Play kitchens

PrairieMom wrote: I am going to get a play kitchen for the kids for Christmas but I don't really know what one to get. I was thinking wood, (better for the environment, I think)
I want something with super fun features, that will hold up and that I will be able to re-sell later.
what do your kids like, and what should I be looking for?

moped replied: Little Tikes has a cute one but it is plastic..........

Our Lil' Family replied: I know several people that got the one from Target and love it. It's really girly though, I'm not sure how you feel about that for Ben. Let me look for the link...

This isn't it but I like this one a lot, especially for both kids:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-...asin=B000R05W92

This is the one my SIL had for my niece:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=b...asin=B0002V84X2

I also like this one too:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=b...asin=B000LPGAYO

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Oh that top one from Target is so cute! My boys would love that! Pottery Barn Kids sells wood ones, but man are they expensive. Although I like wood better too, just be cautious about the paint...you know with all the lead paint scares lately. I've noticed that wood toys tend to chip paint a lot, which IMO, doesn't really make for a better toy or better for the environment, lead paint or not. I don't want my kids ingesting paint at all! Melissa & Doug is a great brand for wood toys, but I'm not sure they make the full kitchen, just the accessories. They may actually be the brand sold at Target. Anyhow, google them and I'm sure you can find a lot of cute things!

My2Beauties replied: Hanna has a Dora one and she LOOOOOVES it. It talks and makes all kinds of noises.

Our Lil' Family replied: The last link is a Melissa and Doug kitchen...very nice but $100 more than the others.

MommyToAshley replied: This is the kitchen Ashley has:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=...9&creative=9325

It's plastic though. But, she absolutely loves it and still plays with it and she's had it for a long time. It has all kinds of neat features. It's very sturdy and it holds it's value... I've seen used ones going for not much less than the new ones.

PrairieMom replied: I really like that first blue one, super cute! I never thought about the paint chipping off and being ingested. I guess I will have to think on it more. I'm gonna check out the second hand stores too, maybe that will satisfy my inner Al-Gore. do the plastic ones hold up pretty good? Back in my baby sitting days I remember plastic kitchenettes that would dent and the doors seemed to fall off pretty easily.

MommyToAshley replied:
I don't know about all kitchens, but Ashley has had hers for awhile and it still looks brand new. The only thing we've had to do is change the batteries... and it takes 12 of them.

PrairieMom replied:
yeah.... my kids don't know about a lot of stuff that takes batteries. I never put them in in the first place, and they don't know what they are missin.
I am the evil-est mommy.

luvmykids replied:
Same here, we have the one that is one step down from Ashley's and it's in great shape after three years. It's super heavy duty plastic. The one we have has a light over the sink that the girls love to use as a nightlight

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Tara, if your kids are messy like mine, I think plastic is the best for just taking outside and hosing down. I know Toys R Us has a huge section of these kitchens where they are already setup for you to look at. That Little Tykes brand is really good IMO. We have one of their slides that my mom got at a garage sale when my 8 year old niece was first born. It is a bit faded from sitting outside in the sun, but other than that, it has held up really well.

kit_kats_mom replied: http://www.littlepeoplescove.com/kk-53101.html

that's the one we have. The girls LOVE it and it's sturdy enough to become an heirloom. I will say that it was a freaking bear to put together though. There are no batteries either so it's all imagination.

http://www.littlepeoplescove.com/woodenkit...CFQ2aOAod-EHTvg there are a lot more wooden kitchens here.

Woops! I just saw that Naomi had already posted the same kitchen. LOL

Calimama replied: Wow I never knew there were so many!! I like the first blue one that was posted!

Boo&BugsMom replied: We have one made by Step2, but it's plastic. It's extremely durable though and is still in mint condition even after having the daycare kids play with it every day for 3 years.

You check out this site. www.learningshop.com or http://montessori-n-such.com/SearchResult....CFSasGgodrm-bRg for wooden ones.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Ours is a cheap plastic one that we got at the grocery store for like $30. It had held up really well and is great - the only complaint is the refrigerator door constantly falls off, but for that price I really can't complain.

Cece00 replied: We have one, its plastic. I kind of like plastic better than wood- easier to clean & stuff.

We got it probably 3 years ago. Its held up very well, looks like new still. Of course, I got it for the boys, who have basically no interest in it...so it didnt get played with much.

Anyway, it has sounds & all that jazz.

mummy2girls replied: The little tykes ones are good. Jenna has one , its plastic and it has a ktchen on one side and a BBQ on teh toher. Its in the dayhome i have and i have 4 boys and 2 girls climbing on it banging the dorrs and such and its still in one peice. No broken pieces or anything! if 6 kids under 5 crawling on top of a kitchen and it holds it must be good:)

Our Lil' Family replied: Just got in a catalog today from OneStepAhead...look how cute!

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/produc...cmSource=Search

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Was just going to post the exact same thing. I love this one!

boyohboyohboy replied: tara, do you have craigslist in your area on line?
we got our thru that, for $25 and its perfect...not dirty and looks new, and came with tons of dishes....