My 3yo wants to ask Santa for a play kitchen for Christmas, so Santa is on the hunt. I'd love to hear what you have for your kiddo, how he/she liked it, and how it's held up. Recommendations?
I've been looking around and the sets I have found are either too small for her to grow with or are plastic and look like of cheaply made.
Thanks!
Anything by Little Tykes or Step 2 will hold up well.
Friend's son has an IKEA kitchen.
My DD has a small play set that is 2 parts and is easier for us to store and move around. It's Step 2.
In my opinion, just buy one. They really don't care and just want to play. Before you know it, she will be grown and it will be sitting there in the middle of the floor like my daughter's is. I wish you were closer, because hers is like brand new.
Our step 2 kitchen has held up well through 3 kids, even though it's plastic. Don't forget to get a child-sized apron!
The Step 2 LifeStyle kitchens are really great. There are several different models - all fairly similar and all great. Choose the one that you think best fits your space and has the color scheme you like. We have one in our house and another at my parents' house. One is five years old, the other is older (gotten as a hand me down so I don't know how old) and neither one is showing ANY wear and tear. I can't recommend it enough.
Three is a good age for this. You'll get some good years out of it, too... my oldest is 6 and still going strong. We have a Step 2 corner kitchen. It makes sounds and talks; it will walk you through how to make a "fruit salad" with the play fruit and other things. The kids don't usually play with that part of it... they just play pretend. Its a good model because it doesn't take up too much floor space.
My daughter who turned 2 on Dec. 27th had Santa bring her a kitchen set for Christmas and she LOVES it!! That morning, she didn't want to move from it and opened all her other presents sitting in front of her kitchen. We got her a Step 2 kitchen http://www.step2.com/p/LifeStyle-Custom-Kitchen-II (ours is slightly different, but it's the same model essentially) I wasn't sure whether to get this one or a slightly bigger one, but this one worked perfect! Was just the right size for where I needed to put it. It has everything a little one needs to play. We also got her play food and extra dishes to go with it. Her grandparents got her the Step 2 table and chairs (I picked it out) that match it (color wise). My 5 year old son has fun playing with it too. But kitchen set is still her favorite toy (well, the play food is and then the kitchen).
Do you have a Lakeshore Learning store near you, or other preschool supply store? That's where we got ours. It was wooden and unisex (not pink!) very well made and it lasted for years! Ikea has something similar too, and great toy dishes and food.
We have a used little tikes that has already been through 2 kids, now two more, and then we'll pass it on too.
I think the best 'play' kitchen for a kiddo is a REAL one!
One year, when kiddos were little, I made aprons and 'chef hats' (am sure you can find this on line...for a price). I made loops on the side of apron for wooden spoons ans plastic spatulas. I also got a couple of step stools (one for sink...one for stove).
Thus began the 'real' kitchen experience.
I looked over the fake/kid stuff...and it seemed to me to be expensive...and useless.
Maybe try a more utilitarian approach?
Best luck!
