Modern and Retro Wood Play Kitchens for Toddlers
Kids Love Play Kitchens
Kid-sized kitchen playsets are a staple in most toddler family homes. In addition to encouraging imaginative play, all those knobs, doors and drawers are a great tool for honing both gross and fine motor skills.
When my daughter turned two I started noticing her gravitating to the play kitchens wherever we went. I was thrilled by her interest in imaginative play, but less so at the thought of buying one of those enormous plastic play kitchens for my tiny, modern apartment. So I set off on a search for a modern, compact wooden play kitchen that I could tolerate in my living space and that she would enjoy playing with. Follow along to see what I found.
Retro Style Kitchens for Less
Don't pay Pottery Barn Kids Prices!
You've seen how kids gravitate to the Pottery Barn Kids retro kitchen whenever you step into the store. No need to shell out the big bucks, however. KidKraft makes excellent wood 1950's inspired play kitchens - which look just like the PB ones - for less.
Did you know that the average shelf-life of a play kitchen is only 2.5 years per child? With that in mind, pick one that is sturdy enough, but don't pay a fortune for designer names like Pottery Barn or Land of Nod. These great options are available for a fraction of the cost online through Amazon.com. And most of them come with free shipping!
KidKraft Retro One-Piece Kitchen
If you are a fan of vintage style but short on space, this retro-inspired play kitchen can't be beaten. Complete with stove, sink, and oven plus refrigerator all in one convenient piece this kitchen comes fully equipped for stylish cooking adventures.
I love the primary color scheme on this one as it is easier to pass down through the family and will be loved by boys and girls alike. Kids will love the extra cabinet space and fridge with play water dispenser on this one.
A Red Retro KidKraft Kitchen
Melissa & Doug Cook's Corner Wooden Kitchen
The shelf-life of a play kitchen is greatly extended when you have more than 1 child, and little boys love kitchen playsets too. So if you're currently buying for your little princess, keep in mind that a little boy might follow. Shop options with a neutral or primary color scheme so that this beloved toy is easier to pass down.
With everything your budding chef needs in a compact, sturdy design, this unisex play kitchen is sure to please. Made with signature Melissa & Doug quality and style, the red white and blue color scheme will please the little boy or girl on your list. And its compact size and streamlined design will please parents as well.
This is the perfect play kitchen to pass down between siblings with its gender neutral color scheme and sturdy construction!
Hape Gourmet Kitchen
Solid Construction, Clean Look
This perfect, petite play kitchen has clean lines and solid wood construction for parents looking for minimal impact - but still has everything your little chef will need to create her gourmet treats. A stove with bright red knobs, oven, refrigerator and sink are all a part of this great design. And shop for Hape's extensive line of toy kitchen accessories and play food (all safe and non-toxic) to complete your child's dream kitchen.
Compact Wood Play Kitchens
Short on space? These play kitchens pack a lot of fun
Are you short on space, but want to give your little one a play kitchen worthy of the budding chef that he or she is? These compact children's play kitchens have all the charm of the larger versions, with sleek lines and wooden construction that will look good in your small space.
The Hape play kitchen below is the one I had for both of my children. We loved the compact size which worked great in our small New York City apartment, and they loved the roomy oven, compact stovetop and hooks for hanging kitchen utensils. The sturdy wood construction kept is stable and this well-loved toy made several moves with us as we upsized our living quarters from apartment to house.
