Made for Play
Explore child development through play, find inspiration for your next DIY project, and discover tips for selecting the perfect toys for your little ones.
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Earth Day Activities for Kids
Earth Day is on the horizon, and it's the perfect time to instill a love for our planet in our littles. We’ve rounded up some fun and eco-friendly Earth Day activities to help you teach your kiddos about the importance of caring for the Earth! What is Earth Day and Why Do We Celebrate It? The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in response to growing concern about environmental pollution and its effect on human health. Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes inspired 20 million Americans, especially college students, to show up for Earth Day events across the country. The momentum from this event quickly led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and policies that helped put environmental protections in place. Today, Earth Day carries on the same legacy, drawing our attention to current environmental issues and how we can help! When is Earth Day? Earth Day falls on April 22nd every year! What is the Theme for Earth Day 2024? The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics! This year, EarthDay.org’s goals are to raise awareness of plastic’s impact on human health, advocate for phasing out single use plastics, promote a UN treaty on plastic pollution, and fight against fast fashion. Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids 1. Earth Day Crafts for Kids Get those creative juices flowing with recycled bird feeders, egg carton seed starters, or nature collages. Reusing household items with your little artists is a great way to teach them about recycling and waste reduction…and create some eco-friendly masterpieces in the process! 2. Earth Day Movies for Kids Cuddle up for an Earth Day movie with classics like Wall-E, FernGully, The Lorax, or Happy Feet. These films are kid favorites and help kids understand the impact of waste, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. 3. Earth Day Books for Kids Most local libraries will have a bookshelf or display table of Earth Day-related books. Or you can plan ahead and reserve titles like Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser, Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals, Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel, The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, or The Earth Book by Todd Parr. 4. Earth Day Projects for Kids Want some hands-on activities for Earth Day that make a difference or help grow your child’s love for nature? Look for local community cleanups, start a garden (even if it’s just a single potted plant!), set up a recycling station together, create a nature scavenger hunt, or just play outdoors! 5. Earth Day Activities for Toddlers Even the littlest kids can still learn to love and care for our planet! Take a nature walk, create a sensory bin with natural materials, have an Earth Day storytime, play simple recycling sorting games, or enjoy a picnic outside. It's never too early to start instilling a love for our planet.Happy Earth Day!
6 Activities for National Sibling Day
Want to go beyond a cute Insta post and really do something to celebrate National Sibling Day with your kids? We’ve got you covered with 6 super simple, super sweet sibling activities for a happy National Siblings Day! What is National Siblings Day? National Sibling Day falls on April 10th each year. How Do You Celebrate National Siblings Day? We recommend keeping it simple and focusing on ways you can foster sibling connection. Here are some ideas for sweet sibling bonding activities to help your littles enjoy time with their brothers or sisters! How Do You Celebrate National Siblings Day? We recommend keeping it simple and focusing on ways you can foster sibling connection. Here are some ideas for sweet sibling bonding activities to help your littles enjoy time with their brothers or sisters! National Siblings Day Activities 1. Siblings Photoshoot Capture the magic of siblinghood with a cute little photoshoot. Professional sessions will give you some beautiful photos, but creating your own DIY photoshoot at home can be just as cute and even more fun for your littles. If you want to go all out, treat it like a photobooth and provide props like hats, funny glasses, or a makeshift backdrop. They’ll love hamming it up for the camera together, and you may get a few silly shots that perfectly sum up their relationship. 2. Play a Game Together Carving out some time for play on National Sibling Day is super simple but still meaningful. And after all, what’s more central to their relationship than playtime? Whether it's a classic board game, a round of "the floor is lava," or inventing their own game, social play is the ultimate form of quality time for kiddos. If your kids are old enough, try a game of “Which Sibling?” where you sit the kids back-to-back with each holding one of their own shoes and one shoe of each of their siblings. Ask them questions like “Who is the best dancer? Who loves pizza the most? Who gets the most excited for Grandma’s visits?” They’ll raise the shoe of the sibling they think fits the best and then turn around to see each other’s answers! 3. Collaborative Arts and Crafts Project From handprint murals to drawings of each other, arts and crafts projects are a great way to get your kids collaborating and thinking about each other on National Sibling Day! One of our favorite ideas is a photo collage. Print out pictures of them together; give them a large poster board, some glue sticks, and stickers for decoration; and let them sort through their favorite photos as they create their collage! Include recent pics as well as older photos that might spark sweet memories. If your littles tend to bicker (as all siblings do at times!),the older photos can be a subtle way to remind them of how excited they were when their little brother came home from the hospital or how much fun they had on vacation last summer. 4. Story Time A fun twist on your usual story time could be letting the kids choose a story from the bookshelf they think each sibling will love. It’s a simple way to encourage thoughtfulness and to help each child feel loved by their siblings. Or you could choose picture books that showcase strong sibling relationships. Check your local library to reserve a copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful by Helen Lanzrein (for sisters and brothers), Maple and Willow Together by Lori Nichols (for sisters), Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick (for brothers) for inspiring stories of sibling relationships. For older kids, longer read-alouds like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan feature timeless sibling adventures (though you won’t be able to finish them in one day, of course!) 5. Picnic at the Park Take the sibling activities outdoors with a little picnic. Pack some favorite snacks for all the kiddos and head to the backyard picnic table , park, or even a nearby zoo for extra adventure! If the weather isn’t cooperating, picnics on the living room floor can be just as fun! The focus is on sharing a meal and creating a relaxed atmosphere for siblings to connect. 6. Movie Night Turn National Siblings Day into a cozy movie night complete with popcorn and a sibling-focused movie. Some ideas include Frozen Despicable Me The Incredibles The Goonies The Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe Mary Poppins The Sound of Music Race to Witch Mountain The Aristocats Yours, Mine, & Ours Cheaper by the Dozen Choose an option that’s age appropriate for your littles and is closest to their sibling dynamic! Make it extra memorable by setting up pallets or a blanket fort to snuggle up in as you watch the film.Your National Siblings Day celebrations don’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Setting up simple activities and communicating your own excitement about the day and its meaning can help your kids feel love and gratitude for their brothers and sisters and look forward to National Siblings Day each year!
Caring For Outdoor Toys in the Summer
Between the heat, the sun, and the extra play, your kid’s outdoor toys may need a little extra TLC in the summer. Here are our best tips for keeping them safe, clean, and damage-free all summer long! How to Store Outdoor Toys Proper storage is the best way to keep your outdoor toys in great shape and avoid the wear and tear that comes with the summer sun. Plastic toys in particular can be faded by sunlight and weakened by extreme heat. Whenever possible try to keep outdoor toys in a dry, shady area when not in use such as your garage, shed, or covered porch. Just be sure they aren’t stored near dangerous chemicals. If toys have been stored for a long time, double-check for any bugs or spiders and wipe them down before use. No space in the shed? Outdoor storage boxes are a great solution for weather-proof protection and easy access to your kids’ favorite toys. For large toys that can’t be moved like swing sets and playhouses, try to install them in shady areas whenever possible, and opt for durable materials that can handle the summer heat. How to Clean Outdoor Toys Wooden toys Wood is naturally antimicrobial, so it’s a low maintenance material that’s less prone to mold and bacteria than plastic outdoor toys. Large wooden toys like playhouses and swing sets can usually just be cleaned with a garden hose and spray nozzle. If some dirt and grime have built up, try a scrub brush and a bucket filled with a 1:4 solution of gentle soap (like Castile or dish soap) and water. See all of our tips for cleaning wooden toys here! Plastic toys Most plastic outdoor toys are easy to clean but can be prone to mold growth, so be sure to keep them dry and properly stored when not in use. Some small toys may be dishwasher safe. For everything else, soak it in a 1:4 mixture of vinegar and water as needed (the kiddie pool is great for this!). Spot clean larger toys with the same solution and rinse with a garden hose. For especially grimy spots, try a scrub brush with dish soap or baking soda paste, or a Mr. Clean magic eraser. Water toys From water tables to kiddie pools, any outdoor toy that involves water is especially prone to grime and mold. To prevent mold build-up, try to ensure toys are completely dry before storing them away. Pour out as much water as possible, leave the toy in the sun to sanitize and dry, and then store it out of the elements. then At the first sign of mold, clean the toy with a 1:4 solution of vinegar and water. If mold persists, it’s probably safest to discard the toy. How to Keep Outdoor Toys Safe During Yard Maintenance Summer is the peak season for lawn care and weed and insect control. Make sure all outdoor toys are stored safely out of the way when chemicals of any kind are being used in your yard. If you have large outdoor toys that can’t be moved, such as swing sets or sandboxes, take extra care to only use products that are safe for kids, follow all label instructions, and avoid contact with the toys as much as possible. Even most kid-safe products will recommend that children avoid the area until the product has dried. Ultimately, a little dirt isn’t the enemy when it comes to outdoor toys. But proper storage and a little maintenance will help you avoid mold, sun damage, and extreme grimy buildup, prolonging the life of your toys and keeping playtime safe and clean (well...clean-ish anyway).
Unplugged Play: Why Traditional Toys Matter in the Digital Age
If you’ve ever found your kids’ screen time getting a bit higher than you’d like, trust us – we get it! In the digital age, it’s easy to turn to screens to keep kids occupied. But as the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to rediscover the importance and the joy of traditional toys. Classic toys not only offer timeless fun but also provide developmental benefits that can't be replicated by screens. We’re delving into the benefits of a few classic kids’ toys to inspire your gift-giving this year. The Power of Traditional Toys These classic toys are sure to earn you some big holiday hugs when they're unwrapped, but they do so much more than that! Traditional toys possess a timeless charm that transcends generations, fostering essential skills like creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. Unlike their digital counterparts, these toys encourage tactile exploration, imagination, and open-ended play, nurturing a child's cognitive and emotional development in ways that screens simply can't replicate. In an age dominated by screens and technology, the enduring power of traditional toys lies in their ability to spark genuine joy, stimulate meaningful learning, and create lasting memories. Wooden Play Kitchens Wooden play kitchens have been a staple of childhood for generations. Why? Kids love simple, imaginative play! These timeless toys ignite kids’ imaginations, encouraging them to explore dramatic and social play…and maybe even discover a love for cooking! Classic Dollhouses Dollhouses are a sure way to inspire your child’s love for storytelling and pretend. As kids invent stories for the dolls and act out multiple perspectives, they’re fostering skills in communication, creativity, and empathy. Interactive Train Sets All aboard! Classic toy trains are a timeless classic that captivate kids of all ages. As they lay down tracks, maneuver trains, and orchestrate their mini-railway systems, children are building essential problem-solving skills through constructive play. Timeless Playsets From fire stations to pirate hideouts, simple playsets can open up a world of possibilities for kids. They’re a great alternative for kids who don’t want a traditional dollhouse but would still love to engage in that type of imaginative play! As they act out scenes with their action figures, children are strengthening their narrative skills, creativity, and emotional expression. Outdoor Playhouses When it comes to play, it doesn’t get more classic than the great outdoors! Outdoor playhouses offer a perfect blend of imaginative play and outdoor adventure. Kids can create a secret spy hideout, play house, or cozy up in a fairy’s tiny cottage. With kids’ imaginations, the possibilities are really endless, making playhouses an ideal way to encourage more outdoor play! Parent-Child Bonding Through Traditional Play One of the most beautiful aspects of traditional toys is the opportunity for parents and kids to play together – something we often have to fight for in the digital age. We’ve all seen how digital entertainment can completely command a kid's attention, isolating them in a virtual daze.But classic children’s toys do just the opposite – encouraging kids to get creative and invite parents to join in the fun! Whether it's cooking up a storm in a wooden kitchen, building a train track together, or playing with dolls in a dollhouse, classic toys help create moments of togetherness and lasting memories. The Cognitive and Emotional Benefits Beyond the fun and bonding, playing with traditional toys does wonders for kids’ cognitive and emotional development. These toys promote cooperation and interaction with parents, siblings, and peers, fostering kids’ language and social skills. Constructive toys like train sets stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and pretend play toys like play kitchens and dollhouses foster creativity and imagination. To learn more, see our in-depth blog post on how play supports cognitive development. Beyond Screens: Discover the Joy of Unplugged Play with KidKraft! In a world where it’s all too easy for childhood to be dominated by screens, classic toys offer a chance to give modern kids the best parts of childhood: simple play and warm interactions with loved ones. This holiday season, consider giving the gift of play to the kids in your life with KidKraft’s classic wooden toys. Not only will you be nurturing their development in ways that screens simply can't match, you’ll also be giving yourself the chance to join in on the fun and make holiday memories that last!
Top 33 KidKraft Holiday Gifts: A Gift Guide for Every Age
The holidays are around the corner again, and it's time to start thinking about the perfect gifts to put under the tree for the littles in your life! With endless options, we know that’s easier said than done… especially if you’re hoping to give toys that encourage child-led play instead of screens or over-stimulating toys.But don’t let that steal your holiday cheer! In our 2023 holiday gift guide, we’re laying out our top toys for children of all ages, all designed to engage kids in imaginative and active play. From toddlers to school-aged kids, we’ll help you get the perfect gift for every little one on your list! Toddler Treasures: Gifts for the Curious Explorers Mountain Cave Climber: Encourage active play and adventurous spirit with this versatile mountain climber, featuring a mountain to climb, a cave to hide in, and of course, a slide!5-in-1 Sports climber: Help your wobbly toddlers develop balance and coordination with this delightful turtle-shaped balance beam, a fun addition to any backyard play area.Bucket Top Construction Train Set: Train sets are a classic kids' toy with a host of developmental benefits, and this is a perfect starter set for the toddler in your life! Preschool Playtime: Fueling Imagination and Creativity 3-Piece Play Kitchen Set: Foster culinary creativity with this interactive play kitchen set that features separate pieces for the refrigerator, stove/oven, and sink/washing machine, letting your preschooler set up their kitchen however they like!Savannah Swing Playhouse: The true attraction is the added wood beam with captivating web swing. Kids can plop down in the round seat and enjoy the breeze.Meadowvale II Wooden Swing Set / Playset: six active kids entertained at once, with enticing features like an extra-deep high-rail wave slide, challenging rock-climbing wall and a sturdy duo of yellow belt swings. School Aged Splendor: Enchanting Gifts for Growing Minds Hamptons Mansion & Pool House Dollhouse: Warm up your school-aged kid’s winter break with some summertime fun… at least in pretend form! This premium wood dollhouse has four levels featuring a luxe penthouse with an attached pool cabana, garage and outdoor pergola. Art Table with Drying Rack & Storage: School-age kids take arts and crafts to the next level! Unleash their creative expression with this art table, offering ample storage space and a drying rack for your mini Picassos. First Milestone: Celebrating One-Year-Olds with KidKraft A-Frame Hideaway Climber: Inspire active play, exploration, and gross motor skills with this A-frame climber, perfect for pint-sized backyard adventures.Hop & Slide Frog Climber: Enhance coordination skills with the KidKraft Hop & Slide Frog Climber! Children will delight in hopping onto the frog's back to climb an arc wall and slide down a perfectly-sized slide. Terrific Twos: KidKraft Surprises for Two-Year-Olds Outdoor Sandbox with Canopy: Two-year-olds love playing in sand, but applying sunscreen? Not so much. Fortunately, you can turn this sandbox into a shaded oasis with the included canopy for sun protection.Vintage Play Kitchen: With a classic, clean look and tiny dimensions, this is the perfect play kitchen for young toddlers and tight spaces! Thriving Threes: KidKraft Wonders for Three-Year-Olds Cozy Escape Playhouse: This compact playset is perfect for tiny three-year-olds and tiny yards! If backyard space is limited, the Cozy Escape Playhouse is a great space-saving option. This double-decker structure can entertain kids all-day.Retro Cool Play Kitchen: Rediscover the past in a new light with the KidKraft Retro Cool Play Kitchen. It blends vintage charm with contemporary conveniences, offering a play cooking adventure cherished by both kids and parents. Drawing inspiration from upscale Italian appliance aesthetics, the full-size refrigerator and freezer showcase elegant curves, golden accents, and a stylish turquoise hue. Fantastic Fours: KidKraft Delights for Four-Year-Olds So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse: The So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse, is a true showstopper in the KidKraft collection! This extraordinary dollhouse combines chic, open-design aesthetics with a palette of natural colors and captivating geometric graphics. Standing almost four feet tall, it's a towering playtime delight that's designed to spark creativity in young minds.Wrangler Way Swing Set: The KidKraft Wrangler Way Swing Set—is an innovative blend of playhouse and playset. This spacious wooden structure features a two-story clubhouse, an updated kitchenette, two slides, a ladder, and three swings for endless fun. With an attached shaded table and benches, it's perfect for snacks and relaxation. Built to last with durable wood and child-friendly, water-based stains.Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights & Sounds: Play kitchens are one of the best gifts for 4-year-olds, guaranteeing endless hours of pretend play. With so much to explore, kids will feel like they're cooking just like Mom and Dad! Fabulous Fives: KidKraft Joys for Five-Year-Olds Ultimate Spaceship: Blast off into outer space adventures with this spaceship-themed playset! The galaxy map projector and light and sound effects will make your five-year-old feel like a real space explorer!Annabelle Dollhouse: The bright and cheerful KidKraft Annabelle Dollhouse stands nearly four feet tall and offers three levels of fun, four spacious rooms and a balcony. Sensational Sixes: KidKraft Magic for Six-Year-Olds: Modern Outdoor Playhouse: A classic black-and-white color scheme and tons of play features make this playhouse a favorite with parents and kids alike! Waterfall Mountain Train Set & Table: The KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Table Set is an ideal choice for budding conductors. Packed with 120 vibrant pieces, children can embark on exciting adventures, guiding the train through a tranquil waterfall and across a suspension bridge.Ridgemoor Perch Swing Set: Whether scaling the tiptop of mountains, splashing down a waterfall or soaring like an eagle in the sky, kids will find endless ways to imagine with the play features of KidKraft's Ridgemoor Perch Swing Set. Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen: The KidKraft Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen is a dream come true for young chefs. Featuring a farmhouse sink, tile-look backsplash, and a built-in chalkboard, this stylish wooden kitchen offers upgraded amenities and endless fun, guaranteeing hours of imaginative playtime. Seven and Beyond: Timeless KidKraft Gifts for Growing Up Hamptons Mansion & Pool House Dollhouse: KidKraft's Hamptons Mansion & Pool House Dollhouse is a 4-foot tall grand home in pinks and blues. It features four levels, a pool, garage, and 45 accessories, offering endless imaginative play. Perfect for older kids who may be ready to leave “cutesy” dollhouses behind but still love playing with their dolls!All-in-One Sports Adventure Playset: This isn’t your average swing set – it’s a clubhouse and sports arena in one! With features for practicing basketball, football, baseball, golf, and soccer, it’s the perfect gift for your sports fanatic!Grow Together Pocket Adjustable Desk with Hutch and Chair: Your older child will love having their own space for homework, crafting, drawing, or whatever else comes to mind. With cool features like a magnetic whiteboard and adjustable height, they can make it their own and use it for years to come. Celebrate the season, and give the gift of play with the toys on the Ultimate KidKraft Gift Guide today! Need a little more inspiration? Head to our Shop by Age or Shop by Skill page for even more curated toy ideas!
Tiny Worlds, Big Imagination: Why Dollhouses are the Ultimate Holiday Gift
If you're searching for a holiday gift that will truly spark joy and fuel creativity, look no further than dollhouses! Classic wooden dollhouses have been captivating kids’ imaginations for centuries. Why? Other than looking magical underneath the Christmas tree, dollhouses offer endless fun and a ton of developmental benefits. Let’s dive into why dollhouses spark such wonder and how you can find the perfect one for your little one this holiday season! The Allure of Dollhouses: Why Dollhouses Make the Ultimate Holiday Gift Kids have a natural desire to act out everyday life through pretend play, and dollhouses provide the perfect opportunity to do just that! As the dolls wake up, do chores, and “interact” with each other, kids get a chance to make sense of the daily routines and interactions they have in real life. And of course, kids don’t stop with “real life” pretend play. They love to get creative and come up with some seriously wacky scenarios and magical adventures. All that pretend play has major developmental benefits, boosting creativity, social skills, empathy, and storytelling skills.Finally, dollhouses are a slow-paced, imagination-powered toy in an age where kids are inundated with screens and stimulation. Dollhouses provide a chance to engage in meaningful, child-led play, offering a soothing escape from the hustle and bustle of the digital age. Exploring Enchanting Dollhouses: Finding the Perfect One for Your Child With so many options available, finding the perfect dollhouse for your kiddo might feel overwhelming. To narrow your choices down, consider their interests, personal style, and the worlds they dream of exploring. Whether it's a treehouse or a grand dollhouse mansion, there's a dollhouse waiting to bring their dreams to life this holiday season!Let's take a closer look at some of our most popular KidKraft dollhouses, so you can find one that sounds just right for your child!Hamptons Mansion & Pool House Dollhouse: Where nature meets imaginationDiscover the ultimate holiday gift for sparking boundless imagination: the KidKraft Hamptons Mansion & Pool House Dollhouse. Standing at over 4 feet tall, this luxurious wooden dollhouse offers endless play possibilities. With a garage, penthouse, dining room, kitchen, living room, spa bathroom, and top-floor bedroom suite, it's a dream home come to life. Outdoors, a pergola, grill, and built-in pool await. So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse: Simple, chic, and openThe natural wood finish and open-air design of the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse offer a pleasing aesthetic that looks just as good in your living room as it does in a playroom! Kids love that they can play on all four sides of this large dollhouse, creating tons of room for friends and siblings to play together.Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse: A haven for horse loversDo you have a little equestrian enthusiast? If so, the Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse is their dream come true! A dollhouse with horse stables, jumping hurdles, a fenced paddock, and horse-themed decor throughout the house? Needless to say, it's the perfect gift for any little one with a love for horses.American Girl® x KidKraft Luxury Dollhouse: Two classics come togetherFinding a dollhouse for American Girl dolls is no easy task, but the search is over! This iconic collaboration brings together the quality and detail of KidKraft dollhouses and the charm of American Girl dolls, offering even more ways for your girl to play with her favorite dolls.Majestic Mansion DollhouseAt four and a half feet tall, the KidKraft Majestic Mansion is spacious enough for even the biggest imaginations! With four levels and eight rooms to decorate and explore, there's plenty of space for kids to play together with all their favorite dolls. Interactive features include garage doors that open and close and a gliding elevator. Holiday Magic in Miniature: Shop Dollhouses for Every Imagination! Choose from our favorites for this holiday season above, or browse our full line of KidKraft dollhouses. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to create big smiles and hours of play on Christmas day!
Creating Lasting Holiday Memories: How to Choose the Perfect Playset
'Tis the season for heartwarming smiles and the delightful sound of laughter as children eagerly unwrap their long-awaited presents. But before the magic of holiday morning arrives, there's the joyful quest for that one perfect gift that will light up their world. This holiday season, why not consider KidKraft playsets? With our indoor playsets, you can turn this festive time into an unforgettable adventure, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime! Why Playsets Make the Perfect Holiday Gift Playsets engage kids in pretend play, often with some of their favorite things. These immersive toys let your little ones dive into the world of imaginative adventures, where rocket ships, pirate coves, or daring rescue missions await. They make fantastic dollhouse alternatives for children who may not be interested in traditional doll houses but adore pretend play! Exploring the Perfect Playset To help you find the perfect playset for your little one this holiday season, we’re covering the standout features of some of our most popular playsets below. Imaginative Adventures Ultimate Spaceship With a cockpit big enough for your little astronaut, exciting lights and sound effects, and a projector to display a map of the galaxies, it doesn’t get any closer to real space adventures than with this ultimate spaceship toy! Pirate's Cove Play Set This four-level pirate hideout comes with 17 accessories… oh, and a pirate ship toy, of course! Your little buccaneer can fire the cannons, lookout from the crow’s nest, or set sail with the included pirate captain and crew figures. Rocket Ship Play Set This rocket ship does it all – stack the pieces for a four-level mega space station, or detach the top toy rocket for flying space adventures! Either way, the included astronaut, alien, and robot figurines are in for an out-of-this-world adventure in this space play set! Heroes to the Rescue Everyday Heroes Play Set Like the Hometown Heroes set, but this set folds up for more compact storage! Deluxe Fire Rescue Set Slide down the firepole, hit the gym, work the front desk, catch some z’s, and ride to the rescue in a firetruck! This fire station toy lets your little one act out every aspect of firefighter life. Thrilling Race and Play Mega Ramp Racing Set Ready, set, go! With a steep racing ramp, a twisty ramp for sharp turns, a working elevator, and a helicopter pad, this set is perfect for kids who love cars, racing, and all things-that-go. Wash n Go Wooden Car Garage This isn’t your average toy car wash! With four-levels, three ramps, and fun twists and turns, it’s equal parts car wash and racing track! Nature and Animal Fun Sweet Meadow Horse Stable Horse lovers will be head-over-hooves for this adorable horse play set complete with two stalls, jumping hurdles, and a fenced paddock! And for the dolls who ride the horses? There’s an upstairs loft where they can relax after taking care of their barn chores! Make this holiday season one filled with memories of play and fun. Explore KidKraft Playsets for unforgettable holidays!
Cooking Up Holiday Magic: Why Play Kitchens Make Perfect Gifts
'Tis the season to be jolly, and oh, the excitement is bubbling like a pot of hot cocoa on a frosty winter morning! Picture this: twinkling lights adorning every house, the scent of gingerbread cookies wafting through the air, and a blanket of snow turning the world into a glistening wonderland. But the true magic of the holiday season? It's the look of sheer delight on a child's face as they unwrap the perfect Christmas gift on that magical morning.Parents, brace yourselves for a festive adventure as you embark on a quest to find the ultimate present that will light up your little one's world. And if you're yearning for a gift that will set their imaginations on fire, stoke the fires of learning, and ensure endless hours of joy, then gather 'round, because we've got just the ticket: a pretend play kitchen!Imagine the scene on Christmas morning: your child's eyes, wide as saucers, reflecting the glow of the twinkling tree lights, their heart racing in anticipation of what's hidden beneath the wrapping paper. With a flourish, they tear away the festive wrapping, revealing a pretend play kitchen that's so vibrant it practically sings with holiday cheer.The possibilities are endless as they dive headfirst into a world of make-believe culinary adventures. They'll concoct whimsical dishes, brew imaginary potions, and host tea parties for their favorite stuffed animals. As they stir, sizzle, and serve, they're not just playing; they're learning essential life skills, all while having a blast.But how do you choose the perfect pretend play kitchen to make this holiday truly special? Let's explore your options and the incredible benefits these magical playsets can offer. The Appeal of Play Kitchens The appeal to kids is pretty obvious – but why should parents put a play kitchen on their holiday wishlist too? Nurturing Creativity Play kitchens are fertile ground for imaginative play. Kids can concoct make-believe dishes, host pretend tea parties, and act out scenarios from home life and restaurants! Role-playing and Social Skills Enhancement Through role-playing in their mini culinary worlds, kids develop essential social skills. They learn cooperation, communication, and negotiation as they play with friends and siblings, fostering relationships and making memories in the process! Encouraging an Interest in Cooking and Food Kids mimic what they see, and by pretending to cook, they become curious about what happens in a real kitchen. This interest can later translate into valuable life skills and a love for healthy, homemade meals. Choosing the Perfect Play Kitchen So how do you find the best play kitchen for your child? Try to choose one based on their interests and your space and style! Are they pizza fanatics? We’ve got just the thing! Are they most engaged by realistic toys? A kitchen with realistic lights and sound effects is sure to be a hit! These are some of our favorite picks for this holiday season: Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen A chic aesthetic and tons of accessories make this modern play kitchen a favorite with both parents and kids! Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights & Sounds This corner play kitchen has all the beeps, glows, and dings of a real kitchen – without the mess! Retro Cool Play Kitchen Curvy corners, turquoise appliances, and gold details make for some seriously cool retro vibes. 3-Piece Play Kitchen Set With separate pieces for the refrigerator/freezer, oven/stove, and sink/washing machine, this play kitchen lets you customize the setup for your space! Create & Cook Kitchen Set The vintage-inspired kitchen in white is a blank slate ready to fit in anywhere. There are tons of doors to open and knobs to turn to keep little hands busy for hours. Gift the Magic of Cooking: Shop KidKraft Play Kitchens Now! Cook up some holiday magic in your home, and choose from one of our favorites above, or browse our full line of KidKraft play kitchens!
