With 6 kids in the house, we have our fair share of little chefs that LOVE a good kids’ play kitchen to call their own. After researching, buying, and testing out our new Tiny Land Play Kitchen (and comparing it to other play kitchens we’ve owned), I wanted to help out some other moms and dads that might be wondering if this will be the perfect gift, or rather, a toy with lackluster quality. So here is my honest TinyLand Play Kitchen review!
*Disclosure: This post is NOT sponsored. However, this post may contain affiliate links. All opinions and recommendations are my own.
Are Play Kitchens Worth It?
Play kitchens are honestly one of my FAVORITE kid products that get so much use in our home. With 6 kids, we’ve had countless hours of imaginative play- whipping up a pretend dish spread, adding in secret ingredients, fun with cookie cutters, etc.- it’s the ultimate play space to let their imagination soar. Kitchen role-play also teaches essential life skills and valuable organizational skills too- a true win-win!
Crawlers/cruisers to early walkers love play kitchens, as do toddlers and young kids, who are at the perfect stage and prime years for role playing and imaginative play. My older kids will also happily join in on the fun playing with their younger siblings at the kitchen! It’s truly one of my favorite “bigger gifts” to give for a special occasion like a birthday or Christmas.
Now, with that being said, there are SO many different play kitchens that greatly vary on price point, quality, and features. I’ll go over the pros and cons of the Tiny Land play kitchen in just a sec, but I’ll also tell you about 2 other play kitchens we’ve had that we’ve LOVED and I consider to be GREAT quality (one that is very budget-friendly, and one that is a splurge). So keep reading if you’re interested in alternatives to the Tiny Land play kitchen.
Are play kitchens worth it? YES!
Is the Tiny Land play kitchen worth it? TBD…
TinyLand Play Kitchen Review
First and foremost, I generally tend to write reviews on products I love (because I want to send you the good stuff! Like our fan favorite Kids Outdoor Playhouse!), but I also think it’s important to know what products to avoid, especially when it comes to a bigger purchase like a kids play kitchen.
We want a versatile wooden kids play kitchen that will last for years, and potentially for multiple siblings or friends that will also get lots of use out of it, not something that will fall apart rather quickly.
So as much as I’d love to give a wonderful review and promise years of playtime, this one might not have a happy ending. (BUT, I will say that there are some pros to the TinyLand play kitchen, and it might still be for you if those “pro points” align.)
The specific model I’m reviewing is the Tiny Land Trendy Iconic Play Kitchen (also found on Amazon HERE, also called the Tiny Land Trendy Home Play Kitchen).
TinyLand Play Kitchen Pros:
- Timeless cream-colored design– it’s pretty, classic, and aesthetically pleasing (there is also a black version available, which has a sleek design more suitable for modern home decor)
- While there are a few different models with various product dimensions, I felt ours was a good size that wasn’t too bulky, but also big enough to have multiple little kids playing at the same time
- Adorable little details such as an ice maker, coffee maker and lifelike faucet
- Other play kitchen features that are worth noting: a cute curtain (we actually chose not to install the curtain, because I wanted to create a DIY marble backsplash but didn’t get around to it- but this would be something easy to do, or to choose your own fabric for custom DIY curtains!), a handy rack with hooks for hanging pots and pans, clickable knobs (they actually make a click sound when turned), spacious shelves and ample storage space for all of the pretend food and kitchen set toys your child might have
- I love how the TinyLand Play kitchen looks like an elegant play kitchen with realistic details, so it isn’t a big clunky eyesore in your home
- The Tiny Land website claims that their kitchens are painted with child-safe paint, and use non-toxic materials, free of any heavy metals
- More budget-friendly than many other play kitchens on the market (it often goes on sale too)
- Family fun, more of a “hands-on experience” toy, and great for pretend play (but all play kitchens fit this bill)
- With it’s size, design, and all of the “extra” features this kitchen provides, I will say that it does have a lot of pros
TinyLand Play Kitchen Cons:
Okay. So here’s the deal. We bought this play kitchen for our youngest daughter’s 1st birthday. We hired a professional to put all the pieces together (6 kids- so this mom has no time or patience for that), we hid the play kitchen for a few days before her birthday, surprised her with it, got a few cute little birthday pictures with the kitchen, and then… it broke. Womp, whomp.
Yes, no joke, it broke within MINUTES of my kids playing with it. And again, I had a pro put it together. It cost nearly as much to have this thing built than the price I bought it for during a big sale. It was SO disappointing. But what was even more disappointing is that 2 of my younger kids were playing by the play kitchen with the bottom stove door open and bumped into each other on accident, and that was enough force to break off the door.
One of my older boys tossed a football into the playroom to clean up, it bounced off the floor, hit the play kitchen and another piece just completely broke (I don’t even allow the ball to be thrown hard in the house!). So when I say these were very light incidents that caused the kitchen to break, I mean it.
We had an Ikea play kitchen that we had for probably 7 years or so, and my boys would literally catapult themselves off of this thing and it was as solid and durable as could be. The Tiny Land play kitchen though? Falling apart at the seams on day 1. Yikes.
- Durability. Unfortunately, I felt like the Tiny Land kitchen was just not as durable as it should be
- Flimsy material, breaks easily, parts become loose/wobbly easily (like the coffee maker spout)
- Paint chips easily (arrived this way too)
- Time consuming to put all the pieces together
- Not meant to last a long time
Tiny Land Play Kitchen Review Key Takeaways: Is it still worth it?
The Tiny Land Play Kitchen is a popular white play kitchen (again, more creamy in color), that has mixed reviews online. Overall, I feel like the biggest plus to purchasing the Tiny Land play kitchen is that it has the look of a luxurious wooden play kitchen, with a more affordable price point. However, the quality and durability is just not where I’d expect it to be.
If you have one small youngster at home, no siblings, then maybe it would fit the bill, especially if you’re not looking for a play kitchen that will last years and years. Once you add another sibling to the mix, it will naturally get more wear and tear, and those wild toddlers might (to no fault of their own!) be a little too rough for what this play kitchen can handle. I was honestly shocked that ours broke on DAY ONE of owning it.
I’ve been MUCH happier with our old Ikea Play Kitchen, our current Pottery Barn Kids Play Kitchen (much pricier but worth it, in my opinion), and even our Kidkraft outdoor kids playhouse kitchen (you can read about that playhouse makeover HERE!)
Alternatives and Other Play Kitchen Recommendations:
- If you’re looking for something very affordable, and you’re not afraid of a little DIY, then I highly recommend an Ikea Duktig Kitchen
- If budget is not an issue, then I highly recommend splurging on a Pottery Barn Kids Kitchen (we own the PBK Chelsea Kitchen, but there are also smaller, more affordable options as well. And they’re often available on Facebook marketplace!)
- I don’t have personal experience with these, but Maisonette sells a few cute play kitchens by Teamson Kids, and Maisonette tends to sell good quality products, so these might be worth a shot! (Option ONE, Option TWO, and Option THREE)
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