Play kitchens are a classic toy that has stood the test of time. Generations have played with play kitchens. Sometimes they are passed down. Usually they have been used so much that there are not in a good enough condition to pass down. Girls and boys alike enjoy filling their refrigerator with the fake food that comes along with the kitchen.
The reasons that play kitchens have maintained their popularity is that they foster a child’s imagination. A child can pretend to be mom or dad. Or they can pretend to have their own house and feed mom and dad lunch! Creative play has been shown to result in positive development of a child.
The selection of a play kitchen is an important decision. First, parents should choose a play kitchen that is age-appropriate for their family. For example, children younger than 8 years old should not have a play kitchen with heating or electrical elements. Some families want the play kitchen to blend in with the home décor, while others enjoy the bright primary colors of some play kitchens.
A major concern (as with all toys) is product safety. Play kitchens sometimes are problematic due to the nature f their design. Rough wooden edges, tiny plastic part or overall unstable surfaces have been cited by safety inspectors. For instance, in the United States, parent can check the website for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This commission evaluates more than 15,000 types of products for criteria such as child-safety hazards. Look at their listing of toys with identified hazards. Additionally, the website Toy Recall Alert maintains a listing of all recalled toys; parents can receive emails of the perpetual listing. There have been strides in toy safety. Luckily, improvements in design and implementation of poly surfaces have eliminated some of these concerns.
