Parents' Choice: Top Toys for Kids Who Love Cooking
September 02, 2019
Know a kid who loves cooking or aspires to be a chef? Check out this list of eight Parents' Choice–recommended toys for kids, suited to ages 2 through 12.
What combines chemistry, cuisine, creativity, and color — not to mention fractions, reading comprehension, and experimentation? Cooking, of course!
In the words of Bel-Air Bay Club executive chef Peter Edwards, "Being a chef is like being an artist, a tradesperson, and a creator — all in one career."
If your child has expressed an interest in cooking, feed that passion by introducing one of these engaging and educational toys.
1. New Sprouts Stir Fry
What it is: Wok, veggie, and tongs set for pretend kitchen play
Parents’ Choice Award®: Recommended — “a staple for every preschooler's kitchen"
Number of players: 1+
Recommended for lovers of: Kitchen activities and accessories
Ages: 2+
Price: $24.99 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
2. OTO Taco Truck/Ice Cream Truck
What it is: A colorful child-sized cardboard food truck playhouse (which can be purchased as either a taco truck or an ice cream truck) featuring detailed artwork designs
Parents’ Choice Award®: Recommended — “right up a child’s playtime alley"
Number of players: 1+
Recommended for lovers of: Pretend play, imagined worlds, art, food
Ages: 2+
Price: $59.00 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
3. Chop Chop
What it is: A cooking magazine for kids who enjoy a wide variety of really good food
Parents’ Choice Award®: Gold — “raising the bar for kids’ cooking"
Recommended for lovers of: Delicious global cuisine, cooking
Ages: 2–12; best for ages 7+
Price: $3.99 at the newsstand; $14.95 for 4-issue subscription (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
4. Li’l Woodzeez Honeysuckle Street Treats Food Truck
What it is: A realistic food truck with working parts and 88 food items as accessories
Parents’ Choice Award®: Recommended — “our testers were captivated"
Number of players: 1+
Recommended for lovers of: Pretend play, food preparation and service, toys in motion
Ages: 3+
Price: $29.99 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
5. Our Generation Bite to Eat Diner
What it is: A large-scale retro-style diner complete with a jukebox, stools, dessert display, and functional chalkboard and light, plus 80 accessories
Parents’ Choice Award®: Silver — “colorful and detailed"
Number of players: 1+
Recommended for lovers of: Pretend play, dolls, restaurants
Ages: 3+
Price: $120.99 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
6. Yeti in My Spaghetti
What it is: A game of dexterity in which kids take turns removing fake noodles, trying to avoid letting the Yeti fall into the bowl
Parents’ Choice Award®: Recommended — “a fun-to-say and fun-to-play game"
Number of players: 2+
Recommended for lovers of: Dexterity games, concentration tasks, pick-up sticks
Ages: 4+
Price: $17.99 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
7. Bugs in the Kitchen
What it is: A fast-paced strategy board game featuring a battery-operated hex-bug
Parents’ Choice Award®: Gold — “this game is a keeper, and one we'll pull out time and again"
Number of players: 2–4
Recommended for lovers of: Strategy, bugs, multi-age play
Ages: 6+
Price: $29.99 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
8. Cooking Class
What it is: An engaging cookbook featuring 57 delicious recipes that children can prepare themselves, with some supervision
Parents’ Choice Award®: Silver — “a wonderful kitchen addition for the whole family as well as for classrooms with access to a kitchen"
Number of players: 1+ (plus an adult)
Recommended for lovers of: Cooking, new recipes, delicious food
Ages: 8–12
Price: $18.95 (purchase{: target="_blank" rel="nofollow" })
To discover other great educational toys for kids with a variety of interests, check out all nine gift guides from Noodle and Parents' Choice®.
