Pint-Sized Presents for the Little Sous Chefs on Your List
The Holiday 2022 Kid’s Gift Guide
Certain kids are blessed with parents who are into trying new foods, restaurants, or recipes. Others develop an interest all their own in baking, cooking, or adventurous snacking. Whether you’re looking for a baby gift for some culinarily-inclined parents, buying for your own aspiring sous chef, or trying to be that cool aunt, uncle, or grandparent, this list should give you some food-adjacent ideas for the little ones on your list.
BY CARA STRICKLAND
If the play kitchen isn’t nearly as good (or better) than you kitchen, why even have it? This deluxe model from UK company Tender Leaf Toys is filled with the sort of details that will make parents and caregivers happy, and delight the little chefs as well. Along with the kind of storage I’d like in my kitchen, you’ll find a pizza oven, a traditional coffee pot, and plates with pasta illustrations, among other things. If you like the look, but this footprint is a little much, check out their other kitchens and entire range of play food and cooking utensils.
To be honest, I’m not sure there’s anyone who wouldn’t be delighted to receive one of these smiling pastries (it’s on my list now). Jellycat is known for their super soft stuffed toys and they have a whole line of food & drink themed cuddly toys that are good enough to eat and sweet enough to snuggle for a baby, older kid, or even a teen who might need a soft smiling sushi roll.
There is possibly nothing better than a frozen treat, except maybe one you’ve made yourself with custom flavors and ingredients. While I love making ice pops at home, they are not instant—until now. The Zoku pop maker just needs to be frozen for 24 hours before it’s ready for sticks and a chilled liquid. The freezing process can take only seven minutes, making it the perfect after dinner family activity. If you want to get fancy, this company has all kinds of products for gussying up your frozen concoctions.
Pint-sized aprons can be a truly practical choice—it’s wonderful to have something between a child and food that can be easily washed, but it’s even better if they are super cute. I love Minted for their artist-designed styles in two different kid sizes. Many styles have coordinating oven mitts, and you can personalize with an understated stamped leather tag.
This French-made set from Opinel is just as sharp as their adult tools, but with some safety features in place. Your little ones can learn to help prep alongside you and feel confident doing it! Opinel recommends this collection for ages 5-10 (with adult supervision) but these tools are built to last. If you buy them directly, you can get them personalized.
There are so many reasons to love this pretend tea set. The illustrations alone make me wish it was actually able to hold liquid. The wood is durable, and less likely to break than a more fragile set, plus, this one has a lot of interest, including a choice of tea bags, honey, lemon slices and a creamer along with cookies. It’s great for role play, and before you know it, they’ll be making you a beverage for real.
If you have a child who really wants to be in the kitchen action but is still a little short, look no further than this wooden kitchen helper stool. It is adjustable for different heights and has well-placed wooded bars to help prevent falling but allow your little helper to get up and down as they get older. You can choose from four colors, and with the fairly minimal design, it might actually look good in your kitchen.
Nurture your little baker or chef with a subscription to Raddish—a set of subscription-based cooking clubs (one for baking, one for cooking, and one for international cuisine). Each month you’ll get a shopping list and recipe cards with tips and tricks, along with skill-building activities. They recommend their clubs for ages 4-14+, and there are recipe options for older vs. younger kids, perfect for revisiting as kids become more capable in the kitchen. Food isn’t included in the kits, partly so you can teach kids that shopping is part of cooking, and partly to keep the kits affordable and avoid spoilage. Plus, you can choose the brands and versions of the ingredients that work best for your family.
Eating food from another place is one of the best ways to experience a culture. You might not be able to travel to a different country every month, but with a Treats subscription, you can get the snacks (sweet and savory) of a new place delivered straight to you. Choose from two box sizes and prepare to be surprised by which country is on the menu each month. Inside, you’ll find an explanation of what everything is, and perhaps some new favorites.
It’s never too early to recognize that avocados are the best. This adorable rattling toy easily clips onto a car seat or stroller and has a cute little smile, sure to delight. Plus, it has lots of different textures and is very soft, perfect for little fingers.