Well for Christmas I plan to get my almost 3 year old daughter one of those kid computers....v-tech makes one, like this one at toys r us, and I know there are quite a few others out there. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3546249

I had gotten one for a friends childs birthday last year and she said her daughter loved it and that it really helped her with her letters and words. Also there is the Tag reading system out there that allows children to use a wand to touch certain things on pages and it says the word, makes sounds, etc.

For the ten month old, I always liked the tables that they could pull themselves up on and move around to do different activities, like this one.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3109734
I know my daughter always liked that and we got a lot of use out of it. Hope that helps!

This is not a "toy" but I love it! Baby Signing Time. My dad bought these for my son when he was about 10 months old. It is wonderful! It really helps with communication for babies who do not talk yet and it's educational and fun for older kids. The babies are just soaking it up when I put it on. They love watching other babies. My son is 4 now and still loves it. I just started these about two weeks ago with the twins and they both already know several signs and are actually trying to say the words too!
Here's the link.

http://www.signingtime.com/shop?product_bundles=21&order=position&dir=desc&p=4

I have a 14 month old and he loves anything musical. I bought him a drum that contains a bunch of musical instruments within. All this year he has loved his little toy piano. The other thing we love to do is read, read, read. Books are the best! Ronan loves dancing so we will listen to Rafi (Baby Beluga) and then we read the book and let him hold and play with a baby beluga stuffed animal.

A whiteboard/blackboard easel. There are ones with slide in felt boards (you can make all sorts of felt shapes for the kids to play with) and clips to hold paper for drawing or painting. There are a lot of things you can do with it- chalk, markers, magnets, etc. Its a great way to teach kids how to write, trace, and draw. It also folds up flat, so it doesn't take up much room.

I've also been collecting sylvanian family stuff for my daughter. Any small pieces, I put away for when she's older. Its expensive to start out with, but the quality is excellent. It'll last throughout childhood and might survive to pass down to future generations.

Other ideas-

marble runs (fun, but noisy)
http://www.sendatoy.com.au/product_detail.php?pid=260455&toy=Quadrilla%20Marble%20Runs%20%20%20Large%20Kindergarten%20Set

wooden blocks
http://www.sendatoy.com.au/product_detail.php?pid=JO5564&toy=JANOD%20Wooden%20Toys%20%20%20Building%20Cubes

and if you have an area in the house with a lot of room- wooden train set
http://www.sendatoy.com.au/product_detail.php?pid=PT6218&toy=Plan%20Toys%20%20Road%20Railway%20Station%20System

I love old fashioned toys. :o)