Let’s make dinner!
Kids quickly become interested in cooking and food preparation.
However, there are many safety issues surrounding children in the kitchen so why not buy them a toy one of their own.
I’d love a kid’s toy kitchen. There is such a wonderful range available today, many featuring lights and sounds that help to appeal to younger children.
Hours of fun can be spent by kids trying to whip up a great meal in their own toy kitchen.
I remember when I was a little girl absolutely loving my toy kitchen – and more than a few tears were shed when it finally fell apart!.
Now the range is even bigger and better and there are several great toys to choose from.
The benefits of a kids toy kitchen
A kids toy kitchen has several benefits for a child.
They will encourage your child’s imagination. These toys require your youngster to believe that they are actually cooking a beautiful meal. They have dishes to do and workbenches to clean.
As toy kitchens are so realistic looking, they make this type of play very easy. It is not hard for a child to forget that they are not in a fully functioning kitchen of their own.
Nowadays toy kitchens can make lots of noises which make the experience all the more real.
A kids toy kitchen encourages two different types of play – single and cooperative. A toddler can play with a toy kitchen by herself for hours. There are so many gadgets and functions for them to play with and they will happily play with these toys on their own.
Yet, if there is more than one child, or if a friend visits, these toy kitchens are normally large enough for more than one child to play with. They can pretend to serve and make meals together.
Learning to share toys and interacting with other children is so important.
Manipulative play is developed through playing with toy kitchens. There are many small knobs and buttons that a child must operate and this will help build dexterity.
What to look for
In a good kids toy kitchen
- The most important thing to look for when choosing a kids toy kitchen is sturdiness. The last thing you want is to build your child a toy that will quickly fall apart or not last for very long.
- Therefore, look for kitchens of good quality and that look as if they will withstand a lot of play. Most kids toy kitchens today are made of durable plastic so they should not fall apart as soon as your child starts to play with them.
Safety Warning
The difference between a real kitchen and toy
kitchen!
When picking a toy kitchen for your child it is most important that you explain the difference to them between their toy and your ‘real’ kitchen.
Your child must understand that they cannot play with the oven in your kitchen and that they must not try and turn on any equipment in the kitchen.
Toy kitchens are very real looking and a child may not understand how dangerous and hazardous a real kitchen can be.
It is important to check for any small parts that a child could try and swallow. Check the accessories that come with the kitchen.
Most toy kitchens need to be assembled so make sure that you have them properly made before you let your child play with them.
Your child could be hurt if the toy collapses or a sharp edge cuts them.
- Most kids toy kitchens will require you to assemble them. It is very important that you follow the supplier’s instructions. This will help ensure that they toy is built properly. Make sure that everything fits together correctly and that no sharp screws or pins are left exposed.
- Pick a realistic kids toy kitchen as this will help make the experience of play more real to your child. ‘Make believe’ play will be encouraged stimulating your child’s imagination.
- A special point to note is the size of the kids toy kitchen you choose. Some kids toy kitchens can be rather large and bulky toys. If you have a limited space for the toy to fit into then it may best to take measurements and check that it will fit before you finalize your choice!
Step2
– always one step ahead of the rest
There is no doubt that there are many toy kitchens for sale nowadays. They come in all different sizes and colors, featuring many different features.
Some are cheap and some are not. Yet, one manufacturer of toy kitchens (as well as other toys) always seems to have high quality products in their range. This is Step2.
Their toy kitchens toys are excellent, have lots of features, look so realistic and are finished to a very high standard.
Step2 is a multinational company that make high quality plastic products for children, the home and garden.
It was founded by the former president of Little Tikes in 1991 and has expanded ever since. Step2 is built on a philosophy of “quality, value and service backed by a commitment to customer satisfaction”.
Step2 certainly set a high standard in the manufacture of kids toy kitchens.
Remember – DIY is needed to construct these toys
Nearly all kids toy kitchens will require you to assemble them. Some of the instructions are better laid out than others. Make sure that the product is properly assembled before you allow your children to play on it.
Also, if you pick a toy kitchen that makes noises then batteries will be required. Some of the toy kitchens will come with these provided and some will not. Check this out when you choose.
Here are the Kids toy Kitchens we have reviewed…
Playskool Magic Talking Kitchen
What a great little toy kitchen .A cheerful starter kitchen that’s great value!
This is definitely a toy that will appeal to younger toddlers as it uses color in a fun appealing way. Everything is big and bold making it easier for a small child to use as they don’t need to have as much ability to manipulate small things with their fingers.
This toy kitchen also makes noises helping to make this toy more appealing and realistic.
This kitchen toy comes equipped with some food, utensils and pans. All helping to make it a more fun experience for your toddler.
This is a great toy that will keep younger children amused for hours. Smaller children will enjoy the bolder colors and the happy faces painted on it while an older child may look for more realism.
Compared with some of the other toy kitchens available this one is sturdier. It is a good size, measuring 18”x18”x36” and in order to make the sounds work it requires batteries – that come included.
I really like this toy. It’s affordably priced at around
Lots of fun!
Play Idea
Let’s start a restaurant
This is a really simple play idea that could keep your child occupied for hours.
Suggest that they open up their own restaurant. They should come up with a name and decide what kind of food they are going to serve: high cuisine, fast food or just desserts.
They have to try and ‘produce’ the meal and you can let other children join in as waiters and customers.
Your child should design a menu with lots of variety and customers can pay using bits of paper with the amount written on it.
This will keep your child in the kitchen for hours and this role playing game will allow them to have fun while also interacting with others and being creative.
“Good” is the best way to sum up this kids toy kitchen.
It features enough things to keep a child entertained for hours. Extras such as pots and pans are not included, and would have to be purchased for this toy to be enjoyed to its full potential.
A major plus for this kitchen is how realistic it looks. Your child would have no problem thinking they were a top chef in this toy kitchen.
This particular toy does not make noises – not necessarily a bad thing. Having too many electronic add-ons can take away from your child’s ‘make believe’ play. Your child can make their own noises – that is what I did when I was a girl.
This toy kitchen is a good size, with more than one child being able to play at it at the one time. It measures 36.75”x14”x31.75 and would not take up a lot of room if this was an issue.
Overall this is a good value toy that should last for quite a while and keep your child entertained for hours.
The fact that two children can enjoy this toy is a huge plus.
little tikes Cookin’ Fun Interactive KitchenI really like this kids toy kitchen. It’s a great all round package that, while not the cheapest on the market, is certainly good value for money.
It’s a very realistic design, encouraging ‘make believe’ play and helping to develop imagination.
It appeals to all the senses as it not only looks good but has audio stimuli as well. It offers 40 different interactive noises and sayings.
Another bonus of this toy kitchen is its size. Measuring in at 39”x 18”x 45” this is a great size for a kitchen toy. There is plenty of room for 3-4 toddlers to play around this kitchen and have fun together.
Encouragement of interactive and cooperative play is a great social skills builder for you child.
Little Tikes toy kitchen is very sturdy and durable and should last for years. It has some cool features, such as a microwave, which has a lighted microwave countdown. Little touches like this make it such a super little toy.
If choosing for more than one child around the same age then this toy is highly recommended as its size is a great bonus.
This is an outstanding toy and well priced .
Look at these Kids toy Kitchens
This review of Kids toy Kitchen
was written by ..
Lesley Allen
– Favorite aunt from Ireland. Storyteller and playmaster.
A great toy that may be worth that little extra!
A really strong point of the Lifestyle Dream Kitchen is that it has lots of different features making it so appealing to kids. Your child will have lots of fun exploring all the different things that this toy kitchen can do.
This means that it has lasting value to a child, as there is no risk she will get bored with it in a few hours.
This kids toy kitchen comes with a 28-piece pot and pan set so your little chef can start playing immediately.
It’s a very realistic looking kitchen that will enhance the ‘make believe’ aspect of your child’s play. They will get so involved in role-play activities. If you set the frying pan on the stove or activate the kettle this toy kitchen will make realistic noises. All this adds to the play experience.
This is a very sturdy toy that should last your child for many years. It is a decent size which would support more than one child playing at it at any one time.
Overall this is a very good toy. It may be at the top range of your budget but it has many features that’ll keep you kids entertained for hours!
Lifestyle Deluxe Kitchen– by Step2
Top of the Range – you’ll wish there was an adult version!
The ultimate in kids toy kitchens! Step2 have equipped this kitchen with everything that a child could want in a toy kitchen.
It comes with a 28 piece pan and pot set and lots and lots of storage space to keep them in. This heightens the sense of realism for your child as it appears more like a real kitchen to them.
It is made from a strong and durable plastic, which means that it will last for a long time.
I found this toy irresistible as it looks so good. The styling and noises really enhance the playing experience for your child and make them want to engage with this toy.
This kitchen comes with lots of different gadgets adding to the play experience. Your kids will engage in manipulative play, thus helping to improve their dexterity.
If you have several children then this could be the toy for you. It is quite large, measuring 48.5”x49”x18.5” and several active toddlers can play at this unit at the same time.
Not only does this toy kitchen by Step2 look great but it also makes noises. A good thing about this particular toy is that it has enough noises to be fun but not too many that it stops your child making their own. I love watching kids make up their own noises for a washing machine or boiling water. It helps their imagination if they do it themselves.
This kitchen has many great features and is a very durable toy. Its perfect finish and overall beautiful look, combined with its playability make it an excellent investment for any child.
Is there an alternative to Kids toy Kitchen ?
You’ll find some interesting alternatives to Kids toy Kitchen in our review of Cash Register toys for Girls or you may select another toy category from the sidebar.
Or for something completely different ..
Instead of cooking why not have some fun doing DIY!
This is completely different from a toy kitchen yet it encourages the same type of play This is such a wonderful little toy.
The Wooden Workbench comes equipped with lots of different tools that encourage realistic role-play. Your child can imagine that they are trying to build or fix something.
It is brightly colored and looks very appealing – helping to attract and interest your toddler.
This toy will last. As your child gets older and experiences more of the world they will be able to see even more things that they can do with their tools. Yet, it is suitable for younger kids who will love hammering away and trying to screw things together.
Toys are no longer gender specific and this would make a great toy for either a girl or a boy.
Using the tools and trying to figure out what they do will help exercise your child’s mind.
It’s good value for money.
A brilliant toy that any child will enjoy.