S/O to Play Kitchen Post

I am looking for Xmas ideas for the girls. My sister said that my niece got her play kitchen at Xmas time, but her b-day is in January so she was almost 2 when she got it. They will be almost 18 months for Xmas - is that to early for a play kitchen?

I have been looking at the Costco one-piece and it says it is recommended for 3 and up. Do you think they will enjoy it? Is it better to wait till they are 2? Why is it so hard to find toys for kids between the age of 1 ad 3??

 

Ours got their kitchen last Christmas and they were almost 2 yrs old. But they have really gotten the most enjoyment out of it in the past 6 months. I think it totally depends on your kids. You'll probably want to skip the costco one because it might be to big for them and might encourage them to climb on it to reach stuff.

 

Mine got their kitchen for Christmas, just a couple months after turning two, and they loved it. It was great. Even if they aren't wholeheartedly into the kitchen yet, they'd probably still have tons of fun with the toys that come with the kitchen, like the pots, pans and play food. honestly, those were the favorites in our house until about 6 months ago! They loved to play with every kitchen they saw, but in our house, the accessories ruled. The great thing about something like a kitchen is that it can really last them a long time. That means if they aren't 100% ready for it today, no harm done! They are still going to enjoy it today and they'll grow into it and enjoy it even more as time comes. They'll get a LOT of use out of it until at some point they outgrow it (way down the road) and some other little boy or girl gets the chance to do the same.

Have fun!

 

We got one for my oldest DD for her 2nd b-day. But we have it out now for Emilie and Trevor and they love playing with it now!

 

We're getting the on from Fisher Price for Xmas. My babies will be 18 months old basically. It's not as "advanced" as a regular play kitchen and they love their Learning Home. This one looks like it would be a good companion to a toy that they are already familiar with.

 

There is another one that starts short but "grows" with the kids

 

I didn't think about it last year but I can tell they would really enjoy it this year. Last year we bought a nice set of play food and they really like that. We go to a friend's house that bought one for her DS at 2 for Christmas and both her kids really enjoy playing with it - ages 2 1/2 and 1 1/2. She said they like it a lot and are happy they got it. My kids love playing with it so I thought now would be a good time to get one.

 

I think it depends on the kids & also the style of the play set. I found one 2nd hand when the babies were only a few months old, but it was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. Soon as they started crawling & pulling themselves up, they were playing with it! But they seemed to be more into just putting things in & out than really realizing it was a kitchen set. Even now, they don't pretend cook or anything, but they still love to hide stuff in the oven!

 

We got one for the girls at about 18 months. They loved it then and it has only gotten to be more of a favorite toy. For months now, they have "cooked and fed each other as well as us. I bought a kitchen labeled for 2 and up and we've had no problems with the age level.

This is the one we have:
http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1283

Step2 also has one in the same line that is a walk in kitchen that is very cool but would take up too much space in the room we have set up for the girsl.

Ange

 

We bought the boys a play kitchen for their 3rd birthday and they have played with it daily since then. Our neighbor has a 2 year old little boy (just turned 2 in September) and he plays with the kitchen every time they come over.

 

QUOTE(Hillybean @ Oct 27 2007, 03:49 PM) [snapback]469718[/snapback]
I am looking for Xmas ideas for the girls. My sister said that my niece got her play kitchen at Xmas time, but her b-day is in January so she was almost 2 when she got it. They will be almost 18 months for Xmas - is that to early for a play kitchen?

I have been looking at the Costco one-piece and it says it is recommended for 3 and up. Do you think they will enjoy it? Is it better to wait till they are 2? Why is it so hard to find toys for kids between the age of 1 ad 3??

I am with you too! There are so many girly toys that I can't find between 1 to 2 years old. The good news my daughter does not mind playing her brother toys. I noticed it is so much easier to shop for boy toys than girls because of the frustration that a lot of the toys are not ready for Rianna. Ugh

 

Ours became enthralled with the play kitchen at toddler time at 18m.

To be perfectly honest, they are just as happy with the pile of dishes, cups, and bowls on the coffee table but we are getting them one for xmas too.

As far as the 3+ age recommendation, I would just go through all the accessories that come with it and remove any small pieces that are not yet appropriate and set them aside until they are older.

 

Ya, I am looking for ideas for a GOOD kitchen - alot of reviews I have read are mixed - some complain it take 4 hours to set up the kitchen and that all the pieces don't fit or there are screw holes missing. Some kitchens have next to no storage space, so there's no where to put all the accessories. Some are too small for two kids to stand at - something to consider for twins! I want something that they can't tear apart (we were given a cheap one and they pulled the faucet apart in no time and the thing was very tippy)
They have an old old one, up in their outdoor play fort - I know they tear that thing apart, but it's made of partical board, so it's pretty easy to take apart.

What are people's thought on the wooden sets, as opposed to the plastic sets?
Walmart's site is listing this set , which is very gender neutral : http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5811326

I would like to hear personal experiences with kitchen sets - please include a picture of what you have and what you like about it!

 

Ya, I am looking for ideas for a GOOD kitchen - alot of reviews I have read are mixed - some complain it take 4 hours to set up the kitchen and that all the pieces don't fit or there are screw holes missing. Some kitchens have next to no storage space, so there's no where to put all the accessories. Some are too small for two kids to stand at - something to consider for twins! I want something that they can't tear apart (we were given a cheap one and they pulled the faucet apart in no time and the thing was very tippy)
They have an old old one, up in their outdoor play fort - I know they tear that thing apart, but it's made of partical board, so it's pretty easy to take apart.

What are people's thought on the wooden sets, as opposed to the plastic sets?
Walmart's site is listing this set , which is very gender neutral : http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5811326

I would like to hear personal experiences with kitchen sets - please include a picture of what you have and what you like about it!

 

I have done a bunch of research on kitchens because that is what they are getting for X-Mas. I decided on a wood one because they seemt o enjoy playing with the wood one at ECFE and Pottery Barn Kids when we go. I am getting them the ultimate kitchend from Kid Kraft:

http://www.kidkraft.com/catalog/53115-0059.asp

It is big enough for two kids to play with and had good reviews. It was on amazon for 200, but I got it off ebay for 159 with shipping included.

The other one I considered was the very large step 2 one. Hard choices I know!

 

We got ours around 18 months and they played with it from the start, not so much as now, but they definitely liked it and played with it. I would say go for it! It's an appropriate age to start doing some "pretend play."

 

I think that we have decided to go with the KidKraft Large Pastel Kitchen Set from Costco. I think it is going to be big enough that both girls can play at the same time, it will look ok in the house (it is going in the living room) and I think it will last.

 

QUOTE(Hillybean @ Oct 27 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]469718[/snapback]
They will be almost 18 months for Xmas - is that to early for a play kitchen?

I don't think so!

QUOTE
I have been looking at the Costco one-piece and it says it is recommended for 3 and up. Do you think they will enjoy it? Is it better to wait till they are 2?

The recommendation is for 3 and up probably because of small pieces, or pieces that come off. If you remove all the small parts it should hopefully be ok for 2 yo.

QUOTE
Why is it so hard to find toys for kids between the age of 1 ad 3??

Ah, the eternal question. I think it's because of their abilities. Too big for baby toys and too young for challenging toys with small parts.... where is the middle ground? :unknw:

 

Look at this amazing kitchen! Too bad they don't ship stuff like this to Canada....it would be pretty pricey to ship, too!
It's all wooden - which I am starting to think is best! It's two sided, with a gril

 

I want to get this for my boys, but dh says that's for girls. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2308707

Mine will be 20.5 months old then.