For the tots, gifts that rock – in pictures

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  Wooden handcrafted toys: Harmony House is an online store that stocks natural, birchwood toys for babies and preschoolers. All of them are handmade, hand-painted and free of resin and synthetic material. The founder, Gabija Gabriele Paliulyte, can be found at the Ripe Food and Craft Market every Saturday, in The Collection at The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. Or place orders on [/URL]

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  Sustainable surprises: Journey Toys, on Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road near the 15th Street intersection, is a treasure trove for children. It is one of the few stores where you can safely choose anything without fear of it being unsuitable or driving the parents mad. That is because Journey Toys only stocks quality products that are educational, well-made and sustainable. “Education is a journey of learning through play” is the motto. Whether you choose the Twilight Ladybug (Dh169) as a fun, quirky night light for a child’s room, or role-play costumes by Melissa & Doug (most of which cost Dh145) or an all-in-one kit to help a child create their own pop-up book (Dh35), you can’t go wrong. Visit www.journeytoys.ae. Courtesy Cloud B

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  Alphabet rugs: Behind the Crowne Plaza hotel on Hamdan Street is the Pakistani Rug Store. In a small pile by the front door, there’s a stack of haphazardly folded Kashmiri tapestries measuring 100cm by 50cm. The silk tapestries have the alphabet sewed onto them, with an image that corresponds to each letter. It’s great for a child’s room, makes for an eye-catching way to teach the little ones their ABC and costs Dh250 – you can haggle to bring down the price. Courtesy Hala Khalaf

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  From cycle to scooter: Pick a gift that encourages a child to stay active. Whether you opt for a mini trampoline, badminton rackets, or an old-fashioned Frisbee, giving a child the opportunity to get active is setting them up for a healthy lifestyle. We are particularly fond of the Mini Micro 3-in-1 Scooter – it starts out with a seat and an O-shaped steering wheel for toddlers, then converts into a compact and cool scooter as they get older. It’s perfect for children between the ages of 1 to 7, costs Dh548 and is available at all Virgin Megastore branches. Courtesy Micro UK

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  One for the parents: What parent would say no to an ethereal pencil sketch of their child? Rachel Chamberlain is an unbelievably talented portrait artist with the ability to catch a person’s spirit perfectly on paper. She produces unique coloured-pencil portraits on textured paper and specialises in child portraiture. The 20cm by 25cm sketches are placed in a simple, matte frame measuring 29cm by 36cm and mailed to you – it will cost US$385 (Dh1,414) plus shipping. We’ve ordered from the United States-based artist without any problems, so you can be sure the portrait will get here safely – and everyone who has seen the sketch hanging on our wall has done a double take. Check out her work and place your order at www.rachelchamberlain.com. Courtesy Hala Khalaf

Shopping for the kids? Look beyond the Nintendos, Frozen dresses and plastic toys. We've tracks down six unique presents – five for youngsters and a bonus one for parents – for this holiday season.