Smoby Chefs House serves up hours of fun!

Our roving reporter reviews the latest child development toys

Over the years as a parent to three little girls it has become abundantly clear how important role play is in child development. We have filled our home with toys that let our children re-enact what they see in the world around them.

18 June 1769 in Dublin.

His father was Robert the first Marquess of Londonderry and his mother, Lady Frances Seymour Conway Stewart. Robert spent his early childhood in Newtownards before moving to Mount Stewart, receiving his education at Royal School Armagh. In 1786, he left Armagh to further his education at St John’s College, Cambridge. In 1790, he won his father’s old seat as MP for County Down and entered the Irish Parliament.

Four years later, Robert married lady Amelia Anne Hobart. Viscount Castlereagh’s long career saw him as Chief Secretary of State for Ireland during the Act of Union in 1801, President of the Board of Control, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies and the architect of the Treaty of Vienna, which brought peace to Europe. Often described as one of the most influential and distinguished Foreign Secretaries, he was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1812 to 1822 and Leader of the House of Commons for the same period. He died on 12 August 1822 and was buried with honours at Westminster Abbey, London.

An exhibition exploring the life and political career of Viscount Castlereagh is currently on display in Newtownards Library.

Whether they are vacuuming, playing dress up or having an ice cream shop the girls are constantly playing make believe. With that in mind the most recent addition to our home is the Smoby Chef’s House and I can honestly say it has already accumulated hours of endless fun with all the girls who are aged from six right down to one.

Whenever we visit friend’s houses with toy kitchens my children will make me endless cups of tea and elaborate meals with a bizarre mixture of food. With each other, they now have their own play dates in their own little kitchen making all sorts of delightful treats and serving their make believe customers.

The chefs house is by far the most detailed toy kitchen I have ever seen, and certainly that I have ever created a review for.

It is designed to act like a café to serve customers with an oven, hob, sink and tap, till and card payment machine. There are lots of accessories so kids can re-enact the whole restaurant experience.

As with all large toys like this there is a fair bit of set up – and I would be lying if I said it was easy. Initially I had intended to set it up myself. I am a strong independent woman– how hard can it be? I was quickly proved wrong, and my other half joined me in tackling the set-up. It wasn’t particularly difficult to set-up, but it was time consuming. If you are buying the Chefs House as a Christmas present or birthday present I would strong recommend setting it up the night before, because I would have hated to be trying to get it all sorted with the kids getting twitchy next to me and touching all of the bits. The Chefs House is currently sitting in our kitchen waiting for the warm weather to move in and once that happens it will take its place on our decking. I have no doubt it will provide endless hours of fun in the sun this Summer and for many years ahead for our little clan.

So far our experience with the kitchen has been a positive one, and the girls have really enjoyed playing in it. I’m excited to see how their modes of play with it change as they grow and mature. For more models check out their range at www.smoby.com