Wooden Toys in Kenya: Why They Suit Open-Ended Play, With a Kitchen at the Centre
Why choose wooden toys for children in Kenya?
Choosing wooden toys for children in Kenya makes sense because they are firm, simple and calm to look at, and they invite open-ended play that lasts for years. The American Academy of Pediatrics also favours simple, traditional toys over screens. Our white and gold wooden kitchen set, at KSh 18,999, makes a centrepiece for that kind of play.
- KSh 18,999
- Ages 3 to 8
- Pay after delivery
- 3-hour delivery in Nairobi
- 24-hour delivery countrywide
You pay after it arrives, by cash or M-Pesa.
Updated by The Wooden Kitchen Sets team
A few good toys that a child can use in a new way every day are a simple way to fill a home. If that sounds like your family, wooden toys are probably already on your list.
| Play style | Open-ended and child-led |
|---|---|
| Look | Calm colours that suit a family room |
| Our centrepiece | A 90 cm wooden kitchen set |
| Care | Wipe with a damp cloth, keep dry |
Why do wooden toys suit open-ended play?
Wooden toys suit open-ended play because the child decides what they become. A wooden block is a phone, a loaf of bread or a car, depending on the game. The American Academy of Pediatrics report on selecting toys for young children favours simple, traditional toys like these over screens and gadgets.
Which wooden toys go well with a kitchen set?
The wooden toys that go well with a kitchen set are ones that feed the cooking game: a tea set for serving, blocks for building a market stall, and a table for guests. Each one gives the kitchen a new job. The table pairs common wooden toys with the part each one plays in kitchen games.
| Wooden toy | What it adds to kitchen play |
|---|---|
| Wooden blocks | A market stall, a shop counter or a delivery van |
| Wooden tea set | Tea for guests while the main meal cooks |
| Child-sized table and chairs | A dining room for the meal |
| Wooden food puzzle | Names of foods to cook and serve |
| Wooden doll's bed | A family to feed at the end of the game |
Why is a kitchen the centrepiece of a wooden toy collection?
A kitchen is the centrepiece of a wooden toy collection because almost every other toy can join its game. Dolls become hungry children, blocks become a market, and a toy car becomes a delivery van. A single large piece also keeps the other toys gathered in one corner, rather than spread across the floor.
How do you build a small wooden toy shelf around the kitchen?
- Start with the kitchen against the wall as the main piece.
- Add one toy that feeds the cooking game, such as a tea set.
- Add one building toy, such as a box of wooden blocks.
- Add a low shelf beside the kitchen for books about food and families.
- Swap one toy each month, keeping the rest in a cupboard.
- Keep the total small enough that everything has a home.
A small, well-chosen shelf is easier to tidy, and children tend to play longer with fewer things in view.
Looking after wooden toys
Wooden toys stay in good shape indoors, out of the rain, with a wipe now and then. Our guide to cleaning and caring for a wooden kitchen set covers the routine for the kitchen set, and the same habits suit the rest of a wooden toy shelf.
A wooden kitchen with a soft finish
Our kitchen set is made of wood and finished in white with gold accents, so it suits a shelf of natural wooden toys and painted ones alike. It stands 90 cm high and has a fridge, microwave, stove, oven, sink and phone. For the full tour of each part, see the toy kitchen tour.
Wooden Kitchen Set for Kids, White and Gold
A white and gold wooden kitchen set for children aged 3 to 8, with a fridge, microwave, stove, oven, sink, telephone, lights, sounds, gold pots and play food.
- For ages 3 to 8
- Delivered in Nairobi within 3 hours
You pay after it arrives, by cash or M-Pesa.
Frequently asked questions
Are wooden toys good for children?
Wooden toys are good for children because their simple shapes leave room for imagination. The American Academy of Pediatrics favours simple, traditional toys that children play with alongside a grown-up.
Where can I buy wooden toys in Nairobi?
Wooden toys are sold in toy shops across Nairobi and online. Our Nairobi CBD shop sells the white and gold wooden kitchen set, and delivers it within 3 hours anywhere in Nairobi.
What age are wooden toys for?
Wooden toys come for every age, from stacking rings for babies to building sets for older children. Always check the age on the box. Our kitchen set is recommended for ages 3 to 8.
How do I clean wooden toys?
Cleaning wooden toys takes a barely damp cloth and a dry one. Our wooden kitchen set cleaning routine has every step.
What is a good wooden toy for a 3-year-old?
A good wooden toy for a 3-year-old is one that invites pretend play, such as a kitchen set, a tea set or a box of blocks. Each one can become part of many different games.
Can wooden toys get wet?
Wooden toys can get a quick wipe with a damp cloth, then a dry one straight away. Keep them indoors and out of the rain so the wood stays in good shape.
Do wooden toys suit Montessori play?
Wooden toys suit Montessori play well, because they are simple and real-feeling. Our page on using the kitchen set the Montessori way shows how to set one up.
Is a wooden kitchen set a good first big toy?
A wooden kitchen set is a good first big toy for a child turning 3, because it grows with them to age 8 and gives other toys a game to join.
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See a wooden kitchen up close
Visit our Nairobi CBD shop, Monday to Saturday, or order on WhatsApp and see it at your door.
You pay after it arrives, by cash or M-Pesa.