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At this time of the year we're beginning to reflect on the wisdom of the toys given to our children at Christmas... Are they worth the money spent on them? Being played with? Enriching your child's life? If you're among those thinking you could have made some better choices, vow to make next year different and start planning now. It's easy to choose toys with great lasting power once you learn what makes a good toy. I've always worked on the principle it's best to spend big dollars on toys with lasting play value than to spend money on cheaper versions or toys that don't get played with and/or add no value to a child's life.

It makes sense to buy quality toys. It's true that a craftsperson is only as good as her tools. For children, toys and playthings are tools with which they learn about their world. I've found that there are basic toys, just as there are basic clothes that have become the backbone of my wardrobe. I judge a toy in the same way I judge a piece of clothing: based on cost per wearing and how often I will wear it. I know that some basic toys are expensive and that brand name toys cost more than imitations, but it's always been worth in, in much the same way that I finally learned that only the best quality clothes last the distance and still look good years later. Looked at in this way quality toys, like clothes, end up costing peanuts. Bargains can be found among quality, as well as cheap, clothes - the same goes for toys. It pays to shop around, and keep an eye on the second-hand market. A friend shared the following simple guidelines with me to help me learn how to spot the toys that will wear longest, be most versatile and suit a broad range of ages.

It's important to watch children at play and see what they like and don't like, what they use over and over again or go back to, and what they quickly grow tired of or discard. See how they use their toys and play props. That alone can save you hundreds of dollars. Some children will happily neglect expensive toys to rummage about in the kitchen cupboards for hours, or swish about in the mud ignoring the fancy plastic sandpit beside them!

Next, s earch out the best dependent toy store in your area and visit it a few times. Note what attracts shoppers, especially the children. If they're allowed to play with toys, or a section set out for play, notice what the children are drawn to. Just as you choose some garments for their quality and commit to taking good care of them, you can invest in high quality toys and require that they be well cared for. That means that when you buy a toy, you plan for it's care by deciding where, and in what, it will be stored. Toys need to be accessible and easy to put away. Each toy needs a place of it's own. Dumping everything in a toy box decreases the value of your investment through lost parts, broken toys and disrespect for belongings in general.

Your children, and by extension, their belongings, deserve the time and attention that you give to yourself and your belongings. Caring for people and things is taught by example. Children do what you do, not what you say they should do. Teaching a child to care for things is part of the gift you're giving them. It teaches respect for the riches our planet provides and develops their appreciation of precision, craftsmanship and beauty.

Remember, quality toys:

• have as little detail as possible - they're simple.

• involve the whole child; body, mind and spirit - they encourage pretending.

• stimulate the child to do things for herself - watching it on TV isn't the same as doing it yourself!

• encourage involvement - a large dump truck can carry large and varied load and/or passengers; a specialized vehicle, like a backhoe, can do one thing. Toys with batteries rob a child of do-it-himself opportunities.

• are open-ended; versatile - great toys can be used many ways and all of them are "right". That's why they're a good play value.

• encourage cooperative, dramatic play - two or more kids see a baby doll with a doll bed, and soon an entire household is created. A truck, a couple of hardhats and some dirt or sand becomes a building project that engrosses them all afternoon. Add animals, people and vehicles to unit blocks and a half- dozen children of different ages are suddenly building a freeway system, a farm or an entire town.

• work as expected, are durable and safe - this characteristic is what makes quality toys worth the expense. Often, this means paying for the real thing rather than a cheaper knockoff. Knowing the real thing from the imitators requires some willingness to do your homework, just as you do when you buy a big ticket item for your home.

• are made of material that is warm and pleasant to touch - natural materials such as wood, natural fibers, water, sand, and clay are a pleasure to the senses. They are satisfying to the touch and soothing to the spirit.

• generous in proportions and quantity - there's nothing cheesy about a good plaything; they're big enough, easily manipulated, and solid-feeling.

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Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network. Beverley continues to write for homeschooling newsletters and magazines as well as hosting several websites dedicated to promoting and supporting home education in Australia. Her aim is to demystify the education process and make it accessible to all parents. Enjoy Beverley's wealth of practical knowledge, homeschooling and unschooling tips and ideas through articles and books and online at www.homeschoolaustralia.com. Since the late 1990s Robin and Beverley have been building their home education publishing business - Always Learning Books - from home with the help of their son Thomas.

Please note that the opinions and articles included in the suite of Homeschool Australia websites are not necessarily those of Beverley and Robin Paine, nor do we endorse or necessarily recommend products (other than our own) listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.

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