We have been writing our Christmas lists recently and on Monday we sat down to write our letters to Santa (the first activity on our Activity Advent Calendar). I shamefully admit that when I read some of the toys on their list I inwardly groan. Sometimes it’s an overexpensive toy that they’ve had before only to break straight away or an extremely complicated game with far too many pieces that never gets played with.
I breathe a sigh of relief though when they ask for good quality imaginative play and small world toys as these last the longest and we do get such good use out of them. Toys that have been well loved in this house and successful Christmas presents over the years have been our wooden dolls house, castle, farm, play shop, builders bench, Garage and toy kitchens. We previously had a large wooden toy kitchen that we loved, unfortunately it took up too much room in an overcrowded house so we had to give it away.
The kids have missed their kitchen so when GLTC asked us to review one of their play kitchens and I saw how compact they are, I willingly agreed. I chose the Cavendish Play Kitchen. I love the bright colours. It will live in the girl’s room eventually but while we decorate we have put it up in our living room.
It took Dave less than one hour to put up and I’m (very) pleased to say he required no help from me.
It started taking shape very quickly- I admit that it felt like Christmas Eve with Dave making up big toys while the kids slept in bed.
One delightful play kitchen was made! It comes with lots of features and storage room, whilst still only measuring 51cm wide.
The Cavendish Play Kitchen has the following features:
- A clock with moving hands– this is handy for Isabelle to learn her numbers and to tell the time.
- Wooden kitchen utensils- she has lots of fun stirring the soup and serving up the food.
- Salt and pepper shakers. Isabelle now knows “S for salt” and “P for pepper”. She loves to season her play food!
- A shiny sink and turnable hot and cold taps– “H for hot” and “C for cold”. She loves to clean the vegetables in here, wash up and polish the sink to keep it clean.
- A hob with clicking dials, helps to recognise numbers 0 to 3.
- An oven with two shelves and moving dial.
I put her wooden food onto a shelf…
…and pots and pans onto the hob and into the oven. I improvised for now but GLTC also sell toy pots and pans and play food sets.
I just needed something else to designate this area of the room as an imaginative play area. We were also sent these koko kids 3 little clouds wall stickers to review. I have planned for them to be placed above Rebecca’s bed, but as they are fabric, they can be easily removed, repositioned and reapplied in her new bedroom once it is complete.
They are so sweet and give a lovely whimsical look. They are also available in blue, which is the girls favourite colour. However, as they have pale blue walls, we thought pink would show up best. Of course on our living room white walls either colour could have been used.
They have asked for another pack of rain and cloud stickers to be positioned above their dolls house too, so we will definitely be buying more of these.
They are easy to apply. As they are fabric they keep their shape and can even be placed on dreaded wall chip like we have.
I love the patterns on each fabric sticker. These are really great and there are other designs available which would look good in other areas of the home too. I also love the moon and stars, winter branch and stars and rabbit wall stickers.
All of the kids were excited to come downstairs and see the new play kitchen, they loved the stickers too.
It’s nice to have something that they can all play with together. I enjoy sitting on the settee while they bring me soup or a pot of tea etc.
They have played “house” and also “cafe” games, where coffee and cake is a true bargain at just 20p (I can highly recommend it!).
Isabelle and the girls love our new play kitchen. I think it would make a great Christmas present which would certainly be played with all year round. It is currently available at a special price of £76 as there is 20% off play kitchens (usual price £95).
Wall stickers also make lovely, lasting presents. Our set is currently £19.95.
We were sent the Cavendish Play Kitchen and koko kids wall stickers to review. All words and opinions are our own.
