Playtime for children is not just a way to have fun it’s also how they learn and develop. A play tea set can make a great gift because children will learn etiquette, manners and how to take care of valuable possessions.
Children’s play tea sets are usually made of plastic, wood or porcelain. While some are designed to look like toys, others have the appearance of actual tea sets. Plastic tea sets are generally cheaper than the other styles and can be found in major retail or toy stores. These play tea sets are generally geared more toward younger children who may not yet know how to properly care for their toys. Plastic sets may stand up to the normal roughhousing of young children and if they don’t, a replacement set won’t cost much.
Also very durable are wooden tea sets, though they can be more expensive than the plastic versions. A wooden set is a step up from the plastic toys younger children play with and offers a more refined quality to the play. They are not as common as they once were, but hand-me down sets can still be found and some retailers offer them. A set handed down can give a child a feeling of importance knowing they are receiving a set that someone else held in high regard. Realizing it was important to someone else will make it important to them.
On the upper scale of play tea sets are those made of porcelain. Not only are they more expensive, they require greater care by the child because they are the most fragile. Many of these children’s tea sets are elegantly decorated, which can add more realism to a child’s tea party. After the child has outgrown play tea parties, a porcelain set can be used for room décor.
Once the right set is found, the only limits to how much fun can be had is a little girl’s imagination. Children can host tea parties attended by their favorite stuffed animals or by their real-life friends. Parents are also often featured guests at these events. Actual beverages can be served, but more likely the cups and pot will be empty except for the imaginary tea steaming from them.
While the play tea set will mostly be used for fun, along the way the child likely will also learn the manners and behavior appropriate for an actual gathering of people.
A child’s play tea set can provide a lifetime of memories as well as teach respect, hospitality and the value of a possession.