Please talk to me about ELC kitchen/food items as a present for my DS

[cleanandclothed]

DS will be 15 months at Christmas and likes playing with bowls and spoons. I thought of getting him some play food from the ELC (I like the look of the bag for life pus food) but then I started looking on ebay and wondering about getting him some kitchen equipment as well. I don't want to spend too much and I don't want anything too big as we don't have a lot of room. In your experience which bits (kettle, toaster, microwave, hob, shopping trolley?) are worth while or should I ignore all that and just get the food?

We have play food, trolley + cooker with hob and oven.

Play food is used all the time, to cook me meals, for teddy bears picnics etc. Shopping trolley useful for playing shop, doubles up as high chair and buggy for teddy bears.

Still going strong with these toys and eldest is nearly 7.

They do use the cooker but not as much as the other stuff. We got ours at a car boot sale and have the space so I haven't minded but would certainly think twice about new if space was an issue.

You could always make a hob out of a cardboard box with a couple of rings painted on and see whether there is any interest.

My dds used pans, a teaset and the food and didn't really bother much with the cooker. In fact, the play food lasted them literally for years. I have just bought the bag for life and a little red shopping basket for my nephew - it is very cute.

We bought DD the large wooden kitchen from ELC last year when she was two and have been buying the various bits that go with it since then. It is very expensive but is fabulous quality and will last for years. Both she and DS (9 months) love playing with it together although his playing is limited to chewing a wooden spoon

The elc food is the most used toy DD has ever had, followed by an elc teaset. She atill uses them (age 6) and also various pots, pans and implements she has accumulated. The (cheap) plastic kitchen I got her however, has been almost unused. She is also keen on a picnic basket with implements bought from woollies (ahh, nostalgic emoticon for woollies)

Ds got a kitchen last xmas when he was 18 months (smoby I think or little tykes), since then he's got a kettle toaster and washing machine - all of which are fab - the chrome kettle makes a realistic pouring sound, the toaster pops and the washing machine has 5 or 6 different sound effects - well worth the money. I've bought him the till for christmas this year as he loves "scamming" things in.

Ebay is well worth a look for 2nd hand stuff.

DS (2.10) is currently making lunch for his dinosaurs with his ELC food. He has the mini sizzling kitchen which I'd say isn't worth the money - only gets used as a storage box. Food is great, and crockery/cutlery, perhaps a basket or trolley. DS not interested in dishwasher/mini cooker/microwave etc though

Thanks so much everyone. Will definitely get the food and maybe a kettle or similar, and then see how it goes.

Microwave a big hit in this household and ll my 3 year old friends. The actual kitchen or food has hardly been played with.

You need a kettle!