My favorites were :
* A sled... if you get snow. If not, a sheet of tin to slide on grassy hills.
* Bow and arrows.
* Slingshot.
* Polish tennis ball canon when they are old enough to make one from asparagus cans and duct tape... and a bottle of lighter fluid to go with it.
* Legos
* Plastic animals and plastic soldiers
* Train set
* Easy bake oven [Girl’s gotta have her chocolate]
* Dad’s tools and scrap lumber and assorted hardware
* Mom’s sewing machine
* Appliance boxes and packing tape
* Model plane kits
* Hot wheels and track
* Fishing poles
* Clay
* Crayons
* Tree swing
* Stuffed animals
… and feather pillows for slightly painful pillow fights.
… flashlights