The Poor Man's Kitchen Playset

Does your toddler love to fiddle around with the high tech kitchen playset perpetually on display at Toy Kingdom, Rustan's, and Toys R Us? The electronic one that comes with its own fridge, stove, oven, appliances, and that cute little clock on top? The one that tugs at your heart and has you imagining raising a little chef - but tears at your wallet with its P10K++ price tag?

Here's the cheaper alternative:

(1) Basket of plastic fruits and vegetables - less than P200, available at Landmark and Toy Kingdom (with the basket, your kid can play shopping too!)

(2) Set of plastic cups, plates, and cookware - less than P200, available at Landmark and Toy Kingdom (get the one with the little stove and sink)

(3) Set of food you can "slice" - less than P500, available at Toy Kingdom (these are plastic pancakes, hamburgers, ice cream, cake, etc. held together by velcro so your child can practice slicing with the plastic knife)

(4) Toy Microwave - less than P2000, available at Toy Kingdom and Rustan's. After watching my child play with the uber expensive kitchen playset, I realized that it was the doors that can open/close that engrossed her and the lights that indicate the food is cooking. The toy microwave serves this same purpose. I got the one that simulates an actual microwave and comes with toy hamburger, chicken, popcorn, hotdog, ketchup, and mustard.

And voila! You have your cheaper alternative to a full kitchen playset! If you're iffy about having your child play with plastic toys, the alternative - though more expensive - are the wooden food and cookware toys available at Rustan's and Hobbes.

ZipBins? - Genius!

I adore the ZipBin product line - bags that double as playsets! Convenient to haul around and keeps my toddler entertained for hours when we travel. It's especially great for those long waits at the restaurant. Her godmother got her the dollhouse playpack last Christmas. It's doubles as a castle and comes with a little princess doll. My daughter chucked out the doll and stuffed it with her fave Disney miniatures of Mickey Mouse and Pooh Bear. Since the bag is lightweight, she can carry it around herself. The interior of the bag is spacious - thus far, we've had it fit all the Mickey Mouse and Pooh Bear characters, a couple of toy cars, and some small books.

ZipBin products are available locally at Toy Kingdom and Rustans Department Stores.