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Christmas

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Original poster

Play Kitchens? Worthwhile present?

34 replies

WrigglyFish · 18/11/2009 20:03

I'm hankering after a play kitchen for DD. She's 2.7 and enjoys playing with this type of thing in shops and at playgroups and I guess I want one cos it is exactly what I would have wanted as a little girl.

BUT - they are not only pretty expensive (her main present for b'day and Christmas has never exceeded £30 before), they are also bulky (and our house is tiny) and wondering how long kids play with these (and do boys play with them too? - she has a baby brother).

Any ideas from anyone else?

Also horrified to notice that the price on the one at ELC has just gone up by £20 since I last looked at it a week or so ago - just before Christmas - blimmin cheek!

OP posts:
MumOfMadTwo · 18/11/2009 20:05

It might be worth you looking at school Christmas Fayres as 'grown out of toys' similar to this are donated all the time. My son loved his and played with it often.

cookielove · 18/11/2009 20:08

play kitchens really are so popular, i work in a nursery in the 2 year old room, and my guys absolutly love playing in the kitchen home corner, and we have a play kitchen in the garden that is also really popular with all ages

cookielove · 18/11/2009 20:12

we have one similar to this

this cute

these seem popular

posieparker · 18/11/2009 20:14

Ebay might be good for this. All of my dcs love the play kitchen, we did but an expensive one that has lasted really well, but I don't see why a cheaper well looked after one wouldn't do the job as well.

cookielove · 18/11/2009 20:16

don't get this one it fell apart within about two weeks

yes lots more abuse from a nursery than just one child, but seriously not a good buy

120cmsOfSnow · 18/11/2009 20:18

gosh; that elc was £99 earlier in the year when I was looking for ours! We got a similar one in the end which has been fantastic; its the big jigs wooden one and still gets used at least 3 days a week, 6 months on. I got DD some of the cut up wooden fruit to go with it, which is popular.

I bought this one and as it is smaller than the elc one as we too have limited space. Can recommend hte seller too, they were helpful and I got the utensil/apron/cookware set to go with it and generally its held up well (some of the utensils have taken quite a battering though!)

threetinytots · 18/11/2009 20:19

We bought a wooden kitchen from ELC three years ago for DD1's 2nd birthday and I would say it is the best toy we have ever bought. It still gets used almost daily by now 5yo DD1, 6yo DS1(yes, boys do play with kitchens!) and 2yo DD2.

Yes, it does take up a fair bit of space and sometimes I do think it is a PITA, but my DC's would give up a vast majority of the rest of their toys before they would part with the kitchen.

It is very cheeky to have put the price up just before Christmas. There are often voucher codes for 20% off at ELC about at this time of the year. Also GLTC have some nice wooden kitchens and you get 10% discount through MN.

piscesmoon · 18/11/2009 20:33

My DSs had hours of fun from one-I got it very cheaply, second hand.

Original poster
WrigglyFish · 18/11/2009 20:38

Brilliant - very encouraging that they are so popular, and with boys as well as girls. I will keep up the hunt for a decent second hand one and failing that will start scouring the voucher codes section to see what discounts I can get. Oh yeah, and persuade DH who can't for the life of him think why a child would want to pretend to play in a pretend kitchen.

OP posts:
strig · 18/11/2009 20:41

I bought this little oven oven for my DS for his 2 birthday it is such a hit very small so great for a little house like we have. All his friends love it too. It was on recommendation from a friend who has a DD who also loves it as well at £18 well worth it.

jay11 · 18/11/2009 20:43

Play kitchens are great - mine has been used by all 3 of my kids (2 girls 1 boy). But £150? My mum bought my kids a tiny red one by smoby similar to cookielove's one - it stands about 2.5 feet high and is 3 feet max across. It has lasted 5 years and is still going strong. And takes up hardly any space.

Saw something similar here for £30.

strig · 18/11/2009 20:44

I just looked again at the site and now realise they do a little sink unit and fridge - may need to get this as well! They also do a little washing machine. Must mention my DS is pretty rought with it and no breakages yet which is amazing - he even likes to stand on it!!

BikiniBottom · 18/11/2009 20:45

I think they are a very good toy. Not only have all my children played with it but so has all the other kids who have come to play. We have had years of play out of this toy unlike so many many others. Many may go on sale after christmas

elliepac · 18/11/2009 20:49

DS got one at 2 and still plays with it now at 6

StarExpat · 18/11/2009 20:53

There's one at tesco that costs £25. It folds up tidy into a carry case!! I like that as we have a small place, too. Has anyone tried one of these out? I'm also looking for one second hand.

PotPourri · 18/11/2009 21:04

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PotPourri · 18/11/2009 21:05

Try posting on freecycle, and check ebay for items near to you so that you can save on postage.

PotPourri · 18/11/2009 21:06

Oh, and car boot sales you can get them quite cheap.

Also, boys do like playing with them too. I have found no difference between girls and boys

fruitcorner · 18/11/2009 21:11

we bought the plastic elc one 2 years ago b/c my dd played with the kitchen at her nursery and my now 5 year old dd still plays with it probably every day, it can become a shop, icecream van, cafe whatever, My son -6 has also played with it. It's not fantastically made but ok. Someone posted on here about a toy kitchen (just the kitchen unit) from ikea that looked great and quite plain

Lionstar · 18/11/2009 21:14

This is a fab IKEA hack to make your own play kitchen. We got all the bits last week, and the wood oddcuts were FREE from the timber yard (they even cut them to size for us). I've been picking up bits and pieces to 'furnish' it with from cheap hardware stores for a while now.

I know a few people who have done it and they all look FAB and the kids love them. Reckon if you are careful it could cost less than £30 to make and furnish.

RubysReturn · 18/11/2009 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jay11 · 18/11/2009 21:23

Wow Lionstar that kitchen is fab!

RubysReturn · 18/11/2009 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 18/11/2009 21:30

DS1 got this one for Christmas last year, and still loves it - whenever other children come round the play it's the first thing they head for.

It's pricey, but very good.

mysteryfairy · 18/11/2009 21:44

My DD got this one for her second birthday,almost six years ago now.
elc plasticy kitchen

At the time her brothers were 9 and 8 and TBH there was a period before DD grew into it when they played with it more than her.

Now anytime I gently suggest we could get rid of it DD is highly indignant. She doesn't play with it on her own that often any more but does occasionally and whenever we have younger friends or cousins round they always go for it.

It isn't as nice as the retro one in appearance but it is a lot cheaper and because it is dual sided takes up a lot less space. I would consider it as an alternative unless it's going to be in your front room or somewhere else very obvious.

BTW we didn't have any batteries in it and ignored the sizzling feature from day one. When it came to wrapping we just covered it with a sheet - can still remember her face when she pulled it off!

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