If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Which do you think is a better buy - a play kitchen or a train table?

DH thinks we should get the train table but that is because he thinks kitchens are for girls.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Play kitchen is smaller.

I would get a play kitchen first THEN go to a train table.

You also don't need a train table to set up a train set. You can put it back in it's box when done playing.

Message edited 11/8/2010 4:38:45 PM.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

We have limited space and DS got the lay kitchen. I think it is called the Step 2 party time kitchen. He got it for Christmas when he was 16 months old and plays with it still 2 years later.

I always yearned for a train table for DS, but he just plays with his trains on the floor. He builds them everywhere and isn't confined to just the train table. He can use his imagination more and builds them under chairs and tables, etc. I am really glad we didn't get a train table.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Last Christmas when DS was 18 months we opted for the kitchen....

He was an avid Thomas the Train fan at the time but I agree with Waterspout4 about them not being limited then in the train play! DS lays on the floor and plays trains anyhow!

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

My DS loves his kitchen. I would get that before getting a train table.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Target has a small kitchen - like $15/20 - Circo I think. I'd say its about the size of my toaster oven. DS LOVES it.
The train set can go under a bed/couch unless you've already got stuff there.

Also, some track sets come appart for easier storage...

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

My kid's not there yet... but IMO as a person who had gone through childhood (versus someone with a kid who loves one thing over another)... Def the train table. I don't understand the kitchen. My parents always gave me a pot and spoon or something to play with while they were making food, so I had my own "real" kitchen exposure. They would have me stir things once in a while. I never really grew to like cooking. Maybe that had to do with it.

BUT... I can imagine all kinds of creative play on a train set table... even if the train set is finished, all kinds of things like farms, ect could be set up.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Train table.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

My DD got the kitchen for her 1st bday and now for Xmas (she's 2) we got her a train table. I think the train table is good for her now that she's a little older and every time she sees them in the store she goes crazy and LOVES them. I don't think a year ago it would've been a good gift for her. I guess it depends on the age of your LO and what they are interested in. Either one is a great choice!

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

i would go for the train table. DD always plays with her trains but we do not have room for one. she is not really as into a play kitchen.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

play kitchen

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

We did not get the kitchen bc its too big, my dad made him (which you can also buy) a train table that slides under his bed.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

kitchen

we had thomas trundle...it still needs a ton of room to pull out

i just keep tracks in a bucket, he pulls out and plays on floor

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

DH and I were just discussing why do kids love kitchens so much, makes no sense to us, neither of us or our parents remember us playing with kitchens.

I've been dreaming about a train set for DS since I was prego and knew it was a boy.

But you know what just today, I really watched how he plays solo. Its totally about taking things out of boxes, putting them back opening closing, turning on and off, and I'm so thinking he'd love a kitchen too.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

we have both and IMHO a train table is the way to go.

both kids use the train table more then the kitchen.

Also, just an FYI... we got the thomas set... we bought DS for his birthday some of the imaginary tracks (they fit with the Thomas tracks) and in 3 months the imaginary tracks have split and cracked and splintered.

his Thomas tracks which he has had for over a year have yet to split or crack or splinter.

if you go with the train set, spend the extra money on the Thomas set. we have thrown away because of splitting about a dozen or more tracks.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

See, the train table was the death of me. DS got it for his second birthday. I put it together - and all he did was take apart the tracks. Anytime he looked at it all he did was rip it apart. It drove me crazy to have to put them together all the time. Now, the table is in my playroom, the tracks are off of it, and all of his other toys are on it. I would have put the tracks on now (DS is 3) but now I have a younger son who I know will just make a mess of them too.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

WE have limited space and are getting the kitchen.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

I would get the kitchen and the felt train play mat. I think any table can be a "train table" and my kids are able to lay the track out any way they want to rather than be confined by a specific table set up.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Train table - no doubt. We have both but the train table has gotten much more use thru the years but both boys and all their friends - boys and girls. My son started his Thomas collection a little before 2. He was frustrated at first getting the trains to always stay on teh tracks but in years to come - it was a favorite. My younger son is three and uses it daily. Barely uses his kitchen - plays with the play food alot and some bowls and spoons he has (most of his faves there came form my own kitchen) but not as much the actual kitchen set.

Message edited 11/8/2010 9:21:10 PM.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

either one is awesome!

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

We do have limited space and I got a kitchen, which stays in the living room. IMO a train table takes up much more room.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

I have very limited space. I got the kitchen. The train table takes up a lot of space. Liam loves his kitchen.

Re: If you had limited space, would you get your 20m old a play kitchen or a train table?

kitchen hands down