My stance is it's frugal to spend big bucks on toys with lasting play value. It's wasteful to spend pennies on toys that don't get played with and add no value to a child's life. For children, playthings are tools with which they learn about their world. There are basic toys, just as there are basic clothes that become the backbone of your wardrobe. You judge a piece of clothing based on cost per wearing and that's a good way to judge a toy.
Some basic toys are expensive and brand name toys cost more than imitations.
Clothing bargains are the good quality, adaptable, multipurpose pieces you wear over and over, knowing that you feel and look good each time. Per wearing, they end up costing peanuts. With a few guidelines, you can learn to spot the toys that will wear longest, be most versatile and suit a broad range of ages. One way to learn is by watching children at play. Search out the best dependent toy store in your area and visit.