If you‘re a parent, chances are you‘ve heard of KidKraft. This popular toy brand is known for their impressive selection of wooden dollhouses, play kitchens, outdoor playsets, and more. KidKraft has built a reputation for creating imaginative, interactive toys that keep kids engaged for hours on end.
But with so many toy options out there, you may be wondering if KidKraft is really worth the hype. Do their products live up to the premium prices? Are they durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of active play? And most importantly, will they captivate your child‘s imagination?
In this comprehensive KidKraft review, we‘ll take a deep dive into the brand to help you decide if their toys deserve a place in your playroom. We‘ll examine KidKraft‘s background, best-selling products, customer reviews, and more to give you all the information you need to make a smart purchase. Let‘s get started!
About KidKraft
Founded in 1968, KidKraft is a Dallas-based company that has been creating quality children‘s toys and furniture for over 50 years. Their mission is to "inspire a life of imagination and play" by making fun, creative products for kids.
KidKraft has an extensive product line that includes wooden dollhouses, play kitchens, train sets, furniture, swing sets, playhouses, and more. Many of their toys feature bright colors, interactive features, and life-like details that spark open-ended pretend play.
While KidKraft toys have mass appeal, the company primarily targets parents looking for well-made, long-lasting toys for the 3-8 year old age range. Their largest markets are North America and Europe, but KidKraft products are sold in 90 countries worldwide.
KidKraft‘s toys have earned praise from celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Busy Philipps, who have showcased KidKraft playhouses and kitchens on their social media. The brand has also partnered with Disney, Sesame Street, and other popular children‘s franchises on themed playsets and dollhouses.
KidKraft Product Review
To give you a sense of what KidKraft has to offer, let‘s take a closer look at some of their most popular product categories:
Dollhouses
KidKraft is perhaps best known for their enchanting wooden dollhouses. From grand mansions to cozy cottages, they offer a wide variety of styles to appeal to every taste. Some standout models include:
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Majestic Mansion Dollhouse: This 4.5 foot tall dollhouse features 8 rooms, 34 accessories, and gliding elevator. It‘s large enough for multiple kids to play at once.
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Disney Princess Cinderella Royal Dream House: Made in partnership with Disney, this themed dollhouse brings the magic of Cinderella to life with a winding staircase, balcony, and 15 accessories.
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Hallie Wooden Dollhouse: This whimsical 3-story house has scalloped roof lines, heart-shaped windows, and pastel walls for a sweet, storybook feel.
Pros:
- Intricate, life-like details and functional features like gliding doors, working elevators, and lights
- Large scale accommodates 12" dolls and multiple kids
- Sturdy wood construction
- Encourages imagination and social play
Cons:
- Assembly can be time consuming
- More expensive than plastic dollhouses
- Not all models come with dolls and furniture
Play Kitchens
Pretend kitchen sets are another KidKraft staple. Their play kitchens come in a variety of styles, from vintage to modern, with realistic details that make them feel like the real thing. Some top sellers include:
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Uptown Espresso Play Kitchen: This sleek kitchen features a cordless phone, chalkboard, and innovative EZ Kraft assembly for faster set up.
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Vintage Play Kitchen: With its pastel colors and retro design, this play kitchen looks like it‘s straight out of a 1950s diner. It comes with 59 accessories like dishes and felt foods.
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Farm to Table Play Kitchen Set: This rustic wooden kitchen includes a farmhouse sink, microwave, icemaker, and other modern appliances. It also comes with a starter set of metal accessories.
Pros:
- Interactive features like knobs that turn and click, running water sounds, and chalkboards
- Heavy-duty wood construction
- Ample storage space
- Attractive designs
- Promotes imaginative play and early learning skills
Cons:
- Some parents say assembly instructions could be clearer
- Wood requires more maintenance than plastic
- Higher price point than some play kitchens
Outdoor Playhouses & Swing Sets
For active outdoor play, KidKraft offers a selection of playhouses and swing sets that will make your backyard the place to be. Some highlights include:
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Appleton Wooden Swing Set: This sturdy cedar wood swing set features 3 swings, a slide, chalk wall, sandbox, and shaded play deck. It‘s an entertainer‘s dream!
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Forestview Wooden Playhouse: Made to look like a real house, this spacious playhouse has a kitchenette, working doors and shutters, flower boxes, and a picnic table.
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Andorra Cedar Wood Swing Set: This swing set can keep up to 9 kids busy with its rock wall, ladder, slide, acro bar, and swings. The shady upper deck is the perfect lookout.
Pros:
- High quality cedar wood construction
- Ample features and accessories
- Can entertain multiple kids at once
- Encourage physical activity and gross motor skill development
- Provide shade on hot days
- Attractive natural wood looks great in yards
Cons:
- Require lots of space
- Assembly is time and labor intensive
- Expensive
- Wood requires yearly maintenance
In terms of quality and safety, KidKraft receives high marks. The company conducts rigorous product testing to ensure their toys meet or exceed all relevant safety standards. Most KidKraft toys are made of solid wood and feature non-toxic, lead-free paints. The company also offers replacement parts on their website if anything gets lost or damaged.
As for educational value, KidKraft toys provide ample opportunities for open-ended, imaginative play. Their interactive features help develop fine motor skills, while their large scale designs encourage cooperative social play. Pretending with dollhouses and kitchens also lets kids practice practical life skills, communication, and storytelling.
What Customers Are Saying
To get a sense of how KidKraft toys perform in the real world, we analyzed dozens of customer reviews from the KidKraft website, Amazon, Walmart.com, and other major retailers. Here‘s what we found:
KidKraft toys have an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars across product categories. Parents rave about the toys‘ quality construction, attractive designs, and play value. Many reviewers were pleasantly surprised at how much their kids loved the toys:
"My daughter‘s eyes absolutely lit up when she saw [the Majestic Mansion Dollhouse] on Christmas morning. It has been her absolute favorite toy ever since. The elevator is definitely her favorite part, but she also loves that there is so much room for all of her Barbies and LOL dolls. Worth every penny for the hours of joy she gets from it." – Kelly S.
"We bought the Uptown Espresso Play Kitchen for our 2 year old son and 5 year old daughter. They both love it so much and I‘m amazed by how much they play with it together. The kitchen has held up really well and still looks great after months of heavy play. The details are so cute and I love that it came with so many accessories." – Jenna T.
"The Andorra Cedar Wood Swing Set is the best purchase we‘ve ever made for our backyard. It‘s big enough that multiple kids can play on it at once without fighting over swings. The wood is really high quality and doesn‘t feel cheap at all. It was a beast to put together, but so worth it!" – Mike P.
Of course, no product is perfect. Some common complaints about KidKraft toys include:
- Lengthy assembly times (1-5 hours for dollhouses and kitchens, 10-20 hours for playsets)
- Missing pieces or unclear instructions
- Wood arriving damaged or cracking over time
- Accessory parts breaking or not fitting properly
However, many customers report that KidKraft‘s customer service is responsive when issues arise, often shipping replacement parts quickly at no extra charge. The company also provides assembly videos on YouTube to supplement the written instructions.
How KidKraft Compares to Other Toy Brands
When it comes to play kitchens and dollhouses, KidKraft‘s biggest competitors are Step2 and Melissa & Doug. Generally speaking, Step2 products are larger in scale and made of plastic, which some parents prefer for easier cleaning. They also tend to be less expensive (around 20-40% less than comparable KidKraft kitchens). However, KidKraft kitchens earn praise for their attractive wooden designs, ample storage space, and interactive features.
Melissa & Doug offers some wooden play kitchens and furnished dollhouses, but their selection is more limited than KidKraft‘s. They are known for their well-crafted accessories and imaginative food sets which can be purchased separately to stock any pretend kitchen.
In the outdoor play category, KidKraft is often compared to Swing-N-Slide, Gorilla Playsets, and Backyard Discovery. All four brands make swing sets with similar features and cedar wood construction. KidKraft‘s playsets are generally more affordable, but may not be as customizable as some of the other brands. KidKraft also has the advantage of offering coordinating playhouses for a complete backyard play experience.
Other Factors to Consider
Beyond product specs, there are a few other factors to consider when deciding if KidKraft is the right brand for your family:
Product Safety: KidKraft takes product safety seriously and has had no major product recalls to date. All of their products are rigorously tested for quality and safety before being brought to market. However, it‘s always a good idea to register your KidKraft purchases so you can be notified in the unlikely event of a safety issue or recall.
Shipping & Returns: KidKraft offers free shipping on orders over $75 in the contiguous US. Oversized items like dollhouses and playsets may require freight shipping which can take longer and cost extra. The company offers a 30-day return policy, but large items must be returned in the original packaging and may incur return shipping fees.
Community Engagement: KidKraft is actively involved in the local Dallas community through toy donations, volunteer work, and charitable partnerships. The company has donated over $100,000 worth of toys to organizations that help children in need. As a consumer, it feels good to support a brand that gives back.
Final Verdict: Is KidKraft Worth It?
After weighing the pros and cons, we believe KidKraft toys are indeed worth the hype for families who value imaginative play, quality construction, and attractive design. While KidKraft toys may require more assembly and come at a higher price point than some competitors, their stellar reviews and play value make them worth the investment for many.
KidKraft toys are ideal for parents who want a special statement piece for their child‘s playroom or backyard. The toys hold their resale value well and can even become cherished hand-me-downs, making them worth the initial splurge.
Of course, every child is unique and what appeals to one may not excite another. We always recommend reading individual product reviews and considering your child‘s play preferences before making a purchase. You may also want to wait for a sale or special promotion to get the best deal on KidKraft toys.
We hope this in-depth review has given you the information you need to decide if KidKraft is right for your family. Let us know about your experiences with KidKraft toys in the comments below!
