Kitchen Sets a Christmas Favorite

As a kid growing up in the back streets of Dublin I used to pretend I was playing in the World Cup with my mates out on the streets, and now I will be doing it for real. - Robbie Keane

When a child pretends its an exercise, at an early age, in creativity. Props are great in cultivating these young minds doll houses, playhouses, forts and dress up activies all afford the child room to stretch mentally as far as their imagination can take them.

Parents who participate with their children during these pretend play sessions, get to observe first hand, the child’s development and learning ability. Most importantly, the one on one time with your offspring is a nurturing, bonding and invaluable loving experience between parent and child. During these make believe sessions the parent must allow the child to be in charge thus bridging a sense of trust between adult and offspring.

One of my most fondest memories is the Christmas I received a kitchen play-set. I almost lost the ability to breath after tearing open the gift wrappings on Christmas Eve. I ignored the rest of the gifts to play with my treasured toy well unto early morning.

I crawled the floor for hours maneuvering myself to play with the set. The only thing that interrupted my anal focus was suffering severe eye irritation after opening a mini box of Brillo pads then wiping the sleep from my eyes.

It's the strangest thing, never really learned to cook until late in life. Who'd a thunk it.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?

Nowadays girls and boys from 36 months to 8 years old have sets they can stand up in, some large enough that they can share the space with multiple children.

There are vintage, retro, modern, farm, pastel colors, walk ins, dream style and pink kitchen sets. Kitchen sets with doors that open and close, knobs that go click, turn and cordless phones no less! Microwaves with see through windows some with designs, refrigerators and freezers. Sinks that are removable for easy cleanup, and storage space for crying out loud.

Dishwashers, ovens (also with see through glass), washers and dryers oh my! Bake ware, cutlery / serving sets, young chef cookware set, stainless steel pots and pans, lets not forget the most important accessory pot holders for wee little hands! Kiddies aprons in polka dot, chef style with pockets some with matching chef hats for little tyke heads. Some even tailored by Martha Stewart herself.

Assorted play food; there's fridge food that consists of waffles, ice cream and low fat milk, and wooden pantry food and My Oh My Pizza Pie. Wooden sandwich making sets, which includes a delectable looking wooden club sandwich with all the fixin's, and least we forget the sandwich making set made from felt .

Now all is not fun and games in the land of imaginary culinary delights there are also Melissa and Doug's educational play foods available which contains the four major food groups of the pyramid, along with the Pretend and Play Healthy dinner set.

I'm having fun writing this piece but in all seriousness this type of play - set along with forts and dress up all assist our children in developing language, emotional, social and rationalization skills. The hours spent pretending to prepare meals and interacting with their "company" of teddy bears and dolls teach our children how to enjoy their own company and hopefully not to depend on another to make them happy or to entertain them.

Acting is a nice childish profession - pretending you're someone else and, at the same time, selling yourself. actress Katharine Hepburn