Four seems to be the age when children start wanting to help parents with chores. Although the idea of your little one helping to put away dishes might be scary, little hands can help with smaller chores, such as sweeping up or even dusting. This Classic Pretend Play Toy Home Cleaning Set by Fun Time Toys plays to the eagerness in toddlers to help. The set includes a dustpan, handbrush, squeeze mop, and sweeping brush. All four are presented in a gift box. Kids might use this to “pretend” clean, mimicking Mommy or Daddy, but they just might want to help for real after pretending.

Recommended for ages three and up, you can purchase this unique toy set for $24.99 at Amazon.com. It might make it just a bit easier to say yes next time your son our daughter asks to help you out.

Here’s a unique idea for a Christmas gift: a Pizza Party wooden pretend playset made by Melissa & Doug. It comes with six slices of pizza, tray, pizza cutter, spatula, and more than 50 toppings, all in a wooden pizza box with a see-through lid. Kids can create their own personalized pizza, exercising their imaginations while having a great time. Because it’s made by Melissa & Doug, you can trust the safety and quality of this wooden toy. It comes with the Melissa & Doug lifetime guarantee as well.

Recommended for ages 3 and up, you can view and purchase the Melissa & Doug Pizza Party Wooden Playset for $19.95 at geniusbabies.com.

Imagine the fun children could have playing restaurant with this Retro 50’s Diner made by Step 2. It’s two-sided, with a kitchen on one side and a booth on the other. The kitchen features an oven, fryer, sink, stove, griddle that sizzles, and coffee maker that bubbles. Play dishes and food are also included. It even has a bell that the “cook” can ring when the order’s up. The “waiter” can then serve his “customers” on the other side of the playset, in the booth that has a real, working jukebox loaded with three 1950s songs.

The diner playset measures 37″L x 25″W x 39″H. It does require adult assembly and batteries, which aren’t included. Made in the USA of polyethylene, it sells for $149.95 at SensationalBeginnings.com. If you’d like to give this as a Christmas gift, you must place your order before December 4.

Most children go through a phase where they want to be a doctor. My son received a little doctor kit last Christmas and still enjoys taking my temperature and listening to my husband’s heartbeat (although the last time he took my temperature, he said it was 500). This IPlay Little Doctor Kit by International Playthings has everything your little one needs to play doctor. The stethoscope coughs or beats like a heart when squeezed, and the kit also includes a blood pressure gauge, reflex hammer, thermometer, syringe, and more. All nine pieces in the kit fit in the plastic doctor’s bag, which comes with the kit.

Recommended for ages 2 and up, this kit is toddler-safe and guaranteed fun. You might want to consider this as a Christmas gift. It can be purchased at SensationalBeginnings.com, where it sells for $19.95.