Dinosaurs and superheros.

Legos.

My son loves the sticky mosaic kits by Orb Factory. I love that he will sit and work on them for over an hour. The pirates kit is the best one we've done thus far. They are available on Amazon.

If he likes games, the game people at the Chevy Chase Childs Play are super-knowledgeable.

Agree with Playmobil. Also Bakugon, Star Wars figures, Imaginext

Some folks have mentioned ThinkFun games, but I really like the brand:

http://www.thinkfun.com/shop/

Also, this is really good read-aloud chapter book with beautiful illustrations:
http://www.amazon.com/Invention-Hugo-Cabret-Brian-Selznick/dp/0439813786

Also, I love this author's work; so imaginative:
http://www.graemebase.com/publish/index.html

Does he like to read? One of my kids prefers books over anything else, including video games.

21:55 here - I forgot Playmobil. Expensive, but a good toy (and he has some that I played with when I was a kid).

Legos (generic big blue bin plus sets thrown together, creates his own things. He'll also spend a long time building sets using the directions)
Automoblox
Action figures
Hot wheels/matchbox cars, cars from Cars and Cars 2
Crayons and paper
Puzzles

For outdoor toys:
Bike
Sports related toys
Stomp rocket

We have the Kinect instead of the Wii and he does like to play (but sometimes gets a bit impatient or moves too close, too far). He only gets to play it once in a while.

We haven't gotten too into games yet, but have Sturdy Birdy and Dancing Eggs on our Christmas list (and I think those will be a big hit).

Playmobil? My DS is obsessed with Legos.

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- He has been into games. Candyland was a big hit for a while. Keep the game ideas coming!
I haven't decided whether or not to get into electronics, seems another thing to have to say no too (already has a bit of tv, does abcmouse.com and is occasionally allowed to do apps on my phone).
Thanks!

Sure, if you want him to be a video game addict by the time he's ten.

Truly, I cannot believe so many of you have let your 5 year olds start on electronics, including DVDs and Ipads. I realize they make great babysitters, but that doesn't mean they are good for the kids.

OP, my 5 year old son loves Trouble, Junior Monopoly, I Spy and several other games that I am drawing a blank on now...