Would you let your son have a kitchen set?
By sweetgirl_k1
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
United States
April 5, 2007 11:59am CST
One of my friends has some toys she is going to give me. A kitchen set, a toy grill, and a little basketball goal for kids. When I told my husband that we needed to go pick it up from her house he said our son didn't need a kitchen set. I don't see anything wrong with it. He plays with kitchen stuff while I'm cooking dinner and there is nothing wrong with that in his eyes. I just figured since it was free and I take care of other children in my home (all boys though) that I would get it and let them play with it. Do you see anything wrong with it? Would you let your son have one? Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it because he's going to have to learn how to cook one day anyway in the kitchen so I don't see anything wrong with him playing with a kitchen set.
10 people like this
50 responses
@Sarah1977 (495)
• United States
5 Apr 07
My husband is EXACTLY the same way. We have 4 boys, and my husband is all about making sure they don't show any signs of feminine behavior. In fact, one year for Christmas, I wanted to buy a stove set for one of our sons, and my husband said "NO WAY". I guess it all comes down to stereo-typing. In my husband's eyes, cooking is a feminine chore or hobby, but I don't necessarily feel that way. There are many male chefs in this world who are very masculine. Anyways, I have learned just not to argue about that kind of stuff with my husband anymore, because no matter what I say, he is not going to change his mind. I seriously doubt that your husband will either, since he sounds so much like my husband. Good luck!
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
No, there is nothing wrong with boys playing with kitchen sets. Like you say, your boy has to learn how to look after himself independent of having a woman in his life and that includes cooking. If taught early that there is no stigma attached, and that it is natural to know how to cook at least basic stuff, your boy will turn out to be wonderful caring young man who will win the hearts of many nice girls.
My niece took her little girl to a company Christmas party. All the girls got little dolls and the boys toy bulldozers. My niece's little girl abandoned the doll really fast and kept staring at the bulldozers with longing eyes. One of the dads noticed this and rounded up an extra bulldozer and gave it to her. It made her day.
2 people like this
@MadameLaCouyan (149)
• United States
5 Apr 07
My husband started out that way in the beginning but after having a few more boys, he finally caught on. Here's the story. My oldest daughter had a kitchen set and it stayed in the playroom after she grew tired of playing with it. My first son thought it was the greatest thing but my husband didn't feel it was quite right for a boy to be playing with. This son also loved playing with dolls and playing house with his sister. After we had two more boys and my husband observed them all over the years, he finally caught on that these young boys were learning some very good life skills and could one day grow up to be good fathers and husbands.
2 people like this
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I don't see anything wrong with it, unless it is like pink and purple or something =) It is just a fun toy for kids to play with and use their imagination pretending to cook different things!! Tell your hubby to take a chill pill =)
@coachflaps (683)
• United States
6 Apr 07
There's absolutely nothing wrong with letting him play with a kitchen set. My sons have played with a kitchen set at a local daycare and had tons of fun playing with it pretending like they are cooking and then serving the food. They could be doing a lot worse things then that so keep it, let them play!
2 people like this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I don't see a thing wrong with it at all. If you had a girl would you let her play with the bubble lawn mower or with a car? They need to play and if they like to play with kitchen stuff that's fine. It allows them to learn things that they will need later in life. Boys need to learn the same things girls do and vice versa. Let them play with what they want and tell your husband not to worry.
1 person likes this
@mobyfriend (1017)
• Netherlands
6 Apr 07
I see no problem with it. Boys have to learn to cook for themselves and who knows your son might be a budding chef.
There is nothing wrong with it. You ask your hubby: if your son was a girl would you allow to play with a tractor or truck or garage?
1 person likes this
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
6 Apr 07
i would have absolutely NO problem with my son having a kitchen set. Heck, i wouldn't mind if my son wanted to play with dolls...then again, i think traditional gender roles are a bunch of BS. i am also the type of person who would have no problem if my child happened to be transgender. Maybe i am not the type of person you wanted a response from. i just don't see the harm in children playing with the toys they enjoy, whether the toys are masculin or feminine. Who am i to dictate my son play with "boy" toys and my daughter play with "girl" toys? how do i knwo they don't have the body parts of one gender, but the mind of the pther gender? It is more common than you think it is.
@brandi_girl_16 (624)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Your husband is stuck in the mind frame that women should do the cooking in the home which was the case a few decades ago but no more! Many of the most successful, well-known cooks/chefs are male! Wolfgang Puck, Emiril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, Jamie Oliver (the naked chef!) and many others who have their own shows!! I don't see anything wrong with letting your little boy play with a kitchen set! It's cute!!
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
5 Apr 07
There is nothing wrong with letting your son have a kitchen set. I bought one for my son when he was little for the same reasons you said, he loved playing with the kitchen stuff when I cook. It is not a gender toy. Many great chefs are men.
If you watch other kids in your house, this kitchen set will keep them busy for hours.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
6 Apr 07
There's nothing wrong with a boy having a kitchen set, you never know, he might grow up to become a world known chef!!!
I also don't see anything wrong with letting a little boy play with dolls if he wants to.
I didn't end up with a little boy but if i had, yes, i'd let him have a kitchen set if that's what he was happy to play with.
Have you asked your hubby why he's ok with your son playing with kitchen stuff while you cook but not ok with him having a set of his own?
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
5 Apr 07
It's funny as there is a similar question like this about boys doing things associated with girls. I had a kitchen set for my son and he loved playing with it. Too bad at eighteen he still can't cook, but there was absolutely no harm in him having this play set. Like you said, it's something they have to learn how to do eventually.
2 people like this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
6 Apr 07
What year does your husband think is? Is he afraid your son is going to turn out be gay because he play with a kitchen set? Which is rediculous?
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
5 Apr 07
If your son had a sister and she had a kitchen set he would probably play with it, so what's the difference?
I see nothing wrong with boy's playing with so called girl's toys or visa versa.
My son played with his sister's things all the time, including dolls, and now he is a big burly contruction worker. Nothing feminine about him at all, and he can cook too!!
1 person likes this
@sparling (178)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
absolutly nothing wrong with htis...i have 2 boys who have had play dishes, play food, pretend cleaning kit etc... my boys love to help with housework. its a great way to teach them its ok for a man to be domestic. it will only make them a better husband...
1 person likes this
@choco_luvr (69)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Yes, I would let my son or grandson have one. I gave my grandson a microwave and grill and he loves them both. They are both for cooking so what's the big deal? There are lots of male chefs out there, in fact my hubby went to chef school. Many of my friends do not cook, their husbands do. In fact my son cooks quite often. There is nothing wrong with letting them explore their interests, how else can they make life decisions?
@sweeetkisses2 (269)
• United States
6 Apr 07
i agree with you there is nothing wrong with him having a kitchen set i would let my son have one so get it for him,why do you think your husband is saying that he dont need one for?.
1 person likes this
