Cook Up Fun with Child Play Kitchens

A good play kitchen sets imaginations on fire! They allow kids to enjoy domestic fun right beside mom, dad or their favorite caregiver. Boys and Girls love to pretend, especially when they get to pretend that they're all grown up. Children need a place where they can practice adult stuff without needing direct adult supervision. Adults need only to set the stage for this kind of creative fun.

When my first child became a toddler I started looking at play kitchens. I wanted a well set stage for my own child's creative play. I wanted a play area that would ignite my child's imagination. It was hard for me to decide between a plastic kitchen and the more realistic wooden play kitchen. Each had their own benefits and drawbacks. Plastic models tended to be more kid safe. The well rounded corners and softer construction could be a little gentler on the preschool aged, rambunctious chef. Wooden models were more unique and seemed to attract both preschool and elementary aged children. Deciding on the best choice was hard with so many good options to choose from.

I have many fond memories of my own preschool and kindergarten classroom. Both were equipped with a sturdy, safe, well constructed wood play kitchen. I loved the sink that could really hold water and the stove with the chunky wood knobs that really turned. The kitchen areas were so popular that the teachers had to monitor the traffic to avoid a pile up at the fridge. I was one of the many kids who wanted to be a little chef every day. Today I enjoy watching my kids cooking up fun in a kitchen that was once just right for me. Thirty years later I've discovered that it's just right for them, too. A wooden stove, sink and fridge are still my first choice.

The play pantries of my youth were stocked full of good quality child utensils, pots, pans, play food and other domestic goodies. Some of the plastic glasses had pretend milk and orange juice inside of them. The pots and pans had lids that fit well. I remember soft plastic eggs with realistic yolks and bacon that looked like the real thing. The teacher added real cereal boxes and other empty boxes for dry goods to the shelves. We were chefs with the stuff we really needed to spark our imaginations, and it all held up against our rugged and enthusiastic play. My teachers made good choices when it came to stocking the kid kitchen.

Today I'm not just a parent. I'm a teacher too. I want to make good choices when it comes to selecting the best toys for my own children and my students. A lot of things have changed since I was a kid, but some things have remained the same. The importance of quality toys hasn't changed. That's why the play areas I create are filled with play things that are unique, well constructed and perfect for the imaginations of creative and intelligent minds.
Children know the difference between a cheap imitation and the very best. They also enjoy variety, so they love having toys that aren't exactly like the kids' next door. Considering children's needs and desires is my job as a mom and an educator. That's why I recommend stocking a well made wooden play kitchen with the best child utensils, pots, pans, play food and domestic goodies you can find. You'll have a play area that lasts the test of time and challenges the imagination. Children will be hot for the results of your careful consideration of what's best for them. You can expect some fun to get cooking while you step back, watch and enjoy what it means to be a kid again!

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