I recently was at a birthday event for my niece, whose family is fairly affluent. Most of the toys were quite expensive things for a 3 year old, complex computer looking workstations made of plastic or faux kitchen accessories.
We gave her a small soccer ball (kid size, but well made). Once she opened it, she stopped unwrapping presents and wanted to play with the soccer ball. She ignored everything else the rest of the afternoon to kick the ball around the picnic tables. She threw tantrum when they had to pick up the ball to go home (even though she was still holding the ball).
Something well made, the function and form of which has proven the test of time. Buy your kid a baseball, not an apple watch.
In another time and space, we used to say, style trumps fashion.
We gave her a small soccer ball (kid size, but well made). Once she opened it, she stopped unwrapping presents and wanted to play with the soccer ball. She ignored everything else the rest of the afternoon to kick the ball around the picnic tables. She threw tantrum when they had to pick up the ball to go home (even though she was still holding the ball).