Toy pots and pans for children

Parent Cafe
1

<p>When my kids were little, I found a set of toy pots and pans that they could really cook with. I still have them. Made by Mirro. I’ve been trying to find something similar for my 5 yr old niece, but can’t. Everything I find says not for use on stove or oven.</p>

<p>Does anybody know if they still make things like this?</p>

2

<p>Yes, they do. Emeril has a junior chef set and Chicago Metallic makes a children’s bakeware set. Amazon.com has several sets if you search “children’s cookware” and here’s one from Constructive Playthings: [Constructive</a> Playthings - Child-Size Cookware Set](<a href=“http://www.cptoys.com/cgi-bin/cptoys_cgi.sh/WService=cptoys/cptoys.com/school/product.htm?stateInfo=clObdiokikWaclbn6657|2&dept_id=637&pf_id=XX-118&parent_id=990&call_prog=dept&page=1]Constructive”>http://www.cptoys.com/cgi-bin/cptoys_cgi.sh/WService=cptoys/cptoys.com/school/product.htm?stateInfo=clObdiokikWaclbn6657|2&dept_id=637&pf_id=XX-118&parent_id=990&call_prog=dept&page=1)</p>

3

<p>I was also just at safeway and they had a mini wearever sauce pan for cooking one egg. The grocery across the street had all kinds of meausuring cups and whisks for kids made by a scandinavian company by the sounds of it</p>

<p>Try waldorf catalogs ( like hearthsong) if you haVe trouble in your area.</p>

4

<p>Plastic food, too! Our kids ran a “restaurant” and fed legions of stuffed animals, friends and relatives. They also liked [Emeril’s</a> There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Emerils-Theres-Chef-Recipes-Everyone/dp/0688177069]Emeril’s”>http://www.amazon.com/Emerils-Theres-Chef-Recipes-Everyone/dp/0688177069). </p>

<p>BTW, here is the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe. My “serious” baker friends have been stunned by these cookies. (It sounds complicated, but only three steps are critical: adequate time in the refrigerator, minimal mixing of dry ingredients, and adequate size of the cookies).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/09chip.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/09chip.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>What’s the benefit of children stuff? Why not get the real thing?</p>

6

<p>

Because they are cute and kids like having their own, little pots and pans as opposed to using big ones. Same as with most toys. When I was cooking I used to let the kids have some of the ingredients and make their own little versions. Taught them how to cook, how to measure, and an enjoyment of home cooked foods. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I’m going to get one of the sets on Amazon and buy some of the little utensils sold at our local dollar store.</p>

7

<p>I see… but there are small pots and pans…</p>

8

<p>My mother says that when I was small, I liked using the real ones. My kids liked the real ones, too. However, some of the ‘real ones’ are very heavy, so it would have to be cheap, little ‘real ones’.</p>

<p>I once bought some kid-size rolling pins and wooden spoons, but both son and daughter preferred mine.</p>

9

<p>My D loved being in the kitchen with me and “cooking” when she was little. For her 2nd birthday I found a big box, painted it white, drew an oven “door” on the front, used my cast iron burners to trace “burners” on the top, and bought real replacement knobs at the hardware store. Total cost $7 and an hour of my time. I put it in the kitchen near where I was, and gave her a bunch of old small pots and pans so she could “cook”. She and all her friends (yep, even the boys) adored that thing until she was about 8, when she started cooking for real. She is an amazing cook these days and eats wonderfully healthy foods. I am all for the playing.</p>