[pepyn]

I work with the lower age groups of a primary school (age 6-10) and we have explored some basic concepts using the following:

Toys: * BlueBot / BeeBot. Simple robot programming with arrows. If you draw a grid on something transparent you can overlay it on maps/images and put "obstacles" in some of the squares that the robot has to be programmed to go around. * Makey Makey. Not programming so much but kids love the creative aspect and learn about hardware

not quite toys, but some useful iPad apps: * Free/creative: Scratch JR, Hopscotch * Guided/"missions": Kodable, A.L.E.X., Lego Fix The Factory

Also, as others have said, LEGO.