Play kitchen for 3 yo DS. Is that weird?

[bumbershoot]

I never could afford a play kitchen for my son, but we did a lot in the kitchen together. Your three year old might get a kick out of stirring things, measuring spices, using a butter knife, etc... My son loved feeling helpful at that age, and cooking "for real". The first thing he learned to make all by himself was microwave Kraft dinner - he had that one down by the time he was four.

My 3 year old LOVES helping in the kitchen "for real"!

He actually had a very bad experience in June when DH let him help *too* much (let him stir the cooking macaroni, DS slapped the stirrer on the boiling water, and the water leaped out and burned the heck out of DS's arm and chest, sigh) so he won't go near a stove that's on (he knows that the lights on the stove mean it's on and hot), but as he says, "I'm a good helper! I can stir it!"

Because of the stove issue, we're getting him a kitchen for Yule, though we'll likely get him a wooden one from oompa.com.

 

[nessz79]

I'm a preschool teacher and a lot of our little boys play in the kitchen. Heck, we have some little boys who dress up in our princess dresses. A lot of men end up becoming wonderful cooks and great chefs. Go for it. If he enjoys it, definitely support him.

Oh, thank you, my son isn't the only boy who likes to dress up in the princess outfits at preschool! LOL. Seriously, I get so aggravated with our society sometimes automatically branding a little boy who likes to play with something other than trucks and such. Our oldest son is 4 and he likes to pretend to cook, likes the occasional doll, and dress up silly. Sometimes I get a little embarrassed because I know that's not the societal "norm". But he also likes cars, trucks, balls, and roughplay with his brother. And that doesn't mean he is going to grow up and be incredibly feminine foo-foo. Some people are so quick to label kids.

So to make a long response short, NO! It should be perfectly fine to buy your little boy a toy kitchen.

 

[rwrocksme]

Hey, you foster this now, in about 5 years, you can stop cooking!

No, really. Mae Jemison's father (Mae was the first African American female in space) gave an interview once where he said how important it was to foster all of our children's intrests, even if they or far-fetched or unusual. I think that getting your son a play kitchen is something he'll look back on and really apprecitate later.

 

[coolbeans]

DS plays in DD's play kitchen all the time (he is 19 months and DD is 11), she plays in it with him but if I ever told anyone that, she would deny it!!

 

[Desnik]

First of all the majority of chefs are men! My 4 year old DS has a kitchen set(smaller version of the one in the picture above)and he loves it. We got it for him for Xmas last year. There were some people we know that made stupid comments but I don't care. They are just ignorant. I let DS play with girl and boy toys. He loves his cars just as much as he loves playing dolls with his sister! There is nothing wrong with that! Buy the kitchen set!!

 

[msticker97]

My son is 3 y/o and we are actually trying to find him a kitchen set for Christmas, Stephanie

 

[Frankiesmom]

I got my son one for Easter this year;he's almost 3. My DH was a chef and he cooks with my oldest son-he's 6. So no it's not weird! I'm sure that Emeril and Wolfgang Puck played with their sister's or cousins play kitchens. LOL

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 4 dd's and a 4 yo son so he really gets exposed to a lot of "traditionally" feminine things.

I think it fosters healthy development. He loves to use the play kitchen and assist us in the kitchen, like stirring, mixing, measuring, and such. He also loves to wear play fairy wings, plays with dolls, knows a little how to crochet and knit, and pushes a play baby carriage. I am also going to teach him how to sew when he gets older.

Since he was about 2 yo he started carrying his little utensils everywhere we went. (lol) I brought him to my dd's school once and the teachers there thought it was awesome. They remarked he could be the next Emeril or other Food Network star. Even if not, he would make life easier for himself and his lifemate, kwim?

I think of it as teaching him how to be a good boy who can do domestic duties, a good man, and later a good husband. His wife will thank me.

 

[Stepherella]

My boys will be two in January. My husband and I are planning to get them a kitchen set too! They love pretending in the kitchen. We are also planning on getting them a tool workshop because they love to play with daddy's tools. We believe that toys are for children, not "boy toys" and "girl toys". I used to teach preschool and all the children were encouraged to try out a variety of toys!

 

[rt2dz]

Haven't read the responses...

We got DS#1 a kitchen (hard as heck to find one that wasn't pink then--now they're everywhere non-pink!!) and a tool bench for Christmas when he was two. He played with the kitchen more than the tool bench. DS#2 played with the kitchen more than the tool bench too. He started playing with it at ~14 months. They still love to "cook". DS#3 prefers the tool bench, but still plays with the kitchen a lot too.

NOTE: I quit cooking regularly when I was first pg. Couldn't stand the sight, smell or even thought of food. As soon as I began cooking again, I was pg. again. Never did start cooking again. So my boys have a DAD who cooks most meals. They think its funny when a mom/grandma cook. I'm so raising my boys right.

 

[Camno's Mama]

I bought a kitchen recently off of craigslist and my boys love it! They play with it all the time! They also have dress up clothes that they love to use! It's kind of sad because they're just imitating the adults in their life, and some people think it's "girly" to buy their boys stuff like that. You're preparing them for the real world and giving them a chance to explore their imaginations! Good for you!

 

[ilovedino]

Go for it, just don't buy that one! Santa brought that exact kitchen for my son and it didn't make it to easter! Step2 makes a kitchen that is a little more sturdy and hard plastic, rather than the thin bendy plastic in the walmart one. Trust me my son is not overly rough, it just is not well made. Spend a little more for the hard plastic version you'll be glad you did.

 

[my3disneygirls]

My stepfather and stepbrother are super sensitive about this kind of thing though. My Mom and DS just got to the family lakehouse this weekend and DS and his cousin started playing with a dollhouse that was there. When stepbrother came in he freaked out and hid it. If they knew DS was getting a kitchen and shopping cart -and that he sleeps with a doll named Roxy -they would have something ugly to say. I don't really care what either of them think - it's not like they are ever at our house.

Geeze, sounds like he overracted. What's wrong with kitchens, dolls, doll houses... for boys. Eventually they are going to grow up and need to care for themselves. Cook, keep a house, shop, maybe have a familiy. This kind of play really is very good for children.

 

[Camno's Mama]

The one we have is exactly like that, only a different color...the cheap plastic and everything, and I think it's still holding up pretty well. It's definitely not as nice of quality as the Step 2 kitchens, but if you're not looking to spend a lot of money, it's perfect. We didn't want to buy one of the Step 2 kitchens because we felt the price wasn't worth the risk that they wouldn't play with it! Plus, in order to get one that has all of the fun stuff that the cheaper kitchen has you'd have to buy a pretty pricey one.I have two boys as well, and it's been fine. Just thought I would add that.

 

[GEM]

I agree that the Step 2 stuff is well made and sturdy, definately worth the price. This is the one we have, the one I posted a picture of on page 2.

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1218

DS and all his friends and cousins have played with it SO much in the last two years and it still looks almost like new. Someday, we will be able to either sell it or pass it on to another child. I can't say enough good things about this kitchen!

 

[jessica52877]

Got DS one when he was 2. I did get a few why is he getting that which just ticked me off! Now he is almost 5 and it is still one of his favorites!

 

[asktriplets]

this is not directed at anone in particular here but it is something i've noticed on this thread (and in others and IRL regarding topics such as these)...


perhaps if parents are trying to instill a sense of "gender neutrality" about children's toys (by buying a kitchen for a boy, for example), parents should be cautious about commenting on the COLOR of the toy, as if it is acceptable to the parent that a boy plays with a kitchen/dolls/whatever as long as that toy "isn't pink" or is in some "gender neutral" color....seems to be a pretty mixed message.

not trying to sound preachy, only trying to add some helpful dialogue about the topic. i know it is a struggle here to encourage our princess-dress-lovin'-and-pink-lunchbox-using son to play with whatever he likes while still trying to help him understand that other people (especially school kids) may say something about his choices.

 

[micksnewfriend]

Notthing wrong with DS playing with kitchen. My DS22mos loves his kitchen. We suspected he would after seeing him in action with one at a friend's house.

We initially did have a similar kitchen to the one you intend to purchase. Not that DS is rough with his toys (which he tends to be), but the oven door cracked/broke in the middle. It lasted about 1 week of constant play. We purchased a Step 2 kitchen at a local BJ's Wholesale Club for about $150. We figured it was a decent investment with at least 2 to 3 more years of play for him and the likelihood of another child in the future. After about 2 1/2 months of play, it still looks new.

NOTE: Just saw the link in GEM's message....that is the Step 2 we purchased.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

I agree that the Step 2 stuff is well made and sturdy, definately worth the price. This is the one we have, the one I posted a picture of on page 2.

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1218

That's the exact same kitchen that we have. We bought it off craigslist, and it was in excellent shape and look new, and we have had it now for couple years and still look just new!

 

[MonkersMama]

My DS (3) has a kitchen set. I found it by the side of the road last fall and it was in PERFECT condition - I disinfected it all and bought him new "food" to go with it - he LOVES cooking in his "restaurant". I think this one is made by Fisher Price, and is white/green/red.