Growing up, the toy I most yearned for, the forbidden fruit of the toy store, was the Mr Frosty Icy Treats Maker.
Every year as the weather heated up, the Mr Frosty commercial would be shown on TV and I would start asking for it as a gift for my birthday. And every year I was denied. Fear of mess, stickiness and unhealthy treat eating were all reasons cited for the Mr Frosty withholding.
So I never plucked up the courage to ask for an Easy Bake oven – surely if an ice crusher was not allowed, then a toy oven that really baked would be out of the question.
If you are one of those parents denying your kids a food based toy because it seems to messy, think about the learning opportunities they are missing out on.
Making their own food will teach them confidence in the kitchen, and the joy of providing a treat for someone else.
Hasbro have given the old light-bulb powered oven toy a make over, and now the new Ultimate Easy Bake Oven for 2011 features a real heating element to make real home-baked goods.
The receipes have been jazzed up too, with cup cakes and pizzas part of the range.
This type of toy, that allows the child to take control of the cooking is a huge confidence boost. Whilst cooking with your child can be a joyful and educational activity, though necessity the child will always be following your lead. And recipes can be difficult for children to follow, so instead they will need to follow your instruction.
When you use the Ultimate Easy Bake real baking toy oven, your child can take the lead with confidence as the equipment and recipes are desgined to be used by kids.
Once kids have discovered the joy of creating in the kitchen, they will be more inclined to cook for themselves when they are older, and be inspired to have a varied diet, filled with home-cooking.
