It’s only a matter of time before cell phones and Wii’s top their wish lists. Savor their younger years with holiday gifts that accent their sweetness.

Babe in the Woods
Let little man follow the flock (just for now) with a waddling, clacking push-along duck (Ark Toy Company, 3845 24th Street; 415-821-1257).

Oh, Baby, It’s a Wild World
They’ll build bridges with multilingual ABC blocks in French or Spanish (Paxton Gate’s Curiosities for Kids, 766 Valencia Street; 415-252-9990) and make new friends with soft, one-of-a-kind Cate & Levi hand puppets made from recycled sweaters (San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design Museum Store, 550 Sutter Street; 415-773-0303).

Innocents Abroad
Encourage them to globe trot with Marc Boutavant’s Around the World with Mouk. The all-ages picture book details the title imp’s travels to eleven foreign locales with charming illustrations, stickers, and games (SFMoMA MuseumStore, 151 3rd Street; 415-357-4035).

It’s a Wrap
Alas, they’ll eventually grow up. Make sure the world can still be their oyster by wrapping everything in LivingEthos’s paperless, sustainable gift bags (Earthsake, 1772 4th Street, Berkeley; 510-559-8440).

Don’t worry. They’ll always be your babies.

LISTEN
Children’s Story Time
What: Science- and nature-themed tales for tots ages 2-5, free with museum admission.
Why: It’s where the wild things are.
When: Thru Dec. 31. Every Thurs. & Sat., 11 a.m.
Where: Early Explorers Cove, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park (415-379-8000).

WATCH
African-American Shakespeare Company’s Cinderella
What: A new riff on the classic features a zany fairy godmother and hilariously evil stepsisters.
Why: You’ll be swept away.
When: Thurs.-Dec. 27.
Where: Buriel Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton St. Tickets online at brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006.

STROLL
Santa Under the Holiday Lights
What: Fourth Street holiday shopping beckons with free cocoa from Chocolatier Blue Patisserie and a chance to meet the man in the red suit.
Why: He’s making his list.
Where: The Courtyard across from Peet’s Coffee, 1795 4th St., at Hearst Ave., Berkeley.
When: Thru Dec. 20. Sat. & Sun., 1-4 p.m. (Also Dec. 21-23.)

Photo: Courtesy of Cate & Levi