For this edition of our Living Playfully blog, Melissa & Doug cook up something fun to celebrate International Chef Day on October 20!
The culinary community celebrates International Chef Day as a way to “honor our culinary profession and inspire the next generation” according to WorldChefs.org. The theme for this year’s iteration of International Chef Day is Food Explorers, which “invites children to embark on a culinary adventure, discovering the joys of cooking, the importance of healthy eating, and the value of sustainable practices.”
If your little one enjoys pretend play food fun, we’ve curated a chef-themed Top 10 list of our pretend play food toys to inspire your child’s love of cooking at an early age! Scroll on to feast on a delicious selection of pretend play food toys from Melissa & Doug to inspire, engage, and encourage your child for International Chef Day.
International Chef Day: Top 10 Toys for Kid Foodies & Wanna-Be Chefs
Playful Details: Come 'n get it! This set has everything an aspiring chef needs to cook up yummy treats. Sized to fit kids ages 3+; the jacket can be machine washed, and it comes with accessories that can easily be wiped clean.
Skills at Play: Helps promote narrative thinking and creative expression, along with independent and cooperative play.
Styles Available: Cloud, Charcoal, and Cupcake
Playful Details: Budding young chefs can hone their craft in these beautifully designed, modern play kitchens! Easy to assemble, with ample shelving and storage for easy cleanup. Sturdy, top-quality wooden construction means it will stand up to years of creative make-believe meal-making!
Skills at Play: Encourages narrative thinking, storytelling ability, gross & fine motor skills, and creative expression, along with independent and cooperative play.
Playful Details: This play set features shiny stainless steel cookware Mom and Dad would envy, generously sized for a more realistic look and feel. All of the handles and knobs feature sturdy riveted joints that won't weaken and wear like welding or glue.
Skills at Play: Encourages gross & fine motor skills, creative expression, sensory stimulation, independence, and narrative ability.
Simmer & Stir Stovetop Play Set with Water WOW! Color Reveal
Playful Details: Satisfy hungry imaginations with Melissa & Doug Water WOW! color-changing play food stir fry! Drop play food into the pot or onto the stovetop griddle, squeeze water from the spoon or drip from the olive oil bottle, and watch colors change as food magically “cooks”!
Skills at Play: Encourages gross & fine motor skills, creative expression, sensory stimulation, independence, and narrative ability; promotes cause-and-effect thinking.
Flip & Fry Grill Play Set with Water WOW! Color Reveal
Playful Details: Grilling and frying has never been so fun! Satisfy hungry imaginations with Melissa & Doug Water WOW! color-changing play food. Flip play burger, veggie burger, or pancake on the grill and griddle, squeeze water from the spatula when flipping, and watch colors change as food magically “cooks”!
Skills at Play: Encourages gross & fine motor skills, creative expression, sensory stimulation, independence, and narrative ability; promotes cause-and-effect thinking.
Playful Details: Put a new “spin” on a healthy way to play! This kid-sized play salad spinner with a wooden top and big button to press works just like the real thing. There are no batteries or electronics—just pump to spin!
Skills at Play: A fun way to encourage storytelling and both independent and cooperative play; promotes fine motor skills.
Wooden Pizza Food Truck Activity Center
Playful Details: Get playtime cooking and take imaginations for a spin with all the essentials for a pretend play pizza food truck experience! The multi-sided, easy-to-assembly wooden structure, with a built-in pretend pizza oven and dozens of wooden and felt play food accessories, lets kids ages 3+ be the helpful food truck vendor or the hungry customer.
Skills at Play: Great for imaginative, skill-building play—little pizza chefs will love using the pieces for counting, sorting, color recognition, and language development!
Playful Details: The Melissa & Doug 27-piece pretend play pie-making set has everything kids need to prep, put together, and “bake” deliciously imaginative play pies.
Skills at Play: An engaging way for budding chefs ages 3+ to boost motor skills, learn to follow directions, practice counting, sorting, storytelling, and communication skills.
Wooden Chocolate Factory Play Set
Playful Details: Sweeten up playtime by ordering, assembling, displaying, and gifting deliciously fun pretend play candy treats with the Melissa & Doug Wooden Chocolate Factory Play Set! Display in a fancy gift box, and pay for purchases with play money. Mix and match six bases, six tops, and six fillings, for countless creative combinations.
Skills a Play: Great for color matching, counting, and developing language skills through cooperative play.
Food Groups - Wooden Play Food
Playful Details: Planning a well-balanced meal is child's play with this adorable wooden food groups set. The high-quality items are crafted of solid wood and come with four wooden baskets for sorting as well as easy storage.
Skills at Play: Introduce your child to meal planning and food groups in general, while they learn about dairy products, meat, carbs, fat, and fruits and vegetables.
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