Cooking is a skill and activity that is valued at any age. At a tender age, kids are likely to imitate their parents simply because it will make them feel like adults and this helps with their physical and mental development.
Play grills are open-ended toys that are great for pretend play and encourage children to take charge of their play instead of being instructed on what to do. It is also great for allowing children’s imaginations to run wild as they grill just like mom and dad.
Below is an accurately compiled list of the best play grills for your kids of which most are realistic and suitable for both indoor and outdoor grill time as well as fun grill time in a playhouse. They are all designed for kids of different ages and for both boys and girls.
All of the information that you need to go ahead and find the perfect set for your child can be found, right here!
Hape And Gourmet Grill And Shish Kabob
This Gourmet Grill and Shish Kabob by Hape features a realistic looking and well-painted BBQ grill which inspires creative play.
It has pretend food and high quality grilling utensils as well as a hood that can be opened and closed. It is made of non-toxic wooden materials which makes the play set safe for your kids to play with.
It also comes with awesome little shish kabob toys that your kids can put together and take apart as they see fit. Some of the accessories that come with the set includes mustard, ketchup bottles, and grilling tongs. This pretend grill set is balanced on two wheels for easy transport.
It allows for kids to cook and grill with friends, therefore it is effective for improving their social skills. The realistic features of this set encourages children to play with a lot of imagination and develop their creative thinking skills. It is recommendable for kids that are 3-5 years old.
Pros
• Inspires creative play and imagination.
• It is made of renewable high quality materials.
• Improves social skills.
• It has realistic features.
• Excellent quality paint.
• Awesome shish kabob toys.
Cons
• Not as durable as expected.
• No noises or effects.
Little Tikes Cook And Grow BBQ Grill
The Little Tikes Cook and Grow BBQ Grill features a real looking gas grill complete with dual grill, lid, sink and side burners.
This BBQ grill has 2 age grade configurations; when the grill is expanded, the height is perfect for toddlers and when the grill is compacted, it is just right for pre-schoolers.
This is what sets the grill apart from other grills as it is convertible so that it can be shorter and wider or taller and thinner.
The set comes with accessories including tongs, spatula, a hamburger and bun, a hot dog and bun and a bottle of ketchup.
It also includes grill doors that can be opened and closed, clicking knobs, and play food that fits inside the grill base for easy storage. It has a counter space for a young chef to prepare ingredients and even a high arch for decoration.
Kids can have fun grilling indoors or take the set outside for a fun outdoor grill time. It is suitable for kids that are 2-10 years old.
Pros
• It can be used as both an indoor and an outdoor toy grill.
• Easy to assemble.
• There is storage space.
• Realistic features.
• It helps develop your kid’s social skills.
• It can either be compacted or expanded to fit your child’s height.
Cons
• Smaller and lighter than expected.
Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque Get Out And Grill
This play grill set by Little Tikes uses red brick as the base and has realistic features including a gas grill with dual grill, lid, sink and side burner.
It also features grill cupboards for easy storage of items.The play food set comes with 8 accessories including a hamburger, hot dog, ketchup, grill utensils and a towel bar.
Kids can have their own pretend cook either indoors or outdoors with friends which is a great way to develop social and sharing skills in an active play format. It is designed for children of ages 3-7 years old.
Pros
• Easy to assemble and portable.
• Made of good quality.
• It is durable.
• Great for multiple play.
• Can be used both indoors and outdoors.
• Develops social and sharing skills.
• Realistic features.
Cons
• Issues with screws not being able to be attached to their respective holes.
• Does not come with as many accessories as other play grills.
Little Tikes Cook And Play Outdoor BBQ
Little Tikes Cook and Play Outdoor BBQ gives kids the avenue to have their own pretend cook out which is a great way to develop their social skills.
It provides a more traditional outdoor appearance and is one of the best looking toy grills available.
The play food set features a dual grill with lid and side burner, amoulded-insink and cooktop for added creative role play, working oven and fridge doors, clicking knobs, moulded-in pegs to hang kitchen utensils and pans, an extended counter space and back counter for plenty of prep play as well as plenty of storage areas.
It is a great set for creative and imaginative play, while promoting social interaction for everyday fun. It is designed for kids that are 2-10 years old.
Pros
• Inspires creative and imaginative play.
• Easy to assemble.
• Good for multiple play.
• Realistic features.
• Develops and improves social skills and teamwork abilities.
Cons
• Several of the locations to insert screws are not pre-drilled.
• Low quality paint.
• Smaller than expected.
Step 2 Fixing Fun Outdoor Grill
This outdoor grill by step 2 features a realistic lift up grill lid, a moulded-in side burner for extra cooking space, an oven with a lifelike outdoor brown brick design, turnable grill knobs that make real clicking sounds and a 10 piece stack ‘n’ stay hot dog set so that your child can attempt to grill the ultimate hot dog.
It also comes with other utensils like grilling utensils, a plate, and condiments. The accessories can be stored in the oven beneath the grill.
The set is durably made of plastic and lights up at the push of a button. It is designed for kids that are 2-8 years old.
Pros
- Enhances imaginative play.
- It is of great value.
- Easy to assemble.
- Realistic features.
- It improves creative thinking.
- It is durable.
Cons
- Lighter in weight than expected.
- Batteries are not included in the set.
- No realistic grilling noises.
- Danger of choking due to the smaller parts of the set and its accessories.
Theo Klein-Weber Kettle Barbecue Premium Grill
The premium Weber Kettle Grill by Theo Klein is a great looking realistic toy grill. It features numerous accessories such as play food T-bone steaks, salmon, shrimps, tomato, onion, and pepper. It also comes with light up charcoal, lighter, 2 grates and tongs.
This play grill set lights up and makes sounds like a real grill. It is made from durable plastic materials and it is great for outdoor grill time. It is recommendable for kids that are 3-8 years old.
Pros
- It is great for imaginative play.
- It is durably made of plastic.
- It has realistic lights and sounds features.
- It is easy to assemble.
- It is portable.
- It is excellent for outdoors.
Cons
- It is shorter than expected.
Little Dudes Backyard Barbeque Play Set
The Little Dudes Backyard Barbeque Play Set is a realistic looking backyard or patio deck grilling set. The set provides a great way for encouraging imaginative play allowing your child create hamburgers, hot dogs, and other pretend treats on his or her very own grill.
This grill set is composed of high quality materials and it features an 8 piece set which includes grill, two-piece hamburger bun, hot dog, hot dog bun, spatula, and ketchup bottle. It also features moving knobs, realistic burners, a side sink and an internal storage compartment for toy grill tools, play food and other materials.
It is perfect for fun activities on rainy days, or helps your child busy with his or her own grill while adults prepare an actual grilled meat.
It is durably made of plastic in attractive colours. It is appropriate for children that are 2-5 years of age.
Pros
- It encourages imaginative play.
- It has realistic features.
- It is durable.
- It is easy to assemble.
Cons
- It is light in weight and tips over easily.
- It is smaller and of lower quality than expected.
- Holes have to be made for assembly.
Fisher-Price Serving Surprises Barbeque Grill Play Food Set
The serving surprises barbeque set comes with everything needed for a cook-out including grill with glowing charcoal, magic hot dog with bun, mustard and ketchup bottles, tongs, kabob skewer, meat, shrimp, green and red peppers and mushroom and onion slice.
The grill top in the set can be turned off and on with a knob, the hot dog can be twisted to magically change toppings. The barbeque set can be used alone or with the Servin’ Surprises Kitchen and Table, where it will unlock special food specific sung songs and fun barbeque phrases.
It is designed for kids that are 2-6 years of age.
Pros
- It is great for role play.
- It encourages sharing.
- It enhances social skills
Cons
- The kabob stick seems dangerous.
Liberty Imports Hot Dog Roller Grill Electric Stove Play Food Kitchen Appliance Set
The hot dog roller grill electric stove play food kitchen appliance set for kids features an electric toy hot dog roller grill with lights and sounds, rollers that can spin, tongs, and play foods that include 3 hot dogs with buns, mustard, ketchup, and water.
The play set is better for indoor use although it can also be used outside. It has realistic frying sounds and requires batteries which are not included in the set. It is recommendable for kids that are 3 years and older.
Pros
- It has realistic features.
- Setting the timer and watching the countdown is a great way to give numbers a meaning.
- It has light and sound features.
Cons
- It seems to be made of bad quality materials.
- The board is not waterproof.
- Batteries are not included in the set.
Conclusion
Dramatic play is essential for kids. During this period, they act out real life situations to work out how they think and feel. It is critical for kids to try out different roles as they play, this helps both the parent and the kid to discover a lot about themselves.
A pretend play grill can be valuable in your kid’s life and gifting them with one helps foster their love for cooking and food as well as the joy of grilling without having to associate with the dangers of real grilling tools and equipment.
Your kid deserves the best. Hence, you need to buy them a play grill that will give them the passion they require to mimic your grilling abilities.
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