Playtime: Play Kitchen Ideas at PlayKitchens.com

Playtime: The Benefits of Pretend Play

Make the most of children's play time by encouraging both make-believe and real-life situations. Open-ended play, such as that in a play kitchen, can encourage children to exercise good communication and problem-solving skills, and it can foster a desire to try new, "grownup" things outside of play time. Most of all, it stimulates the imagination. Just wait and see what your kids will cook up in their play kitchens.

While the food and cooking in play kitchens may be pretend, the recipes children devise in their minds and the sequence of events they must follow to complete a task are all very real. These exercises will carry over to your children's daily lives, manifesting as a heightened sense of creativity and an ability to think critically.

Play kitchens also present a value opportunity for cooperative play. Involving friends or siblings will teach kids not just the importance of sharing, but the fun of it- whether it's sharing tasks or sharing toys. During sessions of cooperative play, your children will also learn essential social skills, which- when developed throughout childhood- can lead to success later in life.

Play Kitchen Accessories

Most play kitchens are equipped with major "appliances" such as stoves, microwaves, sinks and refrigerators, but your kids can't really get cooking until they have the materials to do so. Here, we take a look at some of the essential play kitchen accessories.

Safety First: Play Kitchens

As is the case with many toys, play kitchen can come with small or potentially hazardous parts. Make sure to research play kitchens' toy safety regulations - as well as their general features - to ensure you're buying the safest kitchen for your children. Here, we'll give you a few tips and resources to use.

Playtime: 5 Kids Tool Picks for Your Child

Play kitchens aren't the only beneficial pretend-play toys available to kids today. One of the oldest, simplest and most loved types of pretend-play toys is blocks, but in the 21st century, they've been taken up a notch. Now, kids' building materials include a range of realistic tools, some with moving parts, lights and sound effects. Here are some of our favorites.

Top Play Kitchens

Today's toy market offers so many play kitchen varieties, choosing one seems almost as difficult as choosing an adult kitchen. We take a look at some of the top play kitchens available, including those that feature deluxe accessories, beautiful craftsmanship and beloved children's characters.