2 year old boy - play kitchen or mini functional kitchen?

[purpleforests]

I want to get a little kitchen for my toddler. He loves opening the cupboards in the kitchen, grabbing utensils, etc... so I thought it's something he would really like.

There is a trend around Montessori right now that consists of buying a wooden play kitchen and turning it into a functional kitten by inserting a "real " tap, a drainage system and by replacing plastic food with children sized plates, glasses and cutlery as well as kid friendly knives and giving them access to healthy snacks to help them be independent.

At the same time, I had a play kitchen when I was little, with plastic toys and I absolutely loved playing with it. If I went down that route I'd probably buy him wooden food with velcro that he can "cut"

Which one would you opt for?

This is an example of a functional kitchen: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8NWR6tecpJs

Where would you put it? If in a living room/somewhere with carpet I'd get a play kitchen, if it's going to be in your real kitchen and there will always be an adult supervising I would consider getting the mini functional kitchen.

Oh it's gorgeous op - I'd totally have gone for that when mine were small if I had the space x

There are still plenty of opportunities for him to learn to cut food and get a drink in the real kitchen so I would get a play kitchen with pretend food. The old version of the Ikea kitchen is fantastic and very versatile (the new one is an awful colour)

A play kitchen can be so much more than just a place to get a snack and a drink, it can be anything a child wants it to be, and I think limiting it to a place where he only uses it as a real kitchen a bit of a shame.

Edited - For typing error

thank you everyone x