Toy kitchen a hit with your kids?

[ExcitedMamma]

DS loves playing with toy kitchens when we're out but I thought they were too much money and DH definitely thinks they're too big but now that we're having a DD I'm seriously considering it because between the two kids I think it could be worth the money. DS loves pretending to cook with his Leapfrog Potsy and some spoons and bowls so would a kitchen add that much more interest and play time for him?

Unfortunately we don't have any good toy stores here so we can't go and check them out for DS to play with. I'm pretty sure I'd want to avoid the big plastic kind and go with wood. I love the look of the Kidkraft ones online but they're expensive and there doesn't seem to be any free shipping options I could find which added about $30 to the price. Any brand and where to buy recommendations? Thank you!

[weech]

DS is 26 months and he loves his. He cooks every night, and he has a new thing now where he goes to the kitchen, packs up his favorite foods in a basket and tells us he's "going to the restaurant!"

We have this one - http://www.amazon.com/KidKraft-53208...012100&sr=8-14

It was pricey, but I still like it a lot and it's not a total eyesore in my house. Also consider the Ikea one! We have all the Ikea utensils, pots, pans, etc.

[eno0609]

We also have the same kidkraft one that weech has, but in red. It was DD's gift for her 3rd birthday and as soon as DS could stand at almost 12 months he has been playing with it as well and 2 years later it still gets played with by both DC. We got a good deal online at the time on on CSN.com which I think is now Mayfair.

[roseyloxs]

We also have the kidkraft one listed above. Ours is in red too. I love it and the kids love it too. Anyone else annoyed that the oven opens like a regular door and not like an oven though... that's my only complaint.

Another option if you are dh are creative is to get an old/almost free entertainment center off of craigslist and transform it into a play kitchen as seen here:
http://www.thebloominghydrangea.com/...rned-play.html

[acmom]

My DD got the play kitchen for Christmas when she was 16 months or so and it has gotten daily play since then. Both my DD (3.5 now) and DS (2) use it on their own and together. I think it may be our most used toy!

We have a Land of Nod wooden one and really like it. It's white with red accents, 2 separate pieces - one fridge, one oven/stove/sink, but I think they have changed their model since we got it. It has held up well and I like that it is simple and holds a lot of food, dishes etc. We have a lot of melissa and doug and green toy sets to go with it.

Play kitchens were also one of the most consistently used toys in the classroom when I taught pre-K and K.

[ZeeBaby]

My kids got theirs for Christmas 2010 and still play with it all the time.

[stinkyfeet]

Both of my boys love their kitchen. I thought I really wanted a wood kitchen too, but DH was adamant that we get a plastic one. We have a Step 2 neutral party time kitchen, and it's held up really well. I'm SO happy we ended up with a plastic kitchen because wIth our recent move, it was so much easier to move it around. Because it is so light, it's also easier for us to move between rooms and floors so that we can change up their toys a bit.

[mnosky1]

I have 2 girls, 4 and turning 9. My oldest got the kitchen for her 2nd birthday and it's never been put away! We do have a basement playroom where it usually is but has spent time in the kitchen and family room too, so yes, it's gotten a lot of play. Ours is plastic little tykes - a corner model and was a gift - I honestly didn't put much thought into it- never thinking it would be around for 7 years lol!

[wellyes]

IKEA has a very compact wooden one for about $100ish.

[Seitvonzu]

we have the elves and angels sylvia kitchen and jacob's fridge.

http://www.novanatural.com/toys/kitchen/sylvies-kitchen

http://www.novanatural.com/toys/kitc...cobs-ice-box_3

it was a little cheaper when my ILs bought it for DD for her birthday/christmas 2010 (i want to say about 60 dollars cheaper altogether, they had an unassembled version of the fridge, and i know the kitchen was a bit cheaper too)

so-- expensive. i was wondering if the fridge was necessary at all about 6 months ago, but it's started seeing more play lately (my daughter is almost 4.5) and it's great for storage. we knew that we wanted the kitchen to be in our kitchen. we spend a TON of time in our kitchen...so i wanted it to be something super neutral and pleasing. my main criteria was "if we move, i want something that is worth moving." my inlaws wanted to buy my daughter a "big present" but if they hadn't said that, we'd have given her the kitchen as her birthday/christmas instead. i was really set on having "this kitchen." (and my daughter does love it--she calls it "my little kitchen" or right now "rock n' roll bear's restaurant")

that being said, my parents are borrowing one from a neighbor-- a plastic, step 2 kitchen-- and the grands and visiting kids LOVE IT. so, i think all types of kitchens are fun i'm a big fan of kitchen toys in general.... to me, it's all about the accessories--that's something i could talk about all day we have about 6 well-stocked kitchens worth of playfood/dishes/pots/pans/appliances/etc.