Kids holiday gift guide
Here's the scoop: the holidays are almost here and you need to get some great gifts – fast – hopefully without breaking the budget or having a meltdown at the mall. We know you know what the hot action figures, dolls and electronic gadgets and games are right now, but here are 10 slightly outside-the-box gifts that may not have occurred to you (or your gift recipient!) but which we're sure will delight. Because they're based on interest and personality, they're practically guaranteed to have long-term appeal.
Best part: You can buy almost all of them online!
For the junior chef
Age: 3+
Why: Letting kids explore the kitchen has been shown to improve intellectual performance. It also encourages creativity and – no surprise here – an interest in cooking.
Kids get a kick out of having their own kitchen gear. But if yours feels patronized by plastic toy sets – or you're worried about food-safety issues – IKEA's Duktig series of café, cookware and bake sets are perfect: Real food-contact-approved materials and construction.
The scoop: Like the other sets in this series, the 7-piece Duktig Bake Set ($15) has been tested and approved for real-world use. The baking tray and pans can go into the oven. (Or stay in the playroom when your patisserie chef in training would rather play make-believe than roll out mille-feuille for real.)
Where to buy: IKEA stores
