I was just looking for something he could play on his own.
My DS1 (now 12.5yo) never really played with toys at all, he did like train sets once he was able to build a track himself but much less interested when he couldn't do it himself.
He's always LOVED balls & has amazing catching & throwing skills & my main memory of how he filled time was throwing rolled up socks at either a target or into a bucket or playing with balls in the back yard.
When he was little & I was pregnant/had newborn our best way to keep him occupied was to go on train trips or go & sit & watch trains & buses go by down at the Station. His favourite time of the week was when the Garbage collections took place & he'd be at the window watching.
He also preferred to play with a bowl of dried pasta (on a sheet on the floor for cleaning up) or even rice... once or twice I got really game & let him play with flour out on the deck... 2hours of play & about an hour to clean up... well worth it at that time!
