Small play kitchen alternative

[mommyp]

Well, with both Christmas and b-day coming up, we're thinking of ideas for DD. I know she would love a play kitchen and food (I've been keeping an eye on the recent play food threads!). However we do not have space for a play kitchen in our little house! The kitchen already has a play table and chairs in the one open area and the living room has a FP Laugh and Learn Home. So I'm trying to find smaller kitchen alternatives, hopefully something that can be stored in toy box when not in use? Am I kidding myself or does something like this exist?

[kristac]

Alex makes some:

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Toys-My-Kitchen-Set/dp/B000K7G3RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257972908&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Wooden-Cook-Top-Playstove/dp/B00004U3FZ/ref=pd_sbs_t_2

Last year I saw a plastic one at Target I think that converted into a stool.

Eta:
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Pretend-Kitchen-Cook-Top/dp/B001G8VY28/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1257973138&sr=1-2

Haba too:
http://www.peapods.com/browse.cfm/4,916.html

[zag95]

http://www.target.com/Fisher-Price-Role-Play-Center-Kitchen/dp/B001W1PSMQ/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&frombrowse=0&node=1038620&keywords=play%20kitchen&field_browse=10386

What about something similar to above? It is like a little box that contains the "kitchen" so you could have DD play with it on the table! It looks pretty small- I have seen these at Target IRL and there are several "sets" you can get- and there is a main table that can also be used. This also might be in the Target Toy Catalog- i can't remember!
GL!

[brittone2]

eta: whoops! the ones I linked to were linked to by a PP (the Alex tabletop sink and stove, and the Haba tabletop stove)

[Melaine]

We have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Wooden-Cook-Top-Playstove/dp/B00004U3FZ/ref=pd_sbs_t_2
I like it. I found it at Goodwill for like $1. It does fold up and goes in our closet when not in use. I just took this picture tonight!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll113/MamaMelaine/Cooking.jpg

If I were shopping new, I think I would get this:
http://www.kidsurplus.com/itemDetail-item-54%20HAB%201596~-~fromsearch-true.asp (http://www.kidsurplus.com/itemDetail-item-54%20HAB%201596%7E-%7Efromsearch-true.asp)

[ellies mom]

The Alex one is great.

We have this Melissa & Doug Stove Tray thing (http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-2601-Cookware-Set/dp/B0009P0CIG). We just toss it in a kitchen cupboard.

[happymom]

Melaine, your girls are too cute!!

[mommyp]

Great ideas! I really like the wooden Alex and Haba ones, we do have a cupboard and a drawer in the kitchen that have DD's stuff, and they look like they'd fit fine in there. That is a great deal in the link you posted, Melaine. The picture is adorable, your girls look like they're having so much fun!

[Melaine]

Great ideas! I really like the wooden Alex and Haba ones, we do have a cupboard and a drawer in the kitchen that have DD's stuff, and they look like they'd fit fine in there. That is a great deal in the link you posted, Melaine. The picture is adorable, your girls look like they're having so much fun!

Last night was the first time I let them play with containers of spices. I just gave them the salt and pepper grinders. Boy was that a hit! They are almost empty and I think then they will be going in the permanent kitchen toy collections. They were just stirring the dry pasta and "seasoning" it for like 45 minutes.:thumbsup:

While we are talking kitchens, I just wanted to say that I was totally blown away by the Alex customer service team. I emailed them to ask if I could purchase new knobs for the stove (they were missing when I bought it for $1). Without even asking, they sent me a brand new stove!!! Now we have two because I don't want to just dump the first one! But I gotta say that experience sticks with me. Points for Alex.

[Melaine]

Melaine, your girls are too cute!!

Thanks :loveeyes:

[Kindra178]

The French Kitchen by Educo is awesome looking and very small. We have the Little Colorado one in wood and all the boys really like it.

[MamaMolly]

I saw a felt one maybe on the Crafty Crow blog? It was like a stove top and sink all done in felt. Like a play mat that went flat on the counter or on a table. It was really clever! I thought that would have been great for DD during our move and regret not making her one. Let me poke around and see if I can find it...

[Melaine]

I saw a felt one maybe on the Crafty Crow blog? It was like a stove top and sink all done in felt. Like a play mat that went flat on the counter or on a table. It was really clever! I thought that would have been great for DD during our move and regret not making her one. Let me poke around and see if I can find it...

Like this?
http://balancingeverything.com/2008/11/28/roll-up-kitchen-playmat-tutorial/

[MamaMolly]

Like this?
http://balancingeverything.com/2008/11/28/roll-up-kitchen-playmat-tutorial/

HA! That is EXACTLY it! :) I was just coming back with the link. Thanks!

Seriously, I'm making one of these and will be using it for travel. I think I'll add a little draw string bag for it, toss in some felt food and a couple of toy pots and DD would be one happy camper! I'm off to add to my shopping list....

[citymama]

I would highly recommend the Educo French kitchen. You can get either the tabletop kitchenette version (http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706910/Educo-French-Kitchenette-Instantanee---FREE-SHIPPING.html?oompaItem=Educo_French%20Kitchenette %20Instantanee%20-%20FREE%20SHIPPING) or the regular kitchen (http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706920/WH-Swiss---Educo-French-Kitchen---FREE-SHIPPING-.html?oompaItem=WH%20Swiss%20-%20Educo_French%20Kitchen%20-%20FREE%20SHIPPING), which is still pretty small. We have the regular kitchen and LOVE it. We have a tiny place, and this kitchen fits perfectly, but is still big enough for DD to enjoy playing with. It comes with play food, pots and pans, cooking spoons, salt and pepper shakers. Really high quality wooden kitchen, very attractive, gets *tons* of compliments.


http://www.oompa.com/mas_assets/full/WH706920.jpg

[tny915]

Citymama, how tall is your DD?

I'm stalking this kitchen for Christmas for DD2 and looking forward to replacing the cheapo plastic hand-me-down Barbie kitchen from DD1. I know this is a smaller kitchen, so I'm trying to get a feel for what size kids can play with it. It'd be a big bonus if my short 5yo DD1 could play with it with DD2.

[citymama]

Citymama, how tall is your DD?

I'm stalking this kitchen for Christmas for DD2 and looking forward to replacing the cheapo plastic hand-me-down Barbie kitchen from DD1. I know this is a smaller kitchen, so I'm trying to get a feel for what size kids can play with it. It'd be a big bonus if my short 5yo DD1 could play with it with DD2.

My DD is 42 inches tall. Her 8 and 5 yr old cousins (well over 4 feet) love playing with it too. If you have a small place, it's perfect coz it's light enough to move room to room (I bring it to the kitchen so DD can "cook" or "bake" while I cook) or even just to move to the center of the room so both kids can play with it at the same time. Absolutely LOVE the kitchen.

PS "The Ark" toystore up on Sacramento St sells these if you want to check it out IRL. That's where we bought ours, although it was a little more expensive than the oompa.com price.

[tny915]

LOL, that's about how tall DD1 is! Good to know it appeals to all sizes and ages. I'm sure both of them will be enjoying it.

Thanks for the tip about The Ark!

[cbscherer]

I just bought this one for my DD Christmas. I LOVE it. The accessories pack up into the kitchen. It was bigger than I thought it would be, but not huge--especially when folded up. When all is said and done, I'm only out $35 for a wood kitchen if I decide to buy her bigger and better later.

http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=3146&f=2142

[mommyp]

Thanks for all the suggestions, there are a lot of great little kitchens. Grandma and Grandpa ended up buying DD the Alex stove and sink one (at my suggestion...;)), along with some pots and pans. It arrived a couple days ago, but I haven't had a chance to take it out of the box! We're excited though, she'll love it. Thanks again everybody!