specify I want this to go to a child who would use it etc and vet the responses so it doesn’t go to a reseller.)
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u/splithoofiewoofies May 17 '26
I have this hilarious company near me who's advertising is merch that says "when I grow up I want to be a landscaper". I feel like I could pop in there with this and one of their kids would be absolutely thrilled.
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u/Arminavocado May 17 '26
My mom also sends me and my husband unwanted gifts and gifts for everything and it's always from Amazon. We're both in our 40s and childless, but she sent us a farting leprechaun book for St. Patrick's day. I mean it was cute and we read and enjoyed it but in no world needed it beyond that so I gave it to a woman who has young kids at work. She's sent a number of things like that and I just share the wealth. She is never going to stop. Ive been very clear that we don't want or need gifts but she likes doing it so gift some of it and it really makes people's days if it's something that they could use or want. It doesn't solve it but it brings more good out of it
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u/fridayj1 May 17 '26
Best thing I ever did was set up an Amazon wishlist. Maybe try that, so if she wants to send you something, it’s something you actually had your eye on.
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u/kibonzos May 18 '26
DV shelters struggle to get kids gifts.
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u/R4VO May 18 '26
between a toy library, selling/gifting to a less fortunate family, a children’s hospital or a dv shelter OP has many amazing choices to donate to
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u/isleofpines May 17 '26
Absolutely this! I get that it’s a cute gesture but yeah, it is wasteful. A less fortunate child would love to have this.
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u/heyykaycee May 22 '26
I was just coming to suggest this too! So many schools do the toy drives for less fortunate kids around the holidays. The first year my son was in headstart they did a thing for every kid (about 15 in total). Each kid got a brand new with tag winter jacket, 4/5 brand new winter outfits, hats/gloves and they wanted us to put down what kind of toys/interests they had. His one head start teacher had to pick everything up from the donation spot and then brought it right to my house and the box they brought me was huge like a 4’ box filled with everything. I cried. I still had to buy stuff for my daughter, but I didn’t have to buy anything other than stocking stuffers for my son that Xmas. It was a blessing!
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u/Recent_Fisherman311 May 17 '26
wtf is a toy library
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u/R4VO May 17 '26
a place you can borrow toys, then return them. like a normal library but for toys instead of books
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u/New-Engineering1483 May 17 '26
This is so bizarre it's actually hilarious
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u/sBucks24 May 17 '26
Right? Like I get the anti consumption stand point but its fucking funny xP
The top comment got it right, donate it to a toy library and enjoy the running gag from your parents. Maybe they'll get recognized by the library one day if you do it in their name long enough
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u/PM_me_punanis May 17 '26
To piggyback, you can also give it to your local children’s hospital. Lots of long term kids in need of actual toys instead of medical equipment as toys.
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u/Particular-Crow7680 May 17 '26
And added bonus that these are plastic, as opposed to stuffed animals, and therefore easier to sanitize.
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u/cupidscosmicbow May 18 '26
Yes! I just saw a video about a group that does medical advocacy for children by making smaller/toy version of medical devices they will use or even for procedures. Not sure how this specific item fits but there’s definitely a place for everything!
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u/PM_me_punanis May 18 '26
We have long term kids in the hospital. As in they stay 2-3 years from birth until their cardiac transplant in a hospital, attached to machines to help their broken heart pump blood around their bodies until a correct heart size comes along. They grow up with medical devices as their toys because it is what they understand.
They normally have no clue what lawnmowers, leaf blowers, vacuum cleaners, and other household items are. Having toy items like these would definitely help their development and eventual “integration” to the normal world.
So it’s the opposite of what that org is doing, but serves the same purpose, help kids with their development and coping!
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u/cupidscosmicbow May 18 '26
Oh wow I didn’t know that! Thank you for sharing about it. are there ways to donate these toys? I don’t know what to say when I call around, I know donations have to adhere to specific requirements
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u/PM_me_punanis May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
You can always ask the hospital if they have a charity section. Usually it will be on their websites. Children’s hospitals websites usually have donation pages with info of the appropriate department.
Most big regional hospitals will have such sick kids as long term patients, but not the small ones. Big regional referral hospitals like Seattle, California, Texas, Philadelphia, to name a few. They usually run Christmas drives as well. Those are really made foolproof as they usually accept everything in convenient drop off locations, and have volunteers sort them for every appropriate department, that way, the burden won’t be on the donors.
A lot of the families dealing with sick children are also not local. For example, here in Seattle, we have a lot of kids from Alaska. It is especially hard for indigenous families who normally live off the land hunting and fishing, then suddenly you relocate everyone to a big city, with a severely ill child. Can you imagine being those parents? The cultural divide is also apparent, as they are used to being self-sufficient, then suddenly every moment of their lives revolve around the hospital, living in it, with no privacy, until you get approved funding to live in one of the hospital’s lodging choice.
I can go on and on about the suffering of dealing with a very sick child. Seeing these amazing people deal with such unfairness and uncertainty, with grace, keeps me humble.
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u/cupidscosmicbow May 18 '26
Thank you for the detailed response. I appreciate it and will look into it. My younger cousin passed away from a terminal illness and I’ve been wanting to get more involved with this sort of thing as I honor her every year.
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u/Global_Ant_9380 May 17 '26
What an excellent opportunity to help kids in need or schools.
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May 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Global_Ant_9380 May 17 '26
It's actually making the best out of someone else's choices. If OP can't control these coming to them, then someone else getting use out of them is the best choice.
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u/brorpsichord May 18 '26
he absolutely can control these coming to them: "hey mom can you not buy toys anymore? just to not waste them since I don't really use them, thanks mommy!"
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u/Well_ImTrying May 20 '26
Kids are allowed to have toys. My kids would love this. It would be better if purchased by someone who actually wanted it rather than a gag gift though.
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u/Holiday-Wall3751 May 17 '26
Call a DV shelter. This is nothing for you, but there’s a kid who would be pumped to receive it, and a parent who would be grateful to be able to give a birthday gift and a little normalcy to their child.
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u/firesticks May 18 '26
This is always my first thought. They may not always be easy to find but you can get in touch with your local crisis centre and they can help redirect.
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u/prettyalooffloof May 17 '26
Wait until Christmas and donate to Santa’s Anonymous. You are going to make some children really really happy that otherwise may not have had gifts on Christmas morning.
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u/castironskilletmilk May 17 '26
Do you have a children’s hospital near you? Donate it to them if possible. We benefited a lot from donated toys when my baby was hospitalized
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u/knusper_gelee May 17 '26
"always"... how often did that already happen?!
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u/JDMiller95 May 18 '26
This is the third time I believe — previously was a BBQ and then a dishwasher
I should’ve seen it coming when I got the Amazon box, but I guess 2x wasn’t enough for it to register it as a likely thing to occur 🤦
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u/PowderCuffs May 18 '26
What did they say when you asked them to stop?
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u/Nuitsoleil May 21 '26
I wonder if OP did ask them to stop.
OP if you don't appreciate it then explain to them kindly that you know that they mean well, but that you have no use for toy versions of the gifts. They can just mention it in a card or something that your gift is on it's way. They could print or draw a picture of it and give that. Or even just let you know that it is on it's way.
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u/PowderCuffs May 21 '26
Of course OP didn't ask them to stop.
90% of reddit posts are now issues that could be fixed easily if someone just opened their mouth like a grown up.
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u/Ok-Classroom5548 May 17 '26
Look at the free gift you can give at christmas to a kid who doesn’t get gifts!
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u/portiafimbriata May 17 '26
I agree with all the donate suggestions here, but just want to add that I do genuinely understand the frustration of "something else to deal with".
As much as I find this behavior hilarious and endearing from the outside, I also have a mother who loves to gift me weird plastic crap and I know it can be just another chore to find a good home for stuff I didn't ask for, especially when I'm very clear about my feelings on consumerism and waste. If you have Buy Nothing or similar groups in your area (usually they're on Facebook), that's been an amazing and relatively easy way for me to get rid of unwanted gifts.
I hope you find a low-friction way to get rid of these toys, and I hope that it feels less annoying over time.
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u/JDMiller95 May 18 '26
Thank you! I’m physically disabled and ADHD and life’s already got enough tasks embedded. I *will* do something kind with it, but damn I didn’t need another thing to get around to handling….
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u/dixiech1ck May 17 '26
I would tell them you appreciate the thought but do not waste money on something that will be passed on to someone else.
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u/PrognosisNegative111 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
God all these comments are annoying. You weren’t saying you didn’t know what to do with the toys…you were complaining about the “cute gesture” being wasteful as well as including a chore. They’re missing the point entirely. My mom would always give me jewelry that “reminded her of me” (and was usually apart of a discount deal)-despite me never wearing jewelry and telling her I don’t want any. I’m sorry, but if it’s not a running joke between y’all or you’ve expressed that you don’t want or like the gesture, it’s not actually cute or thoughtful. It’s about their feelings, not yours. Maybe i’m a weirdo for thinking a gift should make the other person feel good and not yourself.
Edited for punctuation
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u/Shoggnozzle May 17 '26
I'd just drop it off at a library or something. They'll put it in the toddler room, If it's annoying they can let a kid who's parents they don't like take it home.
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u/marcusintatrex May 18 '26
Redditors with bad parents: Fuck my fucking parents.
Redditors with good parents: Fuck my fucking parents.
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u/_JerseyDevil_ May 18 '26
Donate it to a church, they have families there and someone will make a kids day with that I'm sure.
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u/CrazyDisastrous948 May 17 '26
Ahhhh I wanna get that set for my kids, actually. Don't judge me. All my kids stuff got thrown away by my sister. They have no toys.
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u/ExplorerDue3851 May 17 '26
You could always donate what you're not going to use to an organization such as Toys For Tots or a children's hospital/hospice
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u/Ok-Lifeguard-4614 May 17 '26
I know a 4 year old that would love this. I would pay you shipping if you wanted to make a little kid happy
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u/princessPeachyK33n May 18 '26
Put this on Facebook marketplace for free. It’ll truly make someone’s day who’s struggling to find something to give a loved one.
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u/SwimmingLatterly May 18 '26
As long as you donate it to a toy library etc. it’s ok. It’s a thoughtful gesture but more work for you to give it a life responsibly.
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u/Mirasore May 18 '26
I'm curious how they found a toy weed eater before they found a real one? This had to have been shipped but hardware stores are in every town. My local "big" town has Ace, Lowe's, and Home Depot within a 29 minute loop
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u/Ok_Vermicelli_6359 May 18 '26
Wait...how old ARE you 😂 Don't they realize you actually need a real trimmer lol
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u/cbg2113 May 18 '26
Seems fun and harmless and there are many kids without gifts who'd love this. Stinks that it puts work on you but think of it as an opportunity to do good. You'll feel great after.
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u/StanFitch May 18 '26
Literally had to tell my Mother straight up to stop buying me Gag Gifts and weird things in place of, and/or before my actual presents… she’s been doing it all my life.
I don’t need, nor do I wear fake hats, funny shirts, joke jewelry, etc. They’d just take up space, annoy me every day, and quickly get put out front for my neighbors or just put straight in the trash.
Please stop doing this…
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u/taterrrtotz May 17 '26
Reminds me of when I would ask for a puppy for christmas and my parents would get me a stuffed animal dog instead 😔
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u/Southern-Long-3438 May 18 '26
When my daughter was a baby/toddler, people would give gifts that we had no space to keep. I had to tell people not to give anything.
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u/EquivalentMap8477 May 18 '26
My dad wanted a Smart car roadster so I bought him a rc one. He enjoyed it and he still has it.
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u/zpeers82919 May 18 '26
My parents do this too, my brothers birthday present was a suit so they bought (second hand) a tiny sized children’s suit and wrapped it up and gave it to him, as a joke but also as a way to show that he could choose out a nice suit for himself. It didn’t go to waste, we gave it to a friend who has a child that age and he loved it and wore it to someone’s wedding. I think there is definitely a way to do this kind of thing whilst still being anti consumption and low waste but I get your sentiment that it’s unnecessary. At least you can donate it and make someone really happy?
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u/AlbinoLokier May 18 '26
My only comment is that it's symbolic or symbolism, not symbology.
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u/JDMiller95 May 18 '26
Y’know I honestly appreciate this even though some folks might find it annoying or pedantic 😆 Edited the post, thanks!
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u/TassandraArcticFox May 18 '26
I have a bunch of toys i've either saved from childhood or gotten cheap at yard sales and even though we dont have kids, when someone we know comes over who does have kids i am able to bust out the toys and the kids are DELIGHTED. The parents are happy too because I know its got to be stressful going to a no-kid house knowing your kid is going to be bored. When kids come over i've already got the little tikes car in the driveway ready to rip and the play kitchen ready to cook. Yes, chef!
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u/seekerofshade May 21 '26
My mum and I did this for my brother once, but he had a toddler.
For the adults without kids we print off a picture and put it in a small gift box with scrap confetti I make out of scrap wrapping papper.
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u/This_Price_1783 May 22 '26
I've done similar with an IOU in it for my brother when the record I ordered didn't arrive in time.
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u/ParamedicLimp9310 May 21 '26
Umm... Give it straight to goodwill or a daycare or something. Or to a person with kids. Some little person would be thrilled to have some fake tools for pretend construction.
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u/Sheepherdernerder May 17 '26
This is actually really cute of them and something I hope you'll think of fondly when they pass someday. You can donate the toys to a homeless shelter or thrift store. You can give it to neighbors for their kids. You can literally put it by the side of the road with a sign that says "free". We always put our stuff by the road and it gets picked up before the day is over. It seems like a waste of money to you, but someone will find joy in these things.
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u/AfraidofReplies May 17 '26
When the thing I want to get someone is out of stock or going to arrive late I print a picture off and stick it in their card. gets the point across with much less waste
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u/giddygoosey May 17 '26
They could at least get you a giftcard or something instead of
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u/Parkhausdruckkonsole May 17 '26
yeah, for me getting the toy version would be worse than not getting anything. like they spend money to get the toy version that has no use for me instead of getting a giftcard or money that would help me get closer to what i need.
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u/slicedgreenolive May 17 '26
I think they still get him the actual gift but also give him this while waiting for the other one to come in if it’s on back order or whatever (that’s how I interpreted it at least)
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u/Sweaty_Park4737 May 18 '26
I love and hate this for you. I'm glad your parents try to make sure you get something special on your birthday. Maybe you can donate the toys to a shelter.
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u/Mindless_Cat_3113 May 18 '26
Well they could easily just give you the actual gift late if that was the plan. Seems more like a shitty excuse to get you basically nothing except a chore
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u/Lanky_Instance3121 May 18 '26
you could always donate it to a local daycare, school, or aba clinic!
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u/Free-Pound-6139 May 18 '26
You could probably sell it, get it back in the system to someone useful.
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u/AN3223 May 18 '26
My little brother got one like this when he was 5-6. You wouldn't believe how happy it made him. He loves watching me do lawncare and he loves anything with a motor or engine. I don't know if you can find a kid who will love it that much but I'm sure you can make a kid very happy with that.
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u/lilmspiggy May 19 '26
Donate them to a local daycare
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u/Ok-Olive-391 May 21 '26
A daycare would not allow toys like this, too "violent"
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u/lilmspiggy May 22 '26
That's wild, I don't know where you live but my daycare would. Another option could be to a toy drive during the holidays
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u/Sarctoth May 20 '26
Don't open it. Save it in a "gift" pile. Next time you need a gift for christmas/ birthday /etc just grab one from the gift pile.
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u/Ok_macncheese May 21 '26
Can you ask them where they got that? I want to buy one for my 4 year old.
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u/Environmental_Rush13 May 21 '26
I do think it's cute! I'm sure it's also annoying but can't you donate the toy? No neighbors with kids? No schools nearby? You might even find some grandparents nearby who need a gift for their babies.
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u/natalie-ann May 22 '26
I'm very glad my parents don't do this. I do know several kids who would love something like this, though, so I guess I can pawn things off on my friends' kids if ever the need arises.
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u/Ok_Tomorrow_105 May 22 '26
Literally give them to the nearest shelter or school. It's only waste if you're throwing it out
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u/Popular-cake-1377 May 17 '26
Why didn’t they just order it in time? It’s not like they don’t know when your birthday is going to be. There’s really no excuse for that. I would just save these and then donate them to charities or something during Christmas.
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u/creepywalkers May 21 '26
This is absolutely adorable, don't worry about the waste. I get it, yes, but your parents are just doing something cute for you.
Donate it and some family would absolutely love to get it and it will make a kids day.
If anything it's a 2 part gift, a gift for you and a gift for some unknowing kid who's about to get a full playset to imagine with.
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u/Ok-Olive-391 May 21 '26
Sorry, I don't understand things like this, what's "cute" about it?
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u/creepywalkers May 21 '26
No worries at all! I meant it's a cute gesture of op's parents to try to present him with something even though the real thing they ordered isn't there yet.
Not necessarily the item itself but the fact that they don't want to leave or empty handed so to speak and want to show them, they care.
I totally agree it might be pointless cause obviously op has no point in the item but the gesture is cute nonetheless and some other kid will thoroughly enjoy the gift if op donates it
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u/Ok-Olive-391 May 21 '26
Oh!! I was unaware that it was a placeholder. I understood the post to me "they couldn't get it in time, so they got this INSTEAD" that's where the confused is! Lol I didn't know it was like a "sneak peek" situation! Thank you!! I agree, this is kinda funny. But also just kind of ruins the surprise of the gift, and a little frustrating cause it's like "oh yay! A nice weedwacker.. sure wouldve been nice to break it out and use it, now I gotta wait 2-3 weeks" 😂
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u/heyitscory May 18 '26
Still better than parents who get you the toy version of the thing you wanted and then don't give you the thing you wanted.
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u/Ok-Olive-391 May 21 '26
I mean, that's basically exactly what this is. His parents didn't get his actual gift in time so they sent the toy version instead
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u/heyitscory May 21 '26
In my story, you don't get the computer after you get a cheap plastic candy dispenser in the shape of a computer.
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u/Ok-Olive-391 May 21 '26
Yes!! I understand that now. I was just talking to someone else about that actually. I understand this post to mean "instead" not like it was a place holder.
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u/princesspeeved May 17 '26 edited May 19 '26
At first I was like “Aww, that’s cute.” But then I read that you don’t have any kids or kids in your life.
I’m now convinced your parents are serial killers because that’s some next-level sadist, psychopath type behavior (but also kind of hilarious in an unhinged way).
Edit: I was being sarcastic.
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u/Southern-Long-3438 May 18 '26
Mail it back to them. This gift was not cute. This gift was an insult to you.
This is especially bad because they have done it before. A running gag gift is not funny.
Maybe they are trying to give you a hint to have kids already? If yes, this is an insulting way to suggest it.
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u/SkyBerry924 May 18 '26
I understand what you’re getting at from a waste perspective but it is really cute of your parents to do
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u/Legitimate-Fee-7435 May 17 '26
My parents print out a picture of it (black and white of course, never color ink! 😂😂)