My kids love empty boxes from frozen waffles or pancakes.  I open both ends and they look through them to use them as cameras.  Empty toilet paper rolls are also a big favorites as pirates’ “looking scopes.”

sticks, rocks, dirt and water

banker boxes - the office gets them whenever they order printer paper.  Claim them before they get recycled.  Also, plastic laudry baskets.  Both =  forts, buggies, cars, wagon, doll house.  Right now, tupperware is where it is at.

My son has loved balloons since he was a month old.  He is a child who would get by fine without any toys.

Empty containers: pb,cocoa, oatmeal, cornstarch, jumbo animal crackers, etc. Big favorite here!

A set of nesting measuring cups and water!

I get an empty big tupperware or oatmeal cannister and put in all the small random things I can find, with the baby watching, and then he takes them all out and puts them in again.  He loves it!

Right now we’re enjoying small boxes (opening and closing them) & really anything with lids (peanut butter jars, empty spice jars, etc.)

Toothbrushes are wonderful toys, especially at nappy change-time when you need them to lie still for a minute

An ice cube in a sippy cup makes a nice rattle, for a few minutes, anyway!

This is more for the babies.  I had a daughter born in November, and she was entranced by Christmas lights.  It seemed like she would stare at them quietly for hours!

For babies, our ceiling fan kept them mesmerized. I used to tie a flower to the top of my daughter’s bouncy seat and she would watch it wave in the breeze.  For older babies, dropping juice can lids into the slot cut into the top of a formula can.  My older kids loved to get inside our 3 wicker hampers that had lids on top.  That always made laundry day a little more fun.  And absolutely helium balloons!  After the helium is all gone, you can actually save the balloon and “sew” it into an old T-shirt - it makes a crackly toy that the baby likes to squeeze.

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My toddlers (3 and 1) spent this summer “painting” the sidewalk with cheap paintbrushes and buckets of water.

my children have always loved large empty boxes.  I give them crayons or markers to decorate and will assist in cutting out openings for windows or doors.  These keep them busy for weeks.

Give a boy aged 3 or up rocks, string and sticks and they can do anything!  As babies and toddlers, my sons liked the hamper, and of course pillows, blankets and couches or chairs for building forts!

I am laughing as I am reading this because one of my 7 yr old boys is at this very moment cutting seeds out of seed pod that he found when taking his other siblings to the bus.  He’s doing a “cutting project” he tells me and he also solemnly promises to clean up his mess.  I love homeschooling this kid! I don’t know that I could do it with all my children but his curiosity and ingenuity astound me on a daily basis.

Spinners-All you need is a large button (too big to swallow) and some thread. Thread through the button. Spin until tightly wound, and then pull the ends back and forth.
Also if you have some yarn, you can make cradles.

My 17 month old has been in love with the vacuum cleaner since he learned to walk.  It is hysterical to watch him run to it like a magnet!  I think it must be all the cool chords, tubes and attachments.

Empty coffee containers.  We buy Maxwell House and my daughter loves that it has a handle. Makes it easy for her small hands to carry.

Don’t know if it exactly counts as simple, but for a non toy my kids especially love calculators.  They have buttons and a battery and so far it has worked well to take the TV remote away from curious fingers and replace it with a calculator.

Our 20 month old son loves doors.  We have the kind of handles that he can reach up and pull.  We had to block off the basement door from him, but other than that, it’s mostly ok for him to open the doors around here.  He could open and close doors all day. 
His favorite thing right now is to open the pantry door, grab the dog’s food measuring cup, and then take it to the dogs bowl.  Our dog has started to eat his food a little quicker because he thinks our little tot might steal it from him!
He also has a thing for balloons.  And remotes.

A roll of scotch tape will keep a toddler out of trouble for long enough to make a few phone calls.