We have seen this Four Way Test poster everywhere. When I was a kid (and until just now) I wonder what this test is all about. I have to search for it in the net to know what this test is all about. Taken straight from The Four Way Test

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

“One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.”

And since I am devising a toy test for future reference, I consider incorporating this test to my toy way test.. (and hope that the kids can learn something from it)

Is it the TRUTH?
I was thinking how a truth can be related to toys? We know for a fact that truth is very relative. A truth to you maybe not to your kids. Sometimes we insist on buying toys that we want for them. When buying a toy, in our case, it is always asked first if it was agreed that we are going to buy a toy. In a way we are stressing the fact that indeed we are planning to buy a toy for the kids. Is it the truth? Is it agreed upon that today is a toy day? Those are the first question that I ask my kids when they insist on buying a new toy.

Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Is it fair to all concerned? When we are buying toys for the kids there are only two main things that we put into mind. The price and the quality. Is it really fair? Now I talk about quality, is the quality of the toy measures up to its price? With this question comes a longer chain of reaction.. When the TRUTH question was answered, the next one would be, is it FAIR? or to a more appropriate term for the kids.. Is it CHEAP? followed by is it DURABLE? when a toy is cheap and durable, there is always no need to go on with the GOODWILL and BENEFICIAL question. No need to stress out yourself, just buy it! but if a toy is expensive and not durable, again there is no need for the last two questions to be answered, a flashing (red) NO is always the way to go.

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Now when a toy they want is somewhat expensive (but can last a long time), we always have to consider if the toy can be played by different ages, my kids as I have said are ages 5, 3 and 6 months (as of writing). We always take into consideration the aging of the kids. Can they still enjoy the toy even after a year or two? We also take into consideration their age gap.. Are the toys enjoyable for kids ages 5 and 3?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Lastly, this is the time when we are already on the cashier, or on the way home. Actually this last one is an assurance that you got the right value for the money you spend. Most likely a smile on your kid’s face is the most assuring way to know if it has been beneficial. Beneficial for both parents and kids, for parents, rest assured that your kids will not bother you for a time. Beneficial for the kids because they have learned (again) the value of money
and your love for them.