Well, it depends. We have two nice guitars and one cheap one - any of our friends who really can play (and not just bang) can play the nice ones, and pretty much anybody else can play the cheap one. (But to tell you the truth, the $60 Epi is a nice-sounding instrument, and a peach to play.)

I have only one fiddle and while it is not a valuable instrument in terms of money, it is the only one I have. Mister screeches away on it once in awhile; after all, it was his electric bass that we traded for it, so he does have touching rights! While I agree that it's nice when children are interested, I am not in any wise about to hand my fiddle and bow to a 6-year-old who's never seen one before. I might, however, let them hold it with me helping them. Kids need to understand, though, that even though we speak of "playing" an instrument, musical instruments are not toys. Except for kazoos. :)