Yesterday the kids enjoyed the first popsicle of spring. And spring is finally here indeed. With warm days and cool nights, windows open and coats off.
Our oldest relished every sliver of frozen goodness and asked for more. May there be many many more popsicle days.
Last week, our son cooked me a barbeque lunch on his toy grill. With ketchup and mustard on my steak, and a smoothie made of pretend hot dogs that he called bananas. The Ketchup & Mustard bottles ($3.60) actually "squirt" red or yellow string (giggle every time!)
But that's the beauty of play food- you can cook and have and spice and eat to your heart's content. Play on, little boy, play on. With that smile and enthusiasm, you have your mama eating out of the palm of your hand.
All this fun we're having? It's thanks to our new toys sent to us by HABA USA. European crafted from quality and child-safe materials, HABA has role play toys like play food and new real-kitchen items like silicon popsicle, ice cube, and cupcake molds.
HABA Silicone Kitchen Molds (from $10 to $25) come in jungle snake cake, safari themed cupcakes, or popsicle, and ice cube trays.
The popsicles and ice cubes were so easy to make with a little juice, and I even made one with almond milk that turned out yummy!
I'd never tried cooking with silicone molds before, but surprisingly, it's very easy to make cupcakes in these HABA molds!
I left safari themed brownies for the boys the last time we had a sitter... It's fun to leave a little something special when we're out.
Our boys love play food and cooking with real food, so we love having these toys and tools for them. I love how these toys encourage imaginative thinking, and hands-on learning.
This post is in partnership with HABAUSA and I was provided products at no charge for review. All opinions are my own.
My son and daughter love to play with food. They have some pretend foods and when my daughter is going to cook for my son she cooks them in her pretend pots and pans and brings out her little tea set to go with it.
My son and daughter love to play with food. They have some pretend foods and when my daughter is going to cook for my son she cooks them in her pretend pots and pans and brings out her little tea set to go with it.
Play food is so much fun! 🙂
I love the idea of the silicone molds for brownies! And home-made popsicles are so much better for us!
Play food is so much fun! 🙂
I love the idea of the silicone molds for brownies! And home-made popsicles are so much better for us!
My daughter loves to make play food for my husband and me and also loves to help me make homemade granola bars in the kitchen. She's all about the food!
My daughter loves to make play food for my husband and me and also loves to help me make homemade granola bars in the kitchen. She's all about the food!
i have made a cabinet in the kitchen just for the kids, so when im cooking or something and they want to help they bring out their kitchen stuff and help. they play store with our pantry its pretty cute
i have made a cabinet in the kitchen just for the kids, so when im cooking or something and they want to help they bring out their kitchen stuff and help. they play store with our pantry its pretty cute
My son has a play kitchen, but no play food to go with it. However, we did give him some easter eggs to play with and he likes to crack those and still an egg carton from the recycling bin so he can put his eggs in it.
My son has a play kitchen, but no play food to go with it. However, we did give him some easter eggs to play with and he likes to crack those and still an egg carton from the recycling bin so he can put his eggs in it.
My son has his own little play kitchen that he uses to cook dinner for his stuffed animals 🙂
My son has his own little play kitchen that he uses to cook dinner for his stuffed animals 🙂
i bought the kids a toy kitchen this past Christmas. they love playing pretend restaurant and taking our orders.
i bought the kids a toy kitchen this past Christmas. they love playing pretend restaurant and taking our orders.
My kids love playing in their toy kitchen. They love to "make dinner" for me 😉
They also love helping me for real in the kitchen. i let them add some of the ingredients when possible
My kids love playing in their toy kitchen. They love to "make dinner" for me 😉
They also love helping me for real in the kitchen. i let them add some of the ingredients when possible
my kids love to play with ply food and yell, 'lunch is ready!' and bring me a plate of stuff =)
my kids love to play with ply food and yell, 'lunch is ready!' and bring me a plate of stuff =)
These are so cute! My toddler loves to play in her toy kitchen and 'helping' in the kitchen with mom.
These are so cute! My toddler loves to play in her toy kitchen and 'helping' in the kitchen with mom.
My daughter LOVES to help in the kitchen! She loves making homemade pizza, cookies etc!
She also has a play kitchen that she plays with daily!
My daughter LOVES to help in the kitchen! She loves making homemade pizza, cookies etc!
She also has a play kitchen that she plays with daily!
I include kids in my kitchen and garden as much as possible! I have found that kids have a greater desire to be involved in meal preparation, and to try new foods, if they're also involved in the growing of the food. We have an organic vegetable and herb garden and use as much homegrown food as possible in our meals.
I include kids in my kitchen and garden as much as possible! I have found that kids have a greater desire to be involved in meal preparation, and to try new foods, if they're also involved in the growing of the food. We have an organic vegetable and herb garden and use as much homegrown food as possible in our meals.
My daughter is 2 but loves to help so I give her the easy tasks like helping me grab produce, rinsing it, stirring stuff, pouring stuff in and sometimes i let her chop stuff but with me holding her hand and guiding her (while i have a mild panic attack inside). haha
My daughter is 2 but loves to help so I give her the easy tasks like helping me grab produce, rinsing it, stirring stuff, pouring stuff in and sometimes i let her chop stuff but with me holding her hand and guiding her (while i have a mild panic attack inside). haha
My kids love to play kitchen and usually take my pans and pots and have even taken the things out of the fridge to pretend with.
My kids love to play kitchen and usually take my pans and pots and have even taken the things out of the fridge to pretend with.
My daughter loves playing with her tupperware set, especially making coffee, tea or soup for everyone!
My daughter loves playing with her tupperware set, especially making coffee, tea or soup for everyone!
My nieces love to play cook. They have play food,pots,plates,etc. My youngest niece is almost 6 and her sister is 10. They're always making desserts. It's always tea or coffee time. Thank you for the great giveaway 🙂
My nieces love to play cook. They have play food,pots,plates,etc. My youngest niece is almost 6 and her sister is 10. They're always making desserts. It's always tea or coffee time. Thank you for the great giveaway 🙂
My boys have a play kitchen. They love their wooden Melissa and Doug cookies, pizza and fruit.
My boys have a play kitchen. They love their wooden Melissa and Doug cookies, pizza and fruit.
Dd loves to play waitress...of course I can only order the food she tells me I can! LOL She loves to help me mix up things in the kitchen!
Dd loves to play waitress...of course I can only order the food she tells me I can! LOL She loves to help me mix up things in the kitchen!
My kids love play food and these are adorable.
My kids love play food and these are adorable.
My grandkids play in the sandbox and "cook". I've given them an old muffin tin, utensils, bowls, etc, and they have a blast making food items!
My grandkids play in the sandbox and "cook". I've given them an old muffin tin, utensils, bowls, etc, and they have a blast making food items!
My son loves to make dough or batter with me (muffins, pizza dough, play dough, etc).
My son loves to make dough or batter with me (muffins, pizza dough, play dough, etc).
I think that "play" food is one of the best toys for children's imaginative play. It is so fun to watch my grandchildren mimic their mom and dad and me while playing with the food. They also love standing on a stool and helping me cook in the real kitchen!
I think that "play" food is one of the best toys for children's imaginative play. It is so fun to watch my grandchildren mimic their mom and dad and me while playing with the food. They also love standing on a stool and helping me cook in the real kitchen!
My granddaughter is only 2 but she loves to help out in the kitchen when I make food.
My granddaughter is only 2 but she loves to help out in the kitchen when I make food.
My kids love to play short order cook - they take my order, then magically whip it up in seconds and deliver it!
My kids love to play short order cook - they take my order, then magically whip it up in seconds and deliver it!
my daughter helped me make breakfast for the first time the other day. it was so fun. she loves to play with play food but I dont have any of the good kind like this. Id love to have these for her so she can pretend to cook for all of us
my daughter helped me make breakfast for the first time the other day. it was so fun. she loves to play with play food but I dont have any of the good kind like this. Id love to have these for her so she can pretend to cook for all of us
My youngest really likes to play with our Melissa & Doug toy foods. She sets up elaborate role playing using stuffed animals, dolls, and even an occasional real human.
My youngest really likes to play with our Melissa & Doug toy foods. She sets up elaborate role playing using stuffed animals, dolls, and even an occasional real human.
My daughter and I love checking out kid cook books from the library and choosing a few recipes to try together each month. We have so much fun making what she chose- then doing restaurant style reviews of the dish afterwards.
My daughter and I love checking out kid cook books from the library and choosing a few recipes to try together each month. We have so much fun making what she chose- then doing restaurant style reviews of the dish afterwards.
They act like they are cooking meals for me, and they are so cute being mini chefs like daddy!
They act like they are cooking meals for me, and they are so cute being mini chefs like daddy!
My little girl is too young to really help cook yet, so I usually give her a mixing bowl and spoon of her own to stir along with me while I'm cooking something. She is happy to "help".
My little girl is too young to really help cook yet, so I usually give her a mixing bowl and spoon of her own to stir along with me while I'm cooking something. She is happy to "help".
We have the kids do very simple kitchen tasks.
We have the kids do very simple kitchen tasks.
my toddler used to throw it, so we took it away for a while. Getting ready to reintroduce it soon!
🙂 I have a "thrower" too - thankfully he seems to have grown out of that mostly!
my toddler used to throw it, so we took it away for a while. Getting ready to reintroduce it soon!
🙂 I have a "thrower" too - thankfully he seems to have grown out of that mostly!
I think it is amazing and fun how interactive kids can be with play kitchens. They are always cooking up some fun and unique dishes.
I think it is amazing and fun how interactive kids can be with play kitchens. They are always cooking up some fun and unique dishes.
My granddaughter is constantly pretending to cook and feed me "dinner". She has a little Dora Kitchen and she will ask me if I want pizza or chocolate - her two favorite foods!
My granddaughter is constantly pretending to cook and feed me "dinner". She has a little Dora Kitchen and she will ask me if I want pizza or chocolate - her two favorite foods!
My kids have a play kitchen, they love to fix me food, and do dishes. Things they see me do in the BIG kitchen. My oldest is a good helper when it comes to smoothies, and other easy things like that.
My kids have a play kitchen, they love to fix me food, and do dishes. Things they see me do in the BIG kitchen. My oldest is a good helper when it comes to smoothies, and other easy things like that.
Cute. P loves play food too. We just got rid of the kitchen, grill, and a ton of food, but kept the shopping cart and his fav food items so he can still play (and serve us!) a bit.
Cute. P loves play food too. We just got rid of the kitchen, grill, and a ton of food, but kept the shopping cart and his fav food items so he can still play (and serve us!) a bit.