Montessori Play Kitchen

Children during the initial stages of their lives are seekers of knowledge and in search of new sensorial stimuli. 

As a parent, educator, or immediate caregiver, it is your responsibility to provide your child with appropriate stimuli that promote cognitive, physical, motor, and sensory development. 

The Montessori Method of education is a century-old pedagogical tool developed by Dr. Maria Montessori that caters to children’s individual requirements. 

When provided with the right opportunities and controlled freedom, even the most mundane of daily chores can become exciting for your toddler. 

The practical life curriculum in Montessori is among the cornerstones of Montessori Philosophy that allows children to become confident, independent, self-reliant, as well as contributing members of their surrounding environment. 

While kitchen activities and kitchen chores seem to be insignificant additions to the child’s curriculum to most individuals, these activities are integral to the child’s social, motor, and physical development process. 

There are several play Kitchens available on the market, it can be quite perplexing for parents to find a play kitchen that aligns with Montessori Principles and Montessori Philosophy. 

To clear the confusion regarding Montessori Play Kitchen and help you discover the right Montessori Play Kitchen for your child, here is everything you should know about Montessori Play Kitchen.

What is Montessori Play Kitchen?

Montessori Kitchens are a fun way to enhance the child’s imagination and promote them to indulge in daily kitchen chores. 

Montessori Play kitchen is a workstation that allows your child to step out of their comfort zone and develop their inner potential. 

Montessori Play Kitchens unlike, traditional plastic play kitchens align with the Montessori Principles and are often manufactured from natural materials such as wood. 

Montessori Play Kitchen is a functional child-sized as well as child-friendly kitchen toy that facilitates a practical life curriculum. 

Montessori Play Kitchen provides children with the opportunity to become independent, self-reliant, and confident by providing them with opportunities to enhance their abilities. 

Montessori Play Kitchen encourages children to indulge in resourceful and valuable activities that cater to their developmental requirements. 

What is the difference between a Common Play Kitchen and Montessori Play Kitchen?

Montessori Play Kitchen is a workstation that allows children to independently indulge in purposeful activities and have free reign over their imagination. 

Unlike a toy kitchen that fashions unrealistic components and unusable plastic parts, Montessori Kitchen must be based on reality. 

While toy kitchen sets promote children to indulge in pretend play, Montessori Kitchens allow children to learn about practical life activities and encourage them to indulge in real-life activities. 

Montessori Kitchens provide children with the opportunity to become independent, self-reliant, and confident by providing them with the opportunities to enhance their abilities. 

What are the Characteristics of the Montessori Play Kitchen?

Montessori Play Kitchens should offer the child real-life experiences along with a purpose to participate in the activities. 

Montessori Play Kitchens and kitchen activities help children develop respect for the environment and their surroundings. 

The characteristics of the Montessori Play Kitchen are delineated below: 

• Reality:
  Montessori Play Kitchen should always be based on reality as well as promote realistic ideas of the practical world. 
  
• Limitless: 
  There are no rigid guidelines for conducting practical activities. Montessori Play Kitchen activities should not be limited.
  The activities can be customized according to the culture and environment of the country as well as promote children to enhance their creative imagination.
  
• Self Contained:
  The Materials in a Montessori Play Kitchen should be kept on designated shelves, cabinets, and baskets.
  Assigned places for materials and belongings create decorum as well as bring order and structure. 
  
• Child-Sized:
  When you talk about the Montessori Prepared Environment always think Child-sized. 
  The Materials equipment, tools,  furniture, and utensils should be child-sized and child-friendly.
  
• Functional: 
  While Traditional Toy Kitchens have unrealistic and unusable aspects, Montessori Play Kitchens on the contrary are functioning kitchens that have realistic aspects to enhance the child’s experience.

When should you introduce Montessori Play Kitchen to the child?

While there is no specific age for introducing Montessori Play Kitchen to the child, it is recommended to implement this practical life value as soon as they are able to independently walk. 

You can also introduce Montessori Play Kitchen to your child when they begin to indicate that they have an interest in cooking, baking, cleaning, or other household chores. 

Ideally, children begin to indicate they are interested in practical life activities from 16 to 18 months of age, these age groups are perfect for introducing Montessori Play Kitchen. 

Which Montessori Play Kitchen should you buy?

Before splurging on a Montessori Play Kitchen it is best to note that a Montessori play kitchen should be manufactured from naturally sourced substances such as wood or steel. 

Once you are equipped with the knowledge of the chief characteristics of Montessori Play Kitchens, it is best to consider the following variants:

1. IKEA Duktig:

IKEA Duktig aligns almost seamlessly with the Montessori Philosophy and provides children with the best kitchen experience. 

The IKEA Duktig miniature play kitchen is made from natural substances and has a minimal appeal that is pleasing to the eyes. 

As beautiful as this Montessori Play Kitchen is, IKEA Duktig Play Kitchen is also efficient and versatile. 

This play kitchen has three different size settings, making this Montessori Toy a perfect partner for your developing toddler. 

2. Chelsea All-in-One Kitchen:

This Montessori Play Kitchen is so aesthetically pleasing that you would wish this was adult-sized. 

The Chelsea all-in-one Kitchen fashions naturally sourced wooden cabinets and beautiful brass hardware that provides a sophisticated appeal. 

When compared to other Montessori Play Kitchens, this Montessori Play Kitchen has slightly bigger cabinets and a sink to provide the child with an optimal experience. 

3. The Heirloom Kitchen:

When you think of a Montessori Toy, wooden objects often come to your mind. 

If you are looking for a Montessori Play Kitchen that is entirely manufactured from wood, The Heirloom Kitchen is perfect for you!

This wonderful Montessori Play is handmade, heavy-duty, and durable enough to last forever. 

Are the Montessori Play Kitchens worth it?

Montessori Play Kitchens are a fun and exciting way of fostering independence in children from a very young age.

These play kitchens unlike traditional play kitchens that incorporate unnecessary components, Montessori Play Kitchen provides children with real-life experiences.

Not only do Montessori Play Kitchens promote children indulging in kitchen activities, but they also promote fine motor, gross motor, physical, cognitive, and social development in children.

Montessori Play Kitchens promote children to develop respect for their elders and for the surrounding environment.

See Also:

• Montessori Kitchen
• Learning Tower
• Montessori Kitchen Tools
• Montessori High Chair
• Montessori Weaning Table