A small kitchen for endless play

Children have always loved copying adults near them. You probably did it too when you were little, and now maybe it’s your children who are transforming the living room into a café or shop. The idea with SPISIG toy kitchen was to encourage this role playing, and we asked designer Maria Gustavsson to see how we could create a small toy kitchen that maximises play.

Copying adults and role playing everyday situations is important for children throughout the world. Especially during the years aged three to seven, role playing is an enjoyable way for the small child to process impressions, understand the world around them and practice being a social being

Play from two sides

Designer Maria Gustavsson has two children aged six and ten, and had their most intense phases of role playing fresh in her memory when she was asked to develop SPISIG toy kitchen. "Besides cooking make-believe food, my children liked to pretend running a shop and restaurant. It gave me the idea of using the back of the toy kitchen and adding a board to write menus on."

A kitchen that can live a long time

A shop, café, restaurant or puppet theatre ... by making SPISIG multifunctional, Maria wanted to inspire different games where both children and adults can easily interact with each other. Many families have limited space and it’s an advantage if the same toy can be used in different ways – and by several children at the same time. "It feels good contributing to children's play", Maria says. "And hopefully your child's SPISIG will eventually be passed on to siblings or friends for even more play."