Do you remember the very first toy you bought your child for Christmas?
I was lucky that Evan was born in January. By the time his first Christmas rolled around, he was 11 months old and could almost understand the excitement of Christmas morning.
He probably couldn’t understand the anticipation but I knew that I wanted to see the WOW reaction on his face when he saw his very first Christmas present. And I knew exactly what that present would be.
One of my favorite toys as a kid was my play kitchen set. It wasn’t a “brand” because back then, so many toys were just generic. Our kitchen set was metal with a sink and a refrigerator, if I’m remembering correctly. I don’t remember what the original color was (green?) but after years of rust, my mom spray painted it royal blue.
I loved that kitchen set. It was where I would have tea parties with my friends on my New Zoo Revue metal dishes. If we were getting extra fancy, we’d actually put water in the mini tea kettle and crack open some walnuts to eat on our plates.
Honestly, I shudder a little now thinking about the rust and lead paint I probably ingested.
Although Evan is a boy, I never wanted to discriminate when it came to toys. If he wanted a doll, he’d get a doll. If he wanted a kitchen set, he’d get a kitchen set. And if I wanted him to have a kitchen set, he’d get a kitchen set.
That was his first big present. A Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Kitchen.
This kitchen had an oven and stove, a toaster with a piece of toast, a sink, and a refrigerator and a pass through that lit up every time you crawled through it! He clearly modeled all of my behaviors in the kitchen – washing dishes, cooking food, and grabbing a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator (his words, not mine, but it definitely made me think about my habits!).
I can’t remember the sad day that we finally sold it at a yard sale but I can only hope it made some other baby or toddler out there as happy as it made me. I mean, as happy as it made Evan. Yeah, Evan.
Although it’s changed over the years, you can still get the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Kitchen set for your little ones. Do you remember the very first Christmas toy you couldn’t wait to buy your baby? I’d love to hear your memories!
That was Sophie’s first birthday present. She loved it!
I showed this post to my son and we both felt a little wistful. I remember it made a sizzling sound when you put the frying pan on the stove!
That first Christmas toy excitement was so much fun. Great pictures!!
Of course, he has no recollection of that day but he does remember the toy. It stuck around for years!