diff --git a/src/enums/AbstractEnum.php b/src/enums/AbstractEnum.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aae78e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/enums/AbstractEnum.php
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+<?php
+namespace ParseCsv\enums;
+
+use ReflectionClass;
+
+abstract class AbstractEnum {
+    /**
+     * Creates a new value of some type
+     *
+     * @param mixed $value
+     *
+     * @throws \UnexpectedValueException if incompatible type is given.
+     */
+    public function __construct($value)
+    {
+        if (!$this->isValid($value)) {
+            throw new \UnexpectedValueException("Value '$value' is not part of the enum " . get_called_class());
+        }
+        $this->value = $value;
+    }
+
+    public static function getConstants(){
+        $class = get_called_class();
+        $reflection = new \ReflectionClass($class);
+
+        return $reflection->getConstants();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Check if enum value is valid
+     *
+     * @param $value
+     *
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public static function isValid($value)
+    {
+        return in_array($value, static::getConstants(), true);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/enums/DatatypeEnum.php b/src/enums/DatatypeEnum.php
index 8fea47d..7f490e9 100644
--- a/src/enums/DatatypeEnum.php
+++ b/src/enums/DatatypeEnum.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace ParseCsv\enums;
  *
  * todo: needs a basic parent enum class for error handling.
  */
-class DatatypeEnum {
+class DatatypeEnum extends AbstractEnum {
 
     const __DEFAULT = self::TYPE_STRING;
 
diff --git a/src/enums/SortEnum.php b/src/enums/SortEnum.php
index 01a37b0..e5b78f3 100644
--- a/src/enums/SortEnum.php
+++ b/src/enums/SortEnum.php
@@ -1,15 +1,8 @@
 <?php
-/**
- * Created by PhpStorm.
- * User: sgorzaly
- * Date: 22.02.18
- * Time: 20:24
- */
-
 namespace ParseCsv\enums;
 
 
-class SortEnum {
+class SortEnum extends AbstractEnum {
     const SORT_TYPE_REGULAR = SORT_REGULAR;
 
     const SORT_TYPE_NUMERIC = SORT_NUMERIC;