I personally try to choose toys that have 'expansive properties' rather than those that limit play.

Many of the plastic, mass produced toys on the market revolve around only one or two modes of play. Eg, press buttons, light flashes, makes a sound. That's it (limits play). Other toys have endless possibilities, the best example I can think of is a pair of brightly patterned square scarves that I bought from an op shop for DD1 when she was a baby. They get fashioned into clothes, headdresses, blankets, used for magic tricks, props for the barbie dolls, draped around the bedroom, on and on it goes, they've been played with for 10 years and I still find them stashed in DD1's room and not in the dressup box LOL.

With DD1 were weren't in a position to buy many toys and what she had was often limited by what i could find second hand or what I could afford very very cheaply. With DD2 we are luckier to be able to spend more, and ironically she has fewer, but much better quality toys. I'm really trying to keep away from plastic this time round.