The Many Uses of a Play Kitchen

I love to find toys that transcend the age “recommendation” and remain useful for many years. This play kitchen is a perfect example. L got this kitchen as a gift for his 5th birthday. I figured he’d play with it for maybe a year, then it would no longer be of interest. I’ve been expecting to hear those words I’ve been hearing all too often lately: “That’s a baby toy.”

Two and a half years later, he still enjoys this kitchen. But the way he plays with it is decidedly different. He started out, of course, cooking and playing “Emeril Live!” He soon branched out to a form of entrepreneurial play in which he was the restaurant owner and I was the supplier delivering his food.

One night, I was surprised to find L and Dad had cleared off the coffee table and were playing air hockey with some play food: They each had a hamburger bun to use as a “stick” while a chocolate chip cookie served as the puck. Then there were the days he just threw the food around the room, pretending to gobble it up and acting silly.

Lately, L’s been pulling out his toy cash register (another toy that has stood the test of time) and playing restaurant again. But now the focus is on money and business. He made a sign that says “Ls Diner.” He wrote down all the foods in his kitchen and assigned a price to each, creating a menu complete with daily specials. While on a trip to Staples with Dad, L saw a “Come In, We’re Open / Sorry, We’re Closed” sign and asked Dad to buy it for his diner. It’s now taped to our living room wall, along with the menu. When we play diner, L runs the cash register, checking his menu and totaling up the food we order. Tonight he asked about tax, so I showed him how to use the cash register to calculate 6% tax and add it to the bill. I pay him with play money and he gives me my change.

Leia now plays with the kitchen too. She mostly pushes the buttons that make sounds and pretends to feed her stuffed animals the food, but I know it won’t be long until she, too, is using the kitchen to learn about reading, writing, and arithmetic… not to mention running a business, customer service, supply and demand, and much, much more.