What Age Do Your Kids......

[SandeeAR]

I have all littles. 27 mo, 23 mo, 19 mo, and 10 mo.


What age do they start playing with the play kitchen and foods?


What age do they start to play with "sets" (like entire Fisher Price play sets) Using the set, not just the animals or cars.

Went to the local Rhea Lana sale yesterday. Just got 3 FP play sets with all the stuff for $25. And a kitchen set for $9 Don't know when to bring them out of the attic and set up for the kids.

[Country Kids]

The kitchen set is a hard one. I finally had to put mine up because of all the kids putting them in their mouth (the play food). These are three year olds!!!! Now they have wooden blocks for pretend food and do the same, same thing-. I almost think they shouldn't be used till 5 or 6!

The set things are another hard one. Really, really depends on the children I guess. I think they know what to do with the cars, people, animals, but maybe not with the rest of the stuff. Maybe will have to sit and show them.

[Lianne]

My kitchen rarely gets played with. I put it away 6mos ago and no one noticed. I now have a bin of food and dishes and kids as young as 12mos play with them, especially the cups and spoons.

I find around 2 1/2 the kids start playing with toy sets as they were intended but I'm okay with the kids playing with toy sets however they wish as long as it's done respectfully.

I find the older kids (2 1/2-4) will teach the toddlers how to play, which is why I prefer not separating age groups. If I don't have older kids in care then the toddlers do learn how to play but it takes a bit longer.

[Sunchimes]

I'm having trouble finding affordable food and dishes that don't say for ages 3+. Doll bottles either. I've found some, but good grief, it would cost a weeks pay for a decent set. Oh, and doll house furniture too.

I finally brought out the dishes that I was using for the kids and they are playing with those. I have plastic plates and old sippy cups without lids, and a set of flatware like the ones we are using for real.

If I can ever master the stitch, there are lots of tutorials for felt food online. I just can't make myself sit down and do it.

[Beach Baby]

I have littles too (two 18 months, & a 21 month old). I do have the play kitchen out with a bin of play food/utensils that are appropriate size for them. Anything that was a choking hazard is put away until they are older. They don't really pretend to cook yet, but they do like to open/close the oven, fridge, etc. They like to put the food in the little pots or on a plate and bring it to me. Of course, I pretend to eat it and tell them how yummy it was. They LOVE that part. I have a FP little people dollhouse out for them and they push the buttons that make noise, but that's about it. They don't play with them in the "correct" manner, but they DO play with them, learn from them, and have fun with them! I'd say put out what is appropriate (no choking hazard play foods, of course), but put it out and see how they do with it.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I have a Little Tikes kitchen in the basement right now which is off limits to dc kids. I plan on bringing it back up in about a month. Right now, the only one who plays with it is my dd (21mos). She loves to cook and play with the food while I'm tending the laundry.

I have in my care a 10mo (dcb), 16mo (dcb), 21mo (dd), 2.75yr (dcg), 3.5yr (dcb), 3 almost 4 (dcg), 3 almost 4 (dcb), 6.5y (dcb), 7.5y (ds), 7.75y (dcb), 8.5y (dcg), and with the exception of the 10mo old, I suspect that the others will all be excited and very busy with the kitchen set when it comes back up.

[spud912]

The play kitchen, food, utensils and pots/pans are by far my kids FAVORITE toys. They play with them non-stop. As far as putting food in their mouths, it happens. It depends on the child how long it takes to get them to stop. My older kids took ~2 months to stop putting things in their mouths, but I have a 14 month old that will take more time (he puts everything in his mouth, including his shirt if he doesn't have anything else). I just remind them every time I see it ("ah ah, yucky!") and take the toy away to be sanitized.

As far as how young they are before they start, it really depends on the child. My youngest started playing with all of it as soon as she could pull herself to a standing position (around 7 months old).

The only problem I see is they do take a lot out when they play with it. As long as you are ok with the mess it creates, I say take it out right away!

[SandeeAR]

Thank you to those that have replied!

[beachgrl]

Mine love the kitchen set and play food...20 and 21 mo and 3, and yes the littles put things in their mouth..i just remind them and they stop for a bit but it is normal, they will outgrow it I hope

[jojosmommy]

Buy a set that says for 3 and up and take out the small pieces. Usually fries (like they should even have those in the sets) are small chokeables but otherwise nothing in the sets I have purchased has been too small. Or buy the real kid sized plates forks spoons sold at Target/walmart.