Since I became a grandma three years ago, I’ve bought a lot of toys. Dennis just shakes his head each time I come home with something new. Many of the bigger items have come from a company I know and trust: Step2. The grandbabies were over today playing with some of those toys, and I decided to write about the four Step2 toys I’d buy again and again, and the one I wouldn’t.
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Step 2: Four Toys I’d Buy Again and One I Wouldn’t
Which Ones Are Winners
1. Step2 Best Chef’s Kitchen Set
I love this kitchen so much that I’ve bought three of them in the last two years, one for each of my three oldest grandchildren. The price is reasonable, and the kitchen is worth every penny. I bought the first one for J.R. and loved that the colors were more gender neutral than many of the other kitchen sets I’d looked at. Since his daddy is a chef, J.R. plays in his kitchen a lot. He even mimics kicking the oven door shut–just like Daddy does.
The best thing about this kitchen set is that it comes with everything you need, including pots and pans, dishes, fruits, vegetables, and condiments. The skillet sizzles when you place it on top of the burner, and the coffee pot and soup pot make boiling sounds. The kids all love playing with their kitchens.
2. Step2 Little Helpers Kids Shopping Cart
The Step2 Shopping Cart is so cute and durable. It comes in both a blue version and a pink one. There’s plenty of room for groceries, blocks, or whatever you want to haul. The kids love putting their dolls and stuffed animals in the baby seat and pushing them around. J.R.’s cart is currently at my house, and the girls were fighting over who could push it around this this weekend.
3. Step2 Play and Store Sandbox with Cover
This is our newest Step2 purchase, and it’s exclusively for Grammy and Papa’s house. That being said, I may buy a couple for birthday gifts next summer. I like that the sandbox is not huge–three bags of sand filled it. I love that the cover bubbles up above the sand and leaves room to store the toys inside. There are four seats, one in each corner, and since we have four grandchildren ages three and under, it’s perfect for us. The kids beg to go outside and play in the sand box. It provides hours of fun as they sit and dig. If only I could stop them from throwing sand…
4. Step2 Picnic Table
This is another Step2 product that stays at Grammy and Papa’s house, although several of the kids do have their own. I came home with this when J.R. was only eight months old, and Dennis thought I was crazy. It was a great deal though, and I knew we’d need it by summer time.
I love that this table is simple to assemble. I popped it together myself in just a few seconds. It’s also very easy to clean. Ours didn’t come with the umbrella, but I wish that it had. We’ve used this indoors and out and have even taken it camping. It’s the perfect size for toddlers and preschool age children. The girls love having picnics on their Step2 picnic table.
So, which Step2 Product Don’t I Recommend?
The Step2 Water Works Water Table
The kids love to play with this water table, but I wouldn’t purchase it again. I didn’t buy this as a gift–it lives at our house and comes out when our grandchildren come over to play. The stacked tower pieces don’t connect tightly enough and are always coming apart. When the water does come down through the tower, the water wheels fall off. The water table comes with two little boats that J.R. broke the first time he played with it last summer (he was 2). It’s a source of frustration for me because the kids are always bringing me parts and pieces and asking me to fix their water table.
Conclusion
Because Step2 is such a good company, I would be willing to try other versions of their water tables. The Step2 water tables (featured below) have much better reviews than the one I own. The top one is the Step2 Spill and Splash Seaway Water Table and bottom one is the Step 2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table. Whichever you choose, I don’t think you can go wrong. I do recommend having a water table for the kids to play with on hot summer days. It’s much safer than a kiddie pool, and they have so much fun playing in the water.
Speaking of toddlers, ours have recently shown us that they have minds of their own. Read the Ultimate Guide to Taming Toddler Temper Tantrums to find out what to do when your little ones decide to assert their own wills.
To find out more about the products listed in this article, click on any of the links below.
I can see how the water table would be annoying, but it’s so fun for little ones to play with water. I had an actual fountain to play in at my mom’s house and it was a summer favorite for sure!
Also, the sandbox was wonderful, so I would definitely recommend getting one for small children.
Sand box with cover sounds revolutionary to me. Kitchen is a must for kids and this one looks gorgeous. I am a little sad water table is not made good enough, it looks like total fun for kids during hot days
These are great toy recommendations! I think every little one should have a kitchen, it’s just so much fun! I agree with the water table, we had one of those for my daughter and it was the least used! We ended up donating it to her daycare and they got way more use out of it there.
I love the look of that sandbox with the cover. We have an issue here in our small town in that there are A LOT of stray cats. For that reason, any sandbox that isn’t covered is completely off the table. I’m definitely going to have to check that out for my nieces and nephews!
Oh dear, the water table sounds very annoying!! Like the sound of that cute kitchen though x
Thanks for the review! it’s good to know what may work and what may not depending on the context. 🙂
Personally, I think the kitchen set and shopping cart are worth getting for kids. I feel they give kids a sense of responsibility.
Excellent recommendations! I’ve got the kitchen bookmarked!
One of my best friends is going to be getting married and starting a family soon. This list is perfect because it gives me ideas about things to buy his munchkin when they decide to have kids.
I just loved the kitchen, though my kids are grown up and dont really have any one to gift it, still i am actually thinking of buying it!
I never had a play kitchen when I was a kid and I was always so jealous of the kids who did! Such cool toys, I’ll definitely consider these when looking for gifts for my friends’ kids
The sandbox is awesome! When I was a preschool teacher, the kids love being in the sandbox!
My daughter has that kitchen set and she loved it!
The Best Chef’s Kitchen Set is definitely one of the things I’d get for my twin niece and nephew. They love interactive toys! The Picnic Table is another I’d totally get for them too.
I just bought another picnic table last week to donate to our school’s PTO auction. You can’t beat the value!
Good to note! I’ve seen so many children who LOVE those play kitchens! I got one for my niece and nephew a couple Christmas’ ago and they’re always playing with it!
We had several of these toys when the kids were younger, I agree the water table is a bit of a pain as is the sand/water table combo as it was more of a hassle to fix and keep somewhat clean than the rest of the toys.
I had a kitchen set when I was a child and still my favourite toy ever!!good choice and I can imagine how it drives you crazy when they keep coming to ask you to fix the water toy. You need to tell them to call the plummer and pay for it ahhaha
Anything with wheels, water and sand was always a hit with my daughter. These sets are lovely.
I haven’t heard of Step2 before. However, I will be looking to get a play kitchen for my son within the next 6 months or so. I will definitely look into this Step2 one!
That little kitchen set and the picnic bench are both adorable. I imagine most kids would spend hours playing playing at them.
I had all of these toys for my girls, The Kitchen, I still find plastic food under radiators every now and then, the outdoor picnic table which is now at our church, the shopping cart and the sand box. All great toys that really helped to expand their mind and make them think. Great list.
These are great toys! Thank you sharing these great toys.
My niece would love that kitchen. She loves to help me in the kitchen.
I had to laugh because I would have rated each of these toys exactly the same! We don’t have the shopping carts or picnic table at home, but love them when we see them out and about.
Oh my goodness! i love all these toys ideas. I have so many friends that are having children and these toys are great gifts! Thank you!
XOXO
Christina
http://homesweetholmes.net/
I remember a lot of similar toys from when I was really little, so I just got hit with a wave of nostalgia. I even remember playing with the sandbox a lot when my cousin got it for his birthday. I’m sure my youngest brother would definitely enjoy the stove.
I have young kids and can relate with all this toys. I’ll be saving this post as a reference for later. Thanks for sharing!
Need to make sure I have this saved! With Christmas around the corner, I was contemplating buying the kids one of the water tables from Step2. Will definitely make sure to by the one with the better reviews!
I really want to get my kids a play kitchen this Christmas! I’m glad it’s a toy worthwhile. My daughter is always helping me in the kitchen and I know she would just scream with excitement if she got one. Thanks for the pointer on the water table too, I haven’t bought one but had considered it.
These look like great toys! My kids have similar versions of all of these and have hours of fun playing with them. It’s a shame about the water table. Those things need to be sturdy!!
This is helpful to know especially if you are looking for a gift. The products might look fun but no really be durable upon actual playtime with kiddos.
We had everything single one of those toys! Great choices! Now that my kids are older, we sadly said goodbye to them. They really enjoyed them!
Totally, totally agree with their Kitchen Set and their Shopping Cart – absolute winners in our house too and have survived years of playing, role-playing and playdates!! If I had the outdoor space in my garden I would have loved that picnic table too….!