Nana: some years ago when the Blue-eyed Boy was smaller, "Here you are, here's a paint brush for you."
(hands him one of the cheaper variety I had left over from the days when I used to teach a bit.)
He stretches forward to reach the brush container: "No, I want this one."
Which just happens to be my best sable brush.
All to say that yes, on an instinctive level, children do respond to quality.
