We bought a wooden Kidkraft kitchen for my daughters 2nd birthday from GLTC. She is now 4 and it still gets played with everyday. All the kids that come over love it." (Recommended by Mumsnetter buzzgirly) Our verdict After attending university in Sunderland to study journalism, Gemma moved to London and spent a year doing internships on women’s monthly magazines before securing her first job on Bella magazine, in 2005. She then moved on to work at Woman’s Own, commissioning, writing and interviewing people for the magazine’s real-life content, as well as compiling news-led features. Favourite features? If you're looking to buy a toy kitchen, but have limited space, then the Hape 2-in-1 Kitchen and Grill Set is a great place to start. We have the Tidlo Country Kitchen and love it. It has a sink oven cupboard and wooden washing up liquid and utensils.”(Recommended by Mumsnetter Loyaultemelie)

Miele Wooden Toy Kitchen | Smyths Toys UK

Dimensions: 60cm x 30cm x 99.4cm | Weight: 12.16kg | Material: Wood | Age: 3 years+| Assembly required: Yes | Batteries required: Yes - 4 x AAA batteries What we love Most play kitchens are suitable for ages three and above, but both younger and older children can enjoy playing with them. Children as young as 18 months can start by playing with the pots and pans, moving things around the kitchen and pretending to cut food. I got the tidlo country kitchen for my boy aged 2 and it's still going strong over 2 years later and lots of abuse."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user ThedementedPenguin) Our verdict From pretending to be chefs and waitresses to copying Mum or Dad in the kitchen, they can imitate everyday tasks like chopping food, cooking and cleaning up. Accessories like chalkboards can also encourage reading and writing. Favourite features? Theo Klein's Miele Kitchen makes little chefs feel like they’re cooking up a storm in a real kitchen with its realistic design straight out of a Gordan Ramsey reality cooking show.

3. Best play kitchen with sounds and lights: Theo Klein Miele Wooden Kitchen

Dimensions: W72cm x D40cm x H109cm | Weight: 18kg| Material: Wood | Age: 3 years+ | Assembly required: Yes | Batteries required: Yes - 4 x AA What we love

Miele Wooden Toy Kitchen | Smyths Toys Ireland Miele Wooden Toy Kitchen | Smyths Toys Ireland

Dimensions: 112.27cm x 34.54cm x 109.22cm | Weight: 22.5kg | Material: Wood and plastic | Age: 3 years+ | Assembly required: Yes | Batteries required: Yes - 3 x LR44 batteries What we love We bought our eldest daughter a KidKraft wooden kitchen and loads of Melissa and Doug wooden food playsets for her third birthday. It has all lasted and still gets played with now by her and her younger sisters."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Kidsrulethishouse) Sounds awesome. We had a Smoby one that did the water and light up hob." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user NinaGonk) Children love to play pretend, and a toy kitchen can offer much fun and variety. From creating meals for their best teddy bears or dolls in a make-believe café to copying Mum and Dad, the best play kitchens can help with social development and expand a child’s imagination. Although they’re not the cheapest toys, and with the cost of living crisis shrinking our gift budgets, we've thought carefully about ensuring we've got a range of low-price options.Dimensions: 70cm x 30cm x 91cm | Weight: 7.8kg | Material: Wood and stainless steel | Age: 3 years+ | Assembly required: Yes | Batteries required: 2 x R6-AA What we love Dimensions: ‎29.97 x 23.11 x 25.65 cm | M aterial: Wood | Age: 3 years+ | Assembly required: Yes | Batteries required: No What we love Simple designs may only come with an oven, hob and sink, with the option to add accessories like pots, pans and utensils. Others may have a washing machine, microwave, illuminating hob rings and cooking sounds, and some even boil water.

Theo Klein 7199 Miele Kitchen, Wood (MDF), White, Midi, Toy

I'd go for one of these: Teamson Kids Wooden Little Chef Play KitchenChad Valley Wooden Kitchen with Breakfast Bar" (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter Ricekrispie22) Our verdictWith this chic children's kitchen in the popular Miele design , little connoisseurs can cook, fry , sizzle, wash in the children's room try out and replay everything that mom and dad do and much more