If Levi’s toy preferences as a toddler are any indication of his future hobbies, he may just grow up to become quite the chef. My little guy loves play kitchens. When we visited family friends over Thanksgiving, Levi made a beeline for the Educo kitchen play set in their den, and he always enjoys the pretend grocery and kitchen exhibits at the Omaha Children’s Museum.
I think what Levi likes best about play kitchens is that they offer so much to do. (It’s not actually pretend play when they’re only 16 months old, is it?) There’s food to remove from cabinets and shelves, and there are pots and pans to bang and stir. And, of course, there are doors to open and close.
And open.
And close.
So I’m adding a toddler play kitchen to Levi’s wishlist. My preference is for something wooden, although I’m having a hard time deciding. Which do you like best?
Clockwise from top left: Hape Gourmet Kitchen
Or maybe all he needs is something small, just a couple of burners and some pots and pans. Here are a few wooden portable kitchens that caught my eye:
Clockwise from top left: Haba Wooden Play Cooker
What type of pretend play does your little one enjoy the most? Do you have a future chef at home?
I’ve been watching the hape kitchen, I love that that the fridge has an ice maker! Plus the colors match our house… But it’s so hard to decide!
Where in your house would you put a play kitchen? Living room? Bedroom?
I’m thinking either the playroom or living room. There isn’t any room in his bedroom unfortunately…
I like the Hape kitchen and the KidKraft one for the variety of storage. We would probably get a lot of use out of something like this. My guy LOVES playing with toy food (and helping me in the kitchen), and has pretend picnics. I often catch him “feeding” his trains, or pretend washing pretend watermelon juice off of them after they have a salad. When Levi is older, cutting food (the kind that velcros together and is cut with a toddler “knife”) will be a lot of fun for him!
Aww, that is too cute! Based on comments, I think I’m leaning towards the Hape one (top left). But then, of course, we have to stock it with some play food! There are soooo many adorable (wooden) options these days. I’m actually looking at a catalog now that offers a fabric pita and salad fixings!