Having a play kitchen for your child can aid in numerous developmental milestones. It can foster pretend play, work on vocabulary, help with recognition, and more. We’ve come up with 10 of the best play kitchen sets for kids that should both entertain and help your child grow. To make this list, we focused on general criteria: how well it teaches, accessories, size, and overall entertainment value.
10. Little Tikes Cook ‘n Learn Smart Kitchen
What we like:
- Teaches cause and effect,
- Can connect to app,
- Cool accessories included.
What we don’t like:
- Some synching issues,
- Too lightweight,
- Inconsistent volumes.
Recommendation: This set is ideal for getting a child to learn and play at the same time. It’s called a ‘smart kitchen’ for a reason; it communicates with your child to teach a number of preschool games and food facts. Connecting with the app can be spotty at times though. Even without the app, the kitchen makes interactive sounds. It can be a bit too lightweight, especially the accessories.
9. Naomi Home Kids Gourmet Kitchen Set
What we like:
- Pull-out shelve and drawers,
- Good, sturdy design,
- Dials can ‘click’.
What we don’t like:
- Hard to assemble,
- Not durable for rough play,
- Some pieces may not align.
Recommendation: This Gourmet Kitchen Set has a sleek design that can match up with your own kitchen. The features work great, which is why this earns a spot as one of the best play kitchen sets for kids. With the dishwasher, the rack can pull out easily. The stove knobs even ‘click’ when turned. It may not hold up well to excessive use by younger children or toddlers though, but older kids should have no trouble with it.
8. Teamson Kids – Little Chef Wooden Toy Play Kitchen
What we like:
- Highly durable,
- Perfect size for young children,
- Good color options.
What we don’t like:
- Long assembly time,
- Might come with nicks,
- Minimal accessories.
Recommendation: When you’re in the market for something extremely durable, then a wooden play kitchen is the way to go. Beyond being built to last, this is at a great height for young kids to reach. Its size also allows it to be tucked away without ease. There aren’t many accessories with this, but it’s simple to add-on to it. Also, take some time to install as it has a lengthy assembly time.
7. Melissa & Doug Chef’s Kitchen
What we like:
- Enough room for multiple kids,
- Moving parts,
- Ample storage.
What we don’t like:
- Very heavy,
- Doors are a bit stiff and off-track,
- Ice cubes can get lodged.
Recommendation: This play kitchen set is roomy enough that more than one kid can play at a time. Many parts of this set move for better interactive play. You can see this in the likes of the sink faucet and handle, the stove and oven dials, and even the microwave plate that rotates. The Melissa & Doug Kitchen has a cool ice dispenser, but the two cubes can often get stuck.
6. Little Tikes Cook N Grow Kitchen
What we like:
- Easy to reconfigure based on age,
- Comes with a variety of accessories,
- Good interaction.
What we don’t like:
- Can bend forward slightly,
- Not the best storage,
- Stove knobs come off.
Recommendation: Nothing quite grows with your child than the Little Tikes Cook N Grow Kitchen. These are the best play kitchen sets for kids who can’t quite reach other standard play kitchens. Start your baby out in Stage 1, and when it’s time, reconfigure with ease to Stage 2. There’s enough to keep them entertained at both stages. Be aware that in the first stage, it’s prone to leaning forward a bit, so some items may fall off. Also, the stove knobs can be popped off easily.
5. Step2 Lifestyle Custom Kitchen Playset
What we like:
- Electronic features,
- Compact design,
- 20-piece accessory set.
What we don’t like:
- Some doors won’t stay shut,
- Could be sturdier,
- Hard to put together.
Recommendation: In this play kitchen, kids can enjoy hearing a variety of sounds from standard appliances such as a pot boiling or food frying. This electronic kitchen is a great way to stretch a child’s imagination and pretend play. Some of the doors do have trouble staying closed, and it takes a good deal of time to put together. Even still, this is designed in a compact way so you can tuck it anywhere you’d like.
4. KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen Set
What we like:
- Aesthetic design,
- Good amount of storage,
- Additional items (washing machine).
What we don’t like:
- Stiff doors,
- Minimal knobs and dials,
- Poor instructions.
Recommendation: Slated as one of the best play kitchen sets for kids with a unique realistic design, the KidKraft Ultimate Play Kitchen is simply a treat to look at. There is more than enough counter space, and the storage is good. It even comes with a washing machine. However, it would be nice if everything had working knobs; the washing machine and microwave are picture-decorated. In case you want your kid to also have a fun time outside, you can check out our list and get them one of the best outdoor playsets for kids.
3. KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen
What we like:
- Additional storage space,
- Solid build,
- Perfect for multiple children.
What we don’t like:
- Lengthy time to assemble,
- Can scratch up easily,
- The sink isn’t anchored.
Recommendation: Another gem of a kitchen from KidKraft is this tall playset that is ideal for when you have more than one child playing. It is remarkably sturdy so it won’t tip or move easily, and you won’t run out of room anytime soon when it comes to storing. Although it looks nice, the finish is prone to scratching. Also, the sink isn’t anchored. It makes for easier cleaning, but also allows kids to accidentally pull it off.
2. Step2 Heart of The Home Kitchen Set
What we like:
- 41-piece accessory set,
- Different areas of interest,
- Can grow with the child.
What we don’t like:
- Stickers are tough to attach,
- Refrigerator door off-track,
- Lack of real buttons.
Recommendation: This kitchen comes with over 40 accessories so your child can start enjoying themselves right away. It stands as one of the best play kitchen sets for kids with multiple areas of interest. You have your general kitchen, but then there is a small nook for nurturing pets, recycle bin, write-on board, and even a picture frame hung above. This family kitchen could be more interactive, however; it lacks real buttons and has stickers in place that are actually hard to attach.
1. Hape Gourmet Kid’s Wooden Play Kitchen
What we like:
- Great toddler size,
- No tip risk,
- Easy to assemble.
What we don’t like:
- Lacks interactive lights or sounds,
- Longtime durability questionable.
Recommendation: The best play kitchen sets for kids should be easy and quick to access by the children without taking up too much space, and the Hape Gourmet Wooden Play Kitchen does that well. It is just the right size for toddlers to enjoy, and it’s even steady so there’s no risk of them tipping it. Kids beyond that age may not play well with this, however. Though it lacks some interactive lights and sounds, it provides more than enough realism (e.g. clicking and turning knobs) to keep kids excited about learning new things.
Conclusion
Using a play kitchen to help your kid learn without the risk of them running into your kitchen is a great opportunity for parent and child. With our list of the best play kitchen sets for kids, you’re bound to find the right set for your child’s age and needs. You can visit the comments to share your thoughts and experiences with these kitchen sets.
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