medawyn Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I think the title says it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 3 years and counting, so 2 to 5yo. I didn't go for a big kitchen, though. I bought a small tabletop one. It sits on a shelf in the closet and the kids play with it off and on. When it's not being used it goes up to the top of the closet, when it is the kids move it around the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 About 5 minutes. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My kids were done with it by age 6.5 or 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I just asked my 8 year old and she said she just organized it yesterday. I don't think she would play with it if I didn't have a five year old also. I'm tired of the thing because we've had it for 8 years now. My husband built it from an old computer armoire when my 8 year old was a newborn. ETA: My five year old plays with it. It's in her room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I got ride of ours when the girls were in middle school, and the boys were upper elementary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Still playing with it. We have had it for 7 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ours was used longer because it became an outside toy. It was part of the fort. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I think we got rid of ours when the kids were 5, to make more room for the dollhouse/castle. They did play with it a little, but it wasn't a favorite toy, and they were getting big enough to do most basic things in the real kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Until they were old enough to play in my real kitchen. DD and DS1 and 2 really loved their play kitchen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Zero. My kids just used real plastic stuff in our real kitchen. But we had neither money for a fake kitchen nor space for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Gem is 6 and it's his favorite. We had three in our old house. I'm not sure why we need three when I only have two in the demographic, but they loved them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Like really play? A week after Christmas unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 It was a favorite toy for about four years. We bought this one, and it was totally worth it for the play value. KidKraft quickly sends free replacement parts whenever they're needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medawyn Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks, all! I know I can't predict if it'll be a favorite toy, but I have a hunch that DS 2.5 would love one. DH just applied to a job that will take us away from an outside 360 days a year climate to one with Real Winter. Fortunately, it also comes with a lower cost a living, so a play room might be possible. Santa's just thinking things through, since outdoor toys were the original gift idea! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Mine still do at 8 and 6. It isn't as popular as it was when they were younger but enough play we haven't gotten rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Mine, not at all. My husband has very fond memories of one he had as a kid. I remember his mom (who passed away many years ago) telling me how much he played with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 About 5 minutes. This was my daughter too. We got one used when she was about 3. I think she played with it once or twice. We found out that a lady in town was getting emergency custody of her grandkids, and dd was more than happy to give it to kids that would play with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We've had two now, one built and one purchased, both ignored. Total waste of time and money. DS7 has been asking for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for two or three Christmases now, so I think they just bypassed the fake stuff phase. When we remodel the kitchen, I'm just going to make kid-friendly spaces to use real stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Until it fell apart. Over 5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Our youngest two had a play kitchen and never used it. But my kids are weird- they had a sandbox that they LOVED until they were early teenagers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ours had a spot in the kitchen. Between both kids it was in fairly constant use for about 5 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My just turned 9 year old still plays with hers, but not nearly as much as she used to. She was using it last week to run a pretend restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Around 6. We had one of the wooden ones that was a bit larger and more complex (drawers and cupboards, knobs that turned etc.) so I think it had plenty of play value. Not sure if it's have been as long for some of the very small ones that don't do much. A friend had one of those and it was a lot shorter, more designed for toddlers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 DS was 6 when we were moving last, and we convinced him to give it away to a family with 5 kids. We had to promise him they "would love it and treat it well." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmyboys Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My 9 yr old still plays with it, but only with his younger brothers. my 7yr old organizes master chef and chopped competitions with it. I think we will get rid of it when my youngest turns 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 It was my daughters favorite toy from 2 to about 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We got ours when dd7 was 3yo and it is still going strong. We especially get good mileage out of it because of the younger kids. I suspect we will probably have it until it completely falls apart. We have one of the larger KidKraft ones and it was a grandma gift for Christmas that year. It is in our playroom and the top of it also acts as a special toy storage shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My older kids still will. They play restaurant and write up orders as waitresses, whereas the younger kids pretend to cook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hard to say exactly. We had it from age 1 to age 5... it went back and forth between periods of no use and heavy use, but when I got rid of it before they turned 6, it was clearly done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Never. He wanted to be in the real kitchen doing real things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 About 5 minutes. same. much to my dismay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxinsox Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We have the one from Ikea for my daughter who is now 6 and she loves it. When her little friends come to visit, they spend all their time in there running restaurants, cooking, etc. My 10 yr old son still plays with her sometimes. Its very simple and is taller than some. Both also tag along in the real kitchen and help with cooking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellen Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks, all! I know I can't predict if it'll be a favorite toy, but I have a hunch that DS 2.5 would love one. DH just applied to a job that will take us away from an outside 360 days a year climate to one with Real Winter. Fortunately, it also comes with a lower cost a living, so a play room might be possible. Santa's just thinking things through, since outdoor toys were the original gift idea! Look into Magnatiles. They are a great toy with long lasting appeal and they don't take up a lot of space. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I never did get a toy kitchen; I dithered on it for years. But my kids loved to play with the fake food and utensils without the kitchen. They would make meals for the stuffed animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We got ours when oldest was 2, and donated it when twins were 7. I wish we had kept it longer because they still enjoyed playing with it. I was on one of my decluttering sprees and made a mistake. :o They still use the dollhouses at 11 (oldest played occasionally this past summer!) and I'm itching to donate those but don't want to do it too soon again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks, all! I know I can't predict if it'll be a favorite toy, but I have a hunch that DS 2.5 would love one. DH just applied to a job that will take us away from an outside 360 days a year climate to one with Real Winter. Fortunately, it also comes with a lower cost a living, so a play room might be possible. Santa's just thinking things through, since outdoor toys were the original gift idea! If you get one, get realistic play food and dishes. Learning Resources has baskets that have been favorites here. The wooden box pretend stuff was shoved aside, but crackers that look like they came out of a box of Ritz? Fascinating. We don't do many 'pretend play' toys (I usually just get small tools), so when it is brought out the kids have the same level of expectation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indian summer Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ours got a ton of use. I would say between the three kids (mostly the 2 girls) it got used regularly for 8 or 10 years. Ds hardly used it, dd, whom I bought it for her second birthday used it a lot until she was about 6 and then youngest (who wasn't born when we got it) used it pretty regularly until she was 7 or 8 and still at 9 isn't ready to give it away. Having said that, youngest dd is just that kind of kid who loves to play make believe more so than her siblings and for much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btervet Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My 5 yo and almost 2 yo are both still playing with it. We put ours in the closet of the toddlers room. It buys us time to sleep in on weekend mornings, I just change his diaper and open the closet door, and get an extra 1-2 hours. Best thing we ever did. Plus clean up is just shoving everything in the closet and closing the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We've had ours for about 2 years, but she rarely plays with it. She plays with her dollhouse and farm a lot more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hehe, I cannot remember, but my older kid loved his play kitchen so much that he still has it. He is 13 and he will not let me throw it out. He does not play with it, but just keeps it in a corner in his room. It's pretty funny. He's sentimental like that I guess. Both of mine loved the play kitchen stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 My 9 yo was playing with it the other day. Of course, she was kneeling the whole time. I think I've finally convinced her that it's time for it to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalex Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 The toy kitchen didn't last too long here. DS thought it was more exciting when flipped upside down and used as a slide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamakelly Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I think about 10. We moved it outside when she was about 7. Then they made mud pies and flower concoctions with it for years and years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 6 - 7 years. I paid $10 at a garage sale. They played with it almost daily between the ages of 2 - 8, but it lasted for all three kids. I changed out the play food frequently. They also had a little market with fake food too and a table and a chair set. We also had a play washer and dryer set - $3 at a garage sale. I kept it in my laundry room. They played with that all the time, too. My kids really liked pretend play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 45+ years ago, my siblings and I had a wooden play kitchen and a child sized wooden table and chairs. My sister and I played with it until I was about 11 (I remember this specifically, because I knew I was old for it). My parents saved it, and my children played with it on and off for almost ten years (usually as a restaurant). We recently passed it on to my brother's grandchildren. My brother painted the kitchen set, and it looks almost brand new. So in our case ... almost 50 years. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Like you, I had a hunch my DS would love one. He had played on one at a friend's house, and loved opening the little doors and putting stuff inside. We bought him one at about age 2.5. He's 7 now, and just used it this week to set up a restaurant. :) It receives heavier play at times, ignored at times, but still loved and well worth the purchase. :) It's one of the Step 2 smaller ones that are plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medawyn Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 Look into Magnatiles. They are a great toy with long lasting appeal and they don't take up a lot of space. We have a whole box of hand-me-down Magnatiles from the neighbors. It was an awesome time to be in the right place! DS loves them, but building with them is still a little beyond him. He mostly sticks them all over the metal frame of our coffee table. They get used heavily when my 5 and 6 yo nephews come over, though, so I know he'll grow into building with them soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medawyn Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 I love hearing about so many kiddos enjoying their play kitchens for years. With two little ones and one on the way (and probably more to follow...), I think I'm going to gamble that it would be a good "investment". Plus the grandparents will love buying the accessories. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Mine didn't play much at all with the kitchen itself. But they did play a lot with the play food and dishes. I eventually got rid of the kitchen and just kept the accessories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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