The colours are bright and bold and it can be noisy and annoying (our reviewer kept it locked in the playroom! It’s the perfect play kitchen to keep in shared living areas, rather than being banished to a playroom. It also comes with lots of accessories – we love that the mugs make the drinker look like they have a piggy nose. Look for sustainable, FSA-approved wood and if you do choose plastic, plan to sell on or donate at the end of its time with your family.

TOY OVEN - Cream | ZARA United Kingdom TOY OVEN - Cream | ZARA United Kingdom

This traditional midsize kitchen from Teamson comes in a mix of wood-look and bold colours and is a reliable, sturdy structure.

The kitchen also comes with Tasty Junior recipe cards, so kids will be encouraged to try real cooking with grown-ups. The Aviles play kitchen is a sizeable, retro-style kitchen with lots of modern features for the creative cook. It’s compact, so won’t be intrusive in a small home, but still has all the necessary features, such as an oven with a see-through door, two hob rings with twistable knobs and a metal sink with wooden mixer taps. Details like shelves, hooks, a digital-look display and tea towel rail make realistic kitchen play a dream. One of the case sides doubles as a pop-up backdrop, which you then attach to a little row of hooks to complete the mini kitchen.

Toy Oven - Etsy UK Toy Oven - Etsy UK

Having fun while learning in a play kitchen can help children develop valuable life skills and spark a passion for food and cooking. Will you match it to your style or do you want to let the kid’s love of brightly coloured plastic lead your choice?Made with sustainably sourced materials, it comes in an neutral cream colour with wood-look worktop and wipe-clean fittings.