Mother Goose Treasury Vol. 1 & 2 videos-- Excellent!!  I have never been an avid TV watcher and did not want my children to become likewise, however, these volumes have captured every child's imagination that I've known.  I even used it while teaching Kindergarten.  The rhymes and stories are great for pre-reading skill building!  The characters can be a bit too happy for adults, but I can't say I haven't enjoyed watching them many times with my kids!
 

Wee Sing videos-- Grandpa's Magical Toys in particular -- Jenna Belle still enjoys her Baby Einstein videos but now we have a range of options with these movies.  The Mother Goose and Wee Sing provide colorful entertainment as well as educational benefits not found in many of the top cartoons.  It amazes me how entranced youngsters become as they watch and learn from these videos.  I look forward to getting more Wee Sing movies to enjoy with her.
 

A ball, any ball! -- Any parent will advocate the many uses for a simple beach ball, but you have many types of balls to choose from nowadays.  From cheap beach balls to intricate learning balls, your child will love throwing, rolling, laying on, chasing and chewing on any ball you choose.  There are enough to match one to your child's personality -- just get one, or better yet, several different ones!  We have them in the house, in the tub and in the yard.  Versatile and fun!
 

   Blocks -- Your child doesn't need a specific brand.  Like balls, you can find soft-sided blocks that won't hurt when they knock them over, or sturdy blocks with which they can really build tall towers.  Moving those fingers and hands builds strength and dexterity as they learn first to destroy a tower and then to stack their own.  We've acquired fancy soft blocks like the Baby Einstein ones in the picture that make specific sounds; hard, hollow, plastic blocks to stack higher towers; Fisher-Price Sight & Learning Blocks that are filled with moveable plastic animals or activities; and a large Giant Building Block 40-piece Set that are so sturdy, I walk with the children on the paths we make!  Mega Bloks (large Lego-like blocks) are a great precursor to Legos for toddlers.
 

Bean Bucket -- Talk about cheap!  We have a large plastic bucket that we filled with dried pinto beans for a tactile treat!  I've used this activity with kids of all ages.  My 16-year-old even enjoys playing with the little ones with this!  It's very relaxing to slide your fingers through and if you toss in various sized scoops, children begin to make comparisons and recognize the relationships between them.  I like the beans because they are safe, although not yummy, to eat (a must if using with toddlers!) but are bigger than sand so they don't get in the eyes and embedded in my carpet!  You can get this out after clean up time (so you can use a dustpan to scoop dropped beans) or set the bucket on a mat (and just shake the mat into the bucket when finished).  You could use a small bucket for one child or a large one to set on a table for several children to enjoy.
 

  Stacking/Nesting/Filling/Emptying Containers/Shape Sorters -- These are made commercially and sold as toys but you could just store your Tupperware on some lower shelves in the kitchen and achieve the same purpose.  Children of this age are learning of objects size relations to each other and take great enjoyment in filling and emptying bowls, buckets, under your bathroom cabinet, your purse, whatever!  Here's an acceptable means to do this child's work.
 

 Climbing Structures -- If there ever was a missing link to our evolution, the human toddler is it!  Sometimes, they resemble a monkey more than an adult human the way they climb, scale, and clamber up any structure meant for climbing or not!  Mine was climbing up before she was walking and continues to dance on the table when she makes it up before I get to her.  The climbing structure she has was a hand-me-down and is seemingly out-of-production.  This must be the new model, however.  An added bonus of the one she had was a steering wheel, which kept her occupied as she rested from climbing!
 

Car Video Player -- My angel has never liked riding in the car.  She's been known to scream for an hour or more.  Our Honda minivan's video player has been a wonder!  While facing backwards under a year, she could watch movies through the Baby-in-Sight Mirror aimed at the video screen.  Once turned around, it was even better with the clearer, larger image on screen.  We keep a rotating assortment of movies and shows taped off Noggin in both cars now!  We even bought this DVD player for our other car (so it wouldn't be jealous!  :-)  We've had it for nearly a year and have enjoyed it with no problems, not even skipping!
 

      Laurie Berkner's music -- What a breath of fresh air!  More upbeat than beloved Raffi, I've enjoyed "meeting" Laurie through Noggin (click here to watch her fun videos on Noggin.com).  When Jenna Belle and the preschoolers that I watch came running in to see her videos between shows, I knew I had to invest in a few of her CDs.  We put them on to dance and sing, and sometimes just to play with it in the background.  It's true, music really does calm the savage beast!!  Experiment with different types of music in different situations with your little one.  We have satellite tv which offers the music channels.  Several times throughout each week, I'll just choose a music station for background music and the children really enjoy it.
 

  Phone and Remote Control for your "mini-me" -- We'd gotten a play cell phone and remote control for our gadget baby but she realized that we only ever used ours (so it must be better!).  I finally gave her my old cell phone, minus the batteries and bought her a remote control (also empty of batteries) and she's happier with these true look-a-likes.  If your munchkin continues to steal your electronic hand-helds, consider if you'd like to get him/her a remote that's just like yours, depending on cost and safety.  ** Remember, these aren't intended as toys, so you would monitor your child's play with it and use your common sense, just as in any other parenting decision.  I usually hand Jenna Belle hers when I'm using mine if she's having a fit.  Then, once distracted with another toy, I can move her toy to a safe location, to wait for next time.