What would you do - table or kitchen set?

[TracyBee]

DD room is small and she has room for either a table and chairs set or a wooden kitchen but definitely not both. We also don't have a playroom so that's not an option either - it has to go in her room.

She LOVES the home living area at preschool - LOVES it! Each year her teachers comment to me how much time she spends in that corner of the room. My thinking was I'd like to keep preschool something special that she looks forward to each day (she goes 4 days a week) and by getting a table/chair set she'd have the kitchen set at school to play with there and the table/chairs at home.

She just turned 3. What choice would you make - kitchen or table/chairs set? I'd really like to get something that will last a long time. Will one or the other last longer as far as play is concerned?

[Canna]

I think I might get the table and chairs because they can be used in many more ways.

You might consider a compact kitchen that your DD could put on top of the table and chairs when she wants to play kitchen, then put away in the closet or on a shelf.

Here's a cute one that even has an oven:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/kidsurplus_1910_59640216
http://www.kidsurplus.com/pan15w.html

We personally have this one; it folds up very compactly:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/kidsurplus_1906_143247832
http://www.kidsurplus.com/pan13.html

Good luck with your decision!

[Momof3Labs]

our kitchen set has been in the basement for a long time (unplayed with); our table and chair set has been used daily for almost 2 years!

[miki]

I would go for table and chairs. If you want to incorporate some kitchen into the table top, you can make up a little tablecloth or placemat that has circles to represent burners of a stove and you can stash a plastic storage bin under the table with pot, plates, etc. and the bin can be a pretend sink when set on a chair.

[Beth568]

Hmm. I have to agree. I love play kitchens, but you can always get a tabletop kitchen or, as PPs have suggested, create a "kitchen" area on top of the table.

My girls have both in our (overcrowded) family room, and they use both almost daily, but the table and chairs gets a lot more and varied use.

[TracyBee]

Thanks! That tabletop wood kitchen is perfect!

[Corie]

Here are 2 older threads about the tabletop kitchens.
Thought you might like to see them!! :)


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=50085&mode=full


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=35800&mode=full

[sdbc]

Ah, yes, the dilemmas. Rory has a very small room, too. We basically have no large toys in there. She does have a kitchen, an easel, a table/chair set, and now a HUGE dollhouse all in our livingroom! It's certainly not great for our decor, but the plus side is I can watch her from wherever I am. You might want to think about a small table/chair set in a main room of your house rather than her bedroom?
Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04

[CiderLogan]

I just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents. My DD (almost 3) uses her kitchen more than her table/chair set. One reason is that I prefer her to color, do playdough, etc. on the kitchen table because then I can more comfortably sit with her. BUT I have to add that most of her kitchen play is manipulating all the pots/pans, cups, etc. rather than using the kitchen itself. So a tabletop stove or even just a set of dishes in a box would probably be just as good.

Jenny
Julia, 8/03
Clara, 5/06

[egoldber]

I would agree about the table and chairs being in the main area. DD uses hers abslutely every single day - snack, playdoh, drawing, pretend play, puzzles, games, etc... Probably the single most "played with" item we have. Also, get a chair that you can sit in. I sit with her a LOT at that table. We got the plastic Ikea ones and I find them to be very functional and solid.

[oliviasmomma]

Here are a couple of other table top options from Willow: