The Perfect Kitchen for Kids
Written: Apr 26 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: very durable, many features, realistic
Cons: none!
The Bottom Line: I truly feel that the Little Tikes Victorian Kitchen is a terrific value and money well spent. I expect my daughter to play with it for years to come.
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| melyssa's Full Review: Little Tikes Victorian Kitchen |
I wanted to buy a play kitchen for my 15 month old daughter this past Christmas. I spent a significant amount of time comparison shopping all the kitchens on the market. It became apparent to me there were two main things I wanted out of a play kitchen: plenty of storage space and sturdiness to keep it from being tipped over easily. The Little Tikes Victorian Kitchen offers both. Extra options were secondary in my decision to purchase this kitchen. There are some kitchens with fancier play options but that isn't really what I was looking for. I also wanted something that was sturdy and would last in years to come.
I noticed there are two versions of The Little Tikes Victorian Kitchen. The one I purchased has an over-the-counter light that really works. I've seen it for sale without this option. The colors are also different. Mine has brighter colors, and the other is more in pastels. I am not sure if the phone on the other kitchen works or not, but ours makes sounds. Other than that, they look identical and are the same price at $99. Go figure.
The kitchen is made of thick durable plastic as all Little Tikes toys are. The doors seem to open and close easily but are a bit sticky in that little toddler hands might have to pull pretty hard but they seem to be loosening up with time. The unit itself is sturdy, so it won't tip over. The kitchen came with a cup and pitcher and a set of stickers for decorating. Once we set up this kitchen I thought it was perfect because it sits right up against the wall. I've noticed some other play kitchens have back sides requiring the unit be somewhat in the open.
This kitchen is done in a pleasing white color that covers most of the unit. The counter top is dark purple and the upper cabinet doors and window are framed in dark pink. In my opinion, this kitchen is very realistic looking which is another reason why I wanted to buy it so much. It is a rather large size compared to some other play kitchens but I like that about it because again, it adds more realism. The size is approximately 4 feet long and more than 3 feet high. It consists of a refrigerator with three shelves within it and a fake ice dispenser on the front, a cupboard over the fridge, a sink with a moving water spigot, a cute window over the sink, a cabinet under the sink, a stovetop with 4 burners, a microwave above the stove and another cabinet under the stove with two shelves. This kitchen easily holds all of my daughter's pots, pans, plates and play food (and we have tons!). There is a light under the microwave, above the stovetop. It turns off and on easily by simply pressing the light itself. Next to the light, also under the microwave, is a nook to hang a coffee pot which comes with the kitchen. A phone completes this kitchen and it hangs to the left of the sink. The phone is purple with real buttons that plays tones and music. The light requires 2 AA batteries. The phone requires 3 AA batteries.
My daughter has had this toy for over four months and she loves playing with it more and more. As she grows and develops, she uses it more and more as it is meant to be played with. She is now almost 20 months and quite the little cook. She loves using the microwave best of all, it seems. To my amazement, she started using it just like I use the real one in the kitchen without me having to teach her. She also enjoys stacking dishes in the sink (uh oh, this isn't a skill I want her to learn!) and playing with the telephone (again, watching mommy too much?).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 80
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
melyssa
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Member: Melyssa R
Location: Erie, CO
Reviews written: 109
Trusted by: 87 members
About Me:
I'm a married SAHM with 2 year old daughter. Check melyssa.com for more info.
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