This is a sponsored guest post.
When you have kids, you tend to make them a better version of yourself. You give them the things that you enjoyed in life the most plus you give them the things that you never had as a child.
These are things that you realize are very important in development as a person. These could be toys, books, lessons, or even vitamins and supplements. Some try a new approach based on studies made while some follow more traditional ways of rearing which they think is good for their children.
One thing in common among parents is that they all want the best for their kids and this includes toys. Toys play a vital role in a child growing up. Not only do they provide short term entertainment, but they also satisfy the curiosity of children and are an avenue for learning and development. That is why it is important to know which toys to buy and why.
Choosing the right toys for your kids will help them learn different skills in critical thinking and even in socializing. Click here to learn how toys help with your child’s development.
One of the toys that can definitely help kids is play kitchens. These are sets of toys that resemble an entire kitchen that is usually made up of a countertop, a stove, a sink, some cabinets, and kitchen tools. Children will play with these toys by acting like they are cooking and following what they see when their parents cook or what they see on T.V. and YouTube.
Depending on your budget, you can get expensive sets with lavish items made of high-quality materials or you can get the not so expensive made of plastic or wood with the basics only. Whichever you choose, this set of toys will be pricey but they are totally worth it.
Here are some of the benefits of having a play kitchen for your kids:
Creativity
One of the best activities for children is role playing. Role playing will broaden the imaginations of a child and let his creativity flow. As role playing is based mostly on imagination since the toys you are playing with aren’t real, and you’d have to be very imaginative to enjoy playing with these toys. This allows children to imagine what it is like to cook and to mix different ingredients in their minds. They will have a feel of what it’s like to work around a kitchen without all the risk of getting cuts and burns.
They will pretend with different items and appliances in the kitchen depending on where their imaginations will take them. They will also try to follow the actions of the adults around them and experiment with their own mixtures in their minds in making the perfect meal.
Communication
One of the best things about role playing is that it practices speech and communication. The way that children play with these kitchen toys is like how they see it on TV. They will be mimicking cooking shows where they will talk step by step about what they are doing and why they are doing that.
They will be using words, like hot, stir, pour, and cold which can definitely help toddlers convey their thoughts. This will also help in developing their speech and language as they try to use as many words as possible in expressing what they want to say.
This will also help them in giving them the confidence to communicate what is in their minds. As they practice with these toys, they become confident and capable of talking in full sentences. They will be effective in conveying their thoughts through speech. If your child has some speech difficulties, play kitchen is a favorite speech therapy toy because it is functional and engaging. There are more toys that can help with speech delay.
Social Skills
Through these toys, they will be able to learn to socialize. As a parent, you will have to find time to play with them with their toys so that they will have an avenue to socialize and where that they can show you what they can do in their kitchen. This will give them the right place to speak their mind and use the words they have just recently learned. Sibling and friends can also help them develop better skills in socializing as these toys can be played by more than one child.
They will also learn to work together as they can see that people work together in the kitchen to make the best meals. In their games and role playing, children will be able to learn to work as teams, build trust and asking for help.
Organization
One of the skills that children learn through play kitchens is planning and organization. Like any kitchen work, there has to be a plan and things need to be organized for efficiency. They will learn this by organizing their tools and appliances. Through this, they will organize their methods in their minds as they will think of what to do first and what to do next to make a good meal. They will learn to do things in order so that things are done on time.
Life skills
One of the best things those children learn using play kitchens are life skills. They learn how it is to survive. They learn that cooking takes a lot of labor and that table needs to be set and dishes need to be washed. They also learn to empathize with others especially with people who work in the kitchen like mothers and chefs as they know that it takes some work to make the food that they eat.
Problem Solving
Role playing in the kitchen enhances problem-solving skills and cognitive abilities. They learn by coming up with different situations in their minds that could happen in that setting and they will think of a solution to fix that problem. Role playing in the kitchen will allow them to become problem solvers and critical thinkers.
Play kitchens can be expensive but they are definitely helpful in the development of children. If you don’t have the budget for a full-blown set, then start with the basics. You don’t have to buy the whole set right away. You can start with the stove, then some utensils. The only thing that you need to make sure is that your children are enjoying and learning through their toys.
