Ahhh, memories! I second many of the toys already mentioned. Thomas tracks were a huge hit around 2-3, but DS5 has brought them out regularly since then. We found lots of deals on used Thomas items on ebay. We added some fun Brio stuff along the way, from the Network collection (imaginary creatures that live inside your computer):
Brio Network Brio and Thomas are compatible.
Playdoh was always fun for DS. We added supplies from the kitchen, e.g. cookie cutters, garlic press.
The sandbox outside provided hours of entertainment.
Playfoam is quite fun, foam sculpting beads.
PlayFoam We searched really hard for a recording cassette player for kids, and found the Fisher Price Tuff Stuff cassette recorder with voice changer. We recorded some of DS's favorite books, or just told stories, and he dragged that around everywhere. And the voice changer was fun too, especially when you play back your silly recordings. You'd have to find it on eBay now, I expect. (Maybe there's a kid recordable cd player now?) He's been using it now for books on tape.
FP Cassette Recorder We gave DS the little legos just before 3, I think. He never really put things in his mouth (except a few book bindings as an infant), so that wasn't a concern. Lego is his all-time favorite toy. He didn't care too much about the bigger versions.
My mom has a dollhouse that we certainly do not call a dollhouse or DS would never play with it, but he loves that and the little creatures inside it. (My mom has little troll dolls and other little funny animals and aliens.)
Oh, can't forget scissors, glue, and tape (and of course cardboard boxes). DS still loves to cut things up. When he was younger, I'd give him old magazines and such, and he made collages.
When DS was around 2, he loved Blue's Clues videos with Steve. That reminds me, I need to put that collection on ebay...
