33 of the Coolest Play Kitchen Accessories
This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. Join us over on Instagram for more!
Cubby. Real solutions for unreal times.
Join us for a weekly dose of fresh, modern ideas for life at home with your kids.
Play kitchens are the ultimate childhood toy. As a parent, I love my daughter’s play kitchen because it keeps her occupied while I’m making dinner, and it encourages her to engage in pretend play. She’s made me everything from “pot roast” to concoctions only a toddler could think up. I do have to make sure I check her pretend oven for rotting fruit every so often, but all in all, the play kitchen is one of the most loved toys in our house.
Many play kitchens don’t come with a ton of accessories, and the ones they do come with are usually pretty generic. To liven up your child’s play kitchen, we found 33 of the coolest play kitchen accessories, some of which you probably already have lying around your house. Whether you’re looking to get your kid their first play kitchen or you want to liven up the one you already have, there are plenty of fun options here at every price point.
Upcycle: empty dish soap container and sponge
Some of the best play kitchen accessories are already in your home. Give your child an old dish soap container and sponge so they can wash dishes in their pretend sink.
Upcycle: empty food containers
Rather than throwing out your old food containers, clean them thoroughly and turn them into play food! Think cereal boxes, yogurt containers, pasta boxes, and condiment containers. Just be sure to stay away from glass, cans, or other containers that might have sharp edges.
Upcycle: old baby bottle brushes
If you’re past the baby bottle cleaning stage, don’t throw away those cleaning brushes! Your kids will find plenty of use for them in their play kitchen.
Upcycle: old dish towels, cleaning cloths, or baby washcloths
Before you get rid of old dish towels, cleaning cloths, and baby washcloths, consider adding them to the play kitchen, too. Kids can use them as hot pads, tea towels, napkins, and anything else they can imagine. You could even cut them into smaller pieces to make them truly tiny-kitchen-sized.