 | Magna-tiles 100 Piece Pack
Buy new: $109.95 These are incredible - both my 4-year-old and 1-year-old play with them constantly, and build amazing architectural structures. The magnets are sealed inside the tiles, making them pretty safe for little kids. Expensive, but worth it. Check out the 48-piece deluxe set for different pieces, too.
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 | Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 piece set
Buy new: $49.95 Had to add these too, since we have the 100-piece set of the clear ones, and I feel that the jewel tones and the translucency really add to the experience. (This smaller set also includes some large squares that the 100-piece set doesn't have, but I think if you really want to build interesting things, then get the 100, or even both.)
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 | MAXIM 200 piece Blocks
Buy new: $24.99 You can't go wrong with plain wooden blocks. A classic for a good reason. No batteries, endless possibility. The block bin gets pulled out on an almost-daily basis. I don't have personal experience with this set, but it looks like a good one - lots of blocks, and it comes with a storage bag. Also look at the Melissa and Doug blocks.
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 | Tolo Rainbow Stacker
Some sort of stacking cups are a must. They've been used every day in the bath and out for years. Our daughter used to like to clutch one while swimming - we called it her "safety cup". Our kids like the ones with some sort of rim on them - makes them easier to hold onto in the bath.
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 | Classic Magna Doodle (Assorted Colors)
Simple, but powerful. Drawing with a magnetic pen creates a black line, and sliding erases it. We never went anywhere without one of these (found little travel ones at the dollar store) when my daughter was 2&3. Now she's mostly moved on to pens, but my son is starting to enjoy it.
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 | Melissa & Doug Band in a Box
Buy new: $20.16 Making music! Fun for all ages. The music bin is another one that gets constant use. This set is a nice basic start to a good musical toy collection.
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 | BEST SELLER: Children's Deluxe Pretend Play Food: Juicy Fruit Set with Basket *Great Gift Idea!*
These play fruits are held together with velcro - kids can use the plastic knife to "cut" them apart. Feels and sounds great. When my daughter was 2, these were her favorite toy. Cutting them, naming them, putting them together in weird combinations, putting them back together the right way, pretending to eat them...endless fun.
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 | Gearation Refrigerator Magnets
Buy new: $14.40 These live on the fridge and get played with by both kids on an almost daily basis. When my son was littler and got cranky while we were getting ready to go, we would set his car seat in front of it and he would stare, fascinated.
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 | 101 Piece Play Food Assortment
We inherited a set like this from some friends, and it's had surprising staying power. Some of the food is a little strange (like the disk of spaghetti that looks more like a squiggly cookie) but that doesn't seem to inhibit the regular making of "dinner" for us. Small pieces are no good for very little ones.
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 | Table Place Setting - Service for 4 (21 pcs.)
Buy new: $14.99 Of course, if you're going to cook some food, it's nice to have something to serve it on. (No personal experience with this set, but it looks good, and it's inexpensive. Useful that it's dishwasher-safe. Check out the Battat version for more cooking-type utensils or the Step 2 LifeStyle version for less screaming colors but only two place settings.)
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 | Step Stool - Conductor (Natural) (12 1/8" H x 12 1/2" W x 12 1/2" D)
Buy new: $14.99 Yes, it's odd to have a stool in here, but these stools really do get used every day. They are totally stable, kids can pick them up because of the handle, and they are the right height to be used as chairs at the coffee table, stools at the kitchen sink, or as footrests under the dining table. We have three in a more cherry color.
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