As a chef, I can’t think of many toys cuter than a play kitchen. As a mother, I know how valuable they can be for childhood development. So when I saw this red mini-version of my own kitchen, I knew this is exactly what Santa would be bringing Audrey Christmas morning. And just as I hoped, she has enjoyed countless hours of fun with it since. Whether you love or loathe the kitchen yourself, play kitchens are a fantastic way for little ones to explore and learn in numerous ways. Here are my top 10 reasons highlighting the benefits of play kitchens:
- Allows kids to use, develop, and explore their imaginations.
- Teaches responsibility and care-taking.
- Creates a dialogue for why we eat certain foods, where food comes from and how food is made.
- Develops social skills, including sharing, communication, and etiquette.
- Explores the process of cooking and preparing a meal.
- Helps to develop organizational skills; what goes where and why.
- Creates a safe environment for children to learn the basics of a kitchen, ex: ovens are hot, refrigerators are cold.
- Helps to develop recognition of colors and objects and strengthens math and verbal skills.
- Teaches the importance of washing and cleaning dishes, pots & pans, and fruits & vegetables.
- Teaches how to identify various fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples; knowing and understanding what a food is increases the likelihood of then eating that food, i.e. vegetables.
Leave a Reply