“ Children are great imitators then give them something great to imitate”
Toddlers learn most of their skills by copying or imitating their parents and especially their mothers since she spends most of the time with the kid if she is a stay at home parent like me. Ofcourse there are super Dads too and hats off to them.
My daughter Devi when she was around 2 years old started coming into the kitchen and imitating me. The way I stand near the range or the way I mix my dough or make a egg. By 2.5 years she started breaking the egg and mixing the egg with beater to make an omlet.
I had to impose boundries to her and keep a constant check on her to make sure she is safe
That is when I realised she needed her own play kitchen to fix a small snack for herself or just play around with it.
I was very particular about what I wanted in the play kitchen since I wanted it to be semi working.
Qualities that I wanted in the Kids Play Kitchen Set
1.It should be sturdy to be manhandled by a toddler
2.It should be safe I.e. the quality ( no plastics)
3.The height of the kitchen set should be such that my kid could use it comfortable – I had seen kitchen sets too small.
4.If we could multipurpose it then it would be super.
5.Storage space to keep kitchen items
6.Durable hinges and screws that with stand banging of doors.
7.Removable sink for cleaning
So I had heard a lot about Ikea Kitchen Set and I really tried everything to get my hands over it. But since I stay in a small town and going to bangalore or any Ikea for that matter was no joke for me. The cost of Ikea Kitchen Set and the travel expense would not be worth it.
So I hunted down Eduspark, Amazon, First Cry, Facebook Market place and what not over the net to find a good play set for my kid. It took me almost 11 months to find a good kitchen set for her within our range. Amazon had plenty for wooden kitchen sets but they were super expensive which I could not afford. So I waited for the right one to come along.
One fine day on my hunt I came across this Hamleys Blue Kitchen Set which was close to what I wanted. It was still 2 months for my dauthers 3rd birthday but I thought if I don’t buy it now I might not get a good one near her birthday so I jumped at the opportunity and though so be it lets just dive in.
I thing it took just 5 days to reach me once the purchase was completed. Thankfully it was a Sunday and my husband was at home. I was so happy to receive the parcel. It was like I became a child again.
I sent my daughter on a play date with her friend that day and me and my husband assembled the pieces together.
Finally after 1.5 hours when we were done. We marveled at it for next 5 minutes.
It was so cute.
Pros of Hamleys Blue Kitchen.
It was sturdy just like I wanted. Strong like I was expecting.
Not too big not too small for our small living room cum play area so it does not look bulky.
The colour of the kitchen set is quite pleasant so it does not become an eye sore right in the middle of living room.
The knobs of the gas range actually turn and make the click sound my daughter was quite facinated with it.
It has a microwave which my daughter could relate too.
It also has a oven button and oven door but since we do have oven at home my daughter could not relate to it so we use it as storage / fridge.
There is a steel bowl as wash basin and it has hot and cold water revolving taps which my daughter loves to tell me “ Mama wash hand only cold water No hot water” my daughter does not like hot water.
If in future I want to making it working wash basin you can I guess but I am very likely to do it because I dread the mess it makes.
They have give 2 wooden laddles and 1 knife where there is dedicated slots given and my daughter has now learnt that she has to keep these back in place.
It also has 2 wooden pot and pan with lid which I guess is enough for the range those are quite big enough for her to handle and made of good quality wood.
Cons of Hamleys Blue Kitchen
I wish there was a working place where I could put a chopping board and have a little working place around so that Devi could chop vegetables or mix cake batter ( imaginary ) there. Nevertherless a little working space would be better.
I also wish if they could give few more wooden kitchen toy like plate or sauce bottle it would be really good for the set because now I need to find and buy something which will suit the size. As a parent that is a task in itself.
Additions that can be done to Hamley’s Blue Kitchen
Since the top of the kitchen has kind of window to it and there is a space below where you can chaulk paint it and make a board out of it.
Then play resturant or ice-cream parlour.
I was also thinking of adding a curtain to it and make it into a puppet show stage.
There are so many ways to multipurpose this kitchen I can think of.
In future I will update you guys with all the changes that I will be making with this kitchen I am so looking forward to it.
My daughter has uses this Play Kitchen everyday be it making imaginary food for herself or entertaining her guest when they come for a play date with her.
I am really happy to make this purchase and I hope my daughter cherishes this as well.
Size of the kitchen set is – L 59 X W 29 x H 89
Weight – 2 kg
Price – Rs 12,349/-
Here is the link from where I brought the Blue Kitchen with accessories
https://www.hamleys.in/product/wooden-blue-kitchen-with-accessories-multicolour-3y-491603649
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