A play kitchen is a good place for children to experience role play, creative time and practice fine motor skills. Stocking a play kitchen does not need to be expensive and can be a lot of fun! Children love to use actual items that mom or dad would use in the real kitchen and recyclables or homemade craft items can be great additions.
Time: Various
Age: Under 5's, 5-10's
Level: Easy
Materials
Felt pieces and scrap material
Medium sized tree branches
A great place to start is in the recycling pile. Small tin cans, plastic containers and strawberry or tomato punnets are great items to put in the kitchen.
For tin cans, make sure there are no sharp points and ensure the can is washed and dried well. Cut out a piece of cardboard the same size as the lid of the tin can. Glue around the inside rim and set in the cardboard piece. Tape the entire can with clear packing tape to keep the lid and label in place.
Small plastic containers with various lids are a great way for children to practice fine motor skills. Undoing the caps, putting them back on and fastening lids all contribute to hand-eye coordination.
Please be careful with small lids that could be a choking hazard for younger children.
Use plastic easter eggs and a small egg carton or part of a big carton to stock your kitchen with eggs. Our eggs are actually shakers too - simply fill the plastic eggs with some rice, glue around the edges and tape with clear packing tape for additional hold.
Fill strawberry or tomato punnets with strawberries made from scrap material and felt. Find out how to make the strawberries
here.
The punnets will be destroyed but can easily be replaced with a new one!
Other felt scraps can be used to make chocolate chip or Oreo cookies.
Use an old or unused dish towel to make towels for the kitchen. Cut it in half, hem the unfinished end and attach a small ribbon for hanging.
Melissa & Doug have loads of wood and felt play food for the kitchen and if you can find them in second hand stores, they are a great inexpensive addition!
IKEA also has lots of metal and felt toys to add to the play kitchen and is available internationally.
What do you have in your play kitchen?
Categories
#Fun Food
#Play Kitchen
#Play Food
#Role Play
#Fine Motor Skills
#Imaginative Play
#Under 5's
#5-10's
#Recyclables
#Felt
#Fabric
#Easy
