Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Grow-the-Fun Garden to Kitchen

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Fat Brain Toys Cook, Bake, and Brew Modern Deluxe Kitchen: Although we loved this play kitchen's sleek and modern design, we didn’t love the difficult assembly and easily breakable texture of the accessories. We were very grateful for the simple assembly of the KidKraft Uptown Elite Play Kitchen. The kitchen took an hour to assemble, and we only needed an additional screwdriver to finish the setup. Plus, the easy-to-understand directions were a nice bonus. Once completed, the play kitchen boasts a large refrigerator, dishwasher, shelf space, deep freezer, and sink. Testers evaluated 22 play kitchens in the comfort of their homes, assessing each on setup, design, accessories, durability, and overall value. We also spoke with Tiorra Ross, MD, a practicing urgent care pediatrician in Houston, Texas, to determine what to look for in play kitchens and how to encourage pretend play in children. There aren’t too many sounds and lights in the kitchen, which can be a pro or con, depending on your family’s preference. For example, the stove makes a bubbling noise when kiddos cook with the included pot or pan, while the built-in coffee station features a pod machine to feel like the grown-ups. In addition, many other accessories come with this play kitchen for toddlers, such as condiment bottles, utensils, cups, coffee pods and cups, and more, to add to the kitchen experience. The cooktop of the IKEA Duktig Play Kitchen is nothing short of impressive. It has an electric stovetop with two “heat” settings (but with no actual heat) that glow red with the touch of a button. While these run on batteries, they shut off after a few minutes to conserve energy. Of course, the modern stovetop isn’t the only part of the play kitchen’s sleek design. We appreciated several other thoughtful details, like windows on the oven and microwave door, S-style hooks to hang accessories (all sold separately), a sink, and extra storage space. One of our favorite features? A three-position adjustable height so kiddos can use the kitchen as they grow.

Verywell Family The 10 Best Play Kitchens of 2023 - Verywell Family

Assembly of the wooden design took only 30 to 45 minutes to complete—a fast construction time compared to other play kitchens we tested. Moreover, the entire setup felt sturdy once finished, and we appreciated the gender-neutral design for all children to enjoy. Setting up the play kitchen was cumbersome with lots of parts and pieces, but we assembled everything in about an hour and a half by following instructions closely (in typical Ikea fashion, these have pictures only). The fiberboard and birch plywood showed no wear and tear, even with a 5-year-old slamming the doors out of excitement. Following a month of solid use, we asked testers to make notes of any wear and tear. We also had testers clean each play kitchen to determine if that was easy or difficult. Finally, we carefully considered all other attributes compared to the price of each step stool to assess overall value. Overall, this children's play kitchen has a classic, beautiful design that fits in with any home decor. In addition, its small footprint is simply a bonus for those working with limited space.

The spacious refrigerator in the KidKraft Mosaic play kitchen is about as close as it gets to the real thing. In addition to the working ice maker that dispenses plastic ice cubes, the refrigerator and top freezer doors are magnetic. Nine accessories come with this kitchen, including various magnets such as a to-do list, numbers, shapes, and a picture frame (but you can add your own magnets, too). Children can cook meals for the family with the included pan and utensils, then add some seasoning with the salt and pepper shakers.

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Parents and caregivers can encourage pretend play by leading by example. Dr. Ross suggests families take toys and start creating a story while encouraging a child to engage in pretend play. Children who play with a pretend kitchen benefit from imaginative play, also known as symbolic play. Pretending to drink out of an empty cup inspires pretend play. “Some of the benefits of symbolic play is it encourages imagination, utilizes social interactions, and helps with communication skills," explains Dr. Ross. She encourages parents to let their children imagine whatever they want, even if it's unrealistic. Allow children to get as creative as they want, but always ensure toys and furniture are safe and age-appropriate, Dr. Ross adds. Assembly: Many large children’s toys, like play kitchens, require adult assembly before kiddos can play with them. Overall, you want to ensure you set aside the time needed to assemble the kitchen and read over instructions carefully. We assembled all 22 play kitchens we tested to determine how complicated or easy the setup would be. For example, the Hape Gourmet Kitchen was an easy build that took about 30 to 45 minutes, while the Step2 Elegant Edge Kitchen arrived in three separate boxes, which resulted in a four-and-a-half-hour setup time.Pottery Barn My First Ultimate Smart Kitchen: We liked the clean, simple design of this play kitchen, but the assembly instructions left room for error, and the microwave light and sound stopped working after a month. There are plenty of opportunities for imaginative play with this toddler play kitchen, which includes a coffee station, cooktop, sink, oven, and refrigerator. We loved the design of Step2 Fun with Friends Kitchen because it wasn’t overly fancy, yet still had a modern style. However, the three-hour assembly of this kitchen was its biggest downfall. We struggled to get screws through the plastic with no holes, leaving us confused and with tired hands (we recommend an electric drill). Once assembled, though, everything felt sturdy and durable, and it held up well after multiple uses.