Everything You Need to Set Up a Great Play Kitchen Set

Kids love to be just like you- you’re their hero after all! They love to pretend to do all the “grown-up” things that they see you do during the day. One of the “grown-up” tasks that all kids seem to love imitating is cooking (even if the extent of your cooking skills is opening the freezer and putting food in the microwave). Why not help your little ones expand their imagination, develop motor and reasoning skills, and build self-confidence by setting up a little kitchen where they can practice being just like you?

To put together a dream play kitchen set you’ll need more than just a kitchen center. It’s also all the accessories that will really make your little chef’s imagination run wild. Here is everything you need to put together an imaginative and ample play kitchen set.

Kids Kitchen Sets

Of course, in order to play kitchen, you will need a kitchen play set. With so many adorable options out there, you are sure to find the perfect little kitchen for your little cook.

KidKraft Play Kitchen Sets

There are so many cute and highly rated KidKraft wooden kitchens that I didn’t even know where to begin. KidKraft is known for their quality wooden toys and kids furniture. My child’s beloved wooden rocking horse is by KidKraft and I’ve been very happy with its quality. Therefore, I was initially disappointed when I began researching KidKraft wooden kitchens and found that most of them weren’t made from solid wood; they are made from medium density-fiberboard. But as I thought about it, I realized that composite wood is a good choice for kids kitchen sets. It’s sturdy, durable, and is covered with an attractive laminate that makes clean-up easy. I got over my disappointment pretty quickly at that point.

These KidKraft kitchen play sets are super cute and the composite wood makes it heavy and durable. You’ll have this kitchen play set for a very long time. These will take assembly and since they’re heavy, you may need two people. Some of the kitchens are much smaller than others so be sure to choose one that’s the right size for your child. They also come in different colors, so if you have little boy cooks, you don’t need to be stuck with a pink pastel kitchen.

Little Tikes Play Kitchens

When I think of Little Tikes, I think of durable plastic that can withstand all the messes kids seem to insist on making. Real pies or mud pies, Little Tikes kitchens are great for cooks who like to get dirty. Most are durable enough to be used both indoors and outdoors. These little kitchens make great choices for boy cooks because the colors are neutral and don’t have flowers and butterflies all over them. Nothing girly here. The Little Tikes play kitchens tend to be compact so they fit into small spaces and are light enough to be moved around. Many of the kitchen play sets also have sizzling and boiling sound effects for fun entertainment.

Overall, the Little Tikes kitchens have good reviews for the above reasons. The main complaint on these kitchen play sets is that assembly can be difficult. Sometimes the holes aren’t pre-drilled, or the screws don’t quite fit, or the parts aren’t molded quite right. If you have your own drill, you could easily fix these problems, but it is a little irritating to have to make your own adjustments. Once you get the kitchen put together though, you’ll find it’s a tough little kitchen perfect for both boys and girls.

Kids Aprons

If you want to play the part, you need to look the part! Aprons are a fun way to play dress-up while role-playing in the kitchen. Here are some super cute and girly aprons that your little girls will adore wearing. Many of these also have grown-up versions so you can get matching “Mommy and me” aprons. These aprons are designed with real cooking in mind, so they'll stand up to the task when your little baker wants to make real cookies. Of course, boys probably won’t appreciate these adorable aprons; he may enjoy a realistic chef jacket instead (example below).

Kids Bakeware and Cookware

Sure the kitchen itself is fun, but it’s all the accessories that really add to the experience of pretend play. These are just as fun to collect as they are to play with. There are all kinds to choose from: wooden, plastic, and stainless steel. The wooden cookware, such as from Melissa and Doug, is attractive and long-lasting. Many people really enjoy the wooden sets, but the paint on wooden toys does tend to rub off on other toys and can start to look worn. Some of the stainless steel kids pots and pans can double both as toys and as real cookware. This may be a great investment if your kids show real interest in cooking and want to do the “real” thing (they’re also handy to borrow when all your cookware is dirty in the sink). Also, be aware that if you get bakeware from a different brand than your kitchen play set, the baking sheets may not fit into the oven. I know some of the Melissa and Doug baking sets are too large for KidKraft ovens.

Kids dinnerware

Why not invest in dishes that can double both as toys and as real kids dinnerware? Green Toys makes a fun dish set that meets almost every parent’s criteria for perfect toys: the dishes are appealing to kids, they are safe to eat on, and they are good for the environment. These kids dishes are made from recycled milk jugs- just think off all that milk your family goes through! Another advantage- they're made in the USA!

Play food

Play food comes in all types of varieties, but wooden play food is a favorite among kids and parents. Melissa and Doug offers everything from sushi to birthday cake to apple pie (they also have plenty of the other food groups too, if you’re wanting to set a good example). I’ve watched preschoolers spend forever decorating wooden cupcakes and building wooden pizzas. There are other play food choices, but Melissa and Doug offer some of the most creative pretend food around.

Shopping cart

So this isn’t necessarily a kitchen accessory, but your little cook will need to stock up on supplies at the “grocery store.” Plus, it’s absolutely adorable watching little toddlers push around a shopping cart and put things in the basket. It doubles as a walking toy in addition to a make-believe toy. Another great thing- I swear this toy shopping cart is more durable than a real shopping cart. It would be a fun stand-alone toy even if you didn’t have an entire kitchen play set.