BBQ season is so close we can almost smell the sausages, so why not purchase a cute kids BBQ set for your little one? And while we all know children are warned profusely to stay away from the barbecue when mummy or daddy are grilling, their very own toy food version will keep them occupied.
A toy that can be enjoyed alone or with their friends, playing with a kids BBQ set can promote hand-eye coordination, sharing, and encourage imaginative play. Your child will love grilling and serving pretend food while learning about real-life situations and different food, just like they would with a play kitchen. Some kids BBQ sets even offer features that assist with learning about numbers and colours.
Editor's choice:
•Best large kids BBQ set: Smoby - GARDEN KITCHEN - Buy now from Amazon
•Best wooden kids BBQ set: JoJo Maman Bebe Play BBQ - Buy now from JoJo Maman Bebe
•Best for interactivity: Weber Premium Barbecue Grill with Lights and Sounds -Buy now from Amazon
•Best wooden kids BBQ set: Melissa And Doug Grill And Serve BBQ Set - Buy now from Amazon
We've put together a list of the very best BBQ toys for kids. Many are made out of plastic and can be used as outdoor toys and others are made from wood, plus there are even some designs which light up and make sounds to make it all the more realistic; check them out below.
The best BBQ sets for kids
Best portable set
With this BBQ toy, your tot can choose between learn, play and music to learn numbers, counting and colours, learn about foods and hear grilling suggestions, songs, melodies and fun effects. It comes with nine plastic foods and seven play accessories.
One customer wrote: "We are a little bit obsessed with LeapFrog toys (we must own nearly all of them!) and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s educational and fun to play with and our daughter loves pretending to cook bbq for us and her dolls. Not cheap plastic, very sturdy and nice looking. All the food items fit into a storage draw so it keeps the toy tidy. Overall brilliant!"
Pros
- Wheels for easy manoeuvrability
- Batteries are included
Cons
- Could be more durable
| Size: | 47 x 19.1 x 40.6 cm |
| Suitable for: | 24 months - 5 years |
Best for a budget
A great value set, this kids BBQ set comes with plenty of accessories so that your child can get stuck in, just like mummy and daddy. With the Battery-operated charcoal, just point the lighter to the red dot in the middle to show the realistic light and sound effects.
One customer wrote: "My daughter loves this! The coals do work with lights and sounds if you follow the instructions it shows you "light" it with the fire lighter stick (red plastic shaped fire lighter touches the red single light). Other reviews nearly put me off and I'm glad I went ahead. It has great accessories and it's easy to put together."
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Non-toxic material
Cons
- Not as many accessories as other options
| Size: | 38.89 x 32.99 x 17.81 cm |
Best quality BBQ set
If you've got the space, this is the toy for you. There is over 40 brilliant accessories and so many brilliant features they can use, including a grill with retractable flames, a water pump in the sink and a place to grow herbs.
One customer wrote: "This was purchased for my grandson’s 3 birthday. The Smoby Outdoor Kitchen was the perfect summer gift. My grandson enjoyed serving up meals to the whole family. In the past I have tended to buy Little Tikes goods and I think the quality of this product is slightly inferior and I can’t see it lasting as long. However there’s no denying it’s enjoyability. It took 2 people over an hour to build and would therefore recommend giving yourself plenty of time. All in all a successful birthday gift."
Pros
- Adjustable height
- Removable skirting boards
Cons
- Assembly can take some time
| Size: | 58.01 x 18.01 x 68.2 cm |
| Suitable for: | 3 years and up |
Best wooden kids BBQ set
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
We love wooden toys and although this barbecue set isn't suitable for outdoor play, it'll look great inside your home. It comes with plenty of accessories including skewers and ingredients to thread onto them, cutlery, tongs and even ketchup and mustard bottles, how cute!
One customer wrote: "I bought as a gift and was extremely well received by the 3 year old recipient who got straight to work playing with it. Good quality, great role play item! It was slightly on the pricey side, but in all honesty, there was a lot in the box and I think it’ll be hours of fun!"
Pros
- Encourages hand-eye coordination
- Child-safe paint
Cons
- Small parts could be a chocking hazard
| Size: | L26 x W22 x H12cm |
| Suitable from: | 3 years |
Best for gifting
www.argos.co.uk
With wheels to easily move it around your home, the BBQ toy from Little Tikes has an easy open lid and 12 accessories so they can serve up burgers and hot dogs with sauce for all the family.
One customer wrote:**** "Bought for two two-year-olds when at grannies, (1 boy and 1 girl) and both have been and are enjoying playing with it, making burgers and hot dogs. It is a good height for them to use and it's easy for them to move. It was simple to put together as it all just clicks in place only took couple minutes."
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Wipe clean
Cons
- Plastic, so not good for the environment
| Size: | H60.46, W49.53, D37.85cm |
| Suitable for: | 18 months and over |
Best for interactivity
Your child really can be a mini-me with their very own Weber BBQ which looks just like the real thing. It features a realistic design with lights and sounds like the glowing coals and sizzling sound effects help bring the BBQ games to life. It comes with six play food accessories, including an onion, tomato, pepper, shrimp and a T-bone steak.
One customer wrote: "This was a gift for a 3 year old girl. I sent the gift directly to them so I didn’t actually see it. They received it much earlier than the estimate, so it arrived well before her birthday. The little girl was really happy to open it and super impressed with the fire effects and likeness to the grownups BBQ."
Pros
- Each accessory is perfect size for small hands
- Makes noises and lights up
Cons
- Batteries aren't included
| Size: | <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: initial;">40 cm x 32 cm x 53 cm</span> |
| Suitable for: | 3 years and up |
Best wooden kids BBQ set
Although the grill may only be made from cardboard, there's still plenty of fun to be had with the kids BBQ set with a whopping 20 pieces including grilling favorites like hotdog, hamburger, chicken, steak, ribs, veggie burger and more.
One customer wrote: "My children all love this product. It's a great for imaginative okay, they have several other food sets from Melissa and Doug and they combine them to create a food market. They are 5,6 and 9 and really enjoy playing together with this toy."
What to look for when purchasing a kids BBQ set?
Size - When looking for a toy like this, you want to make sure that your little one will be tall enough to reach it, so that they can utilise all of the features.
Material - Would you prefer a wooden or plastic option? Plastic is lighter and easier to clean (and often cheaper), but wood is better for the environment and will last for longer.
Accessories - Many sets come with lots of added extras for them to play with, but you could add a kitchen set to enhance the fun. If you've already got lots of cooking-related toys at home, it may be worth going for just a BBQ and then they can pretend to cook their play-food on it.
Effects - To make the experience more realistic, why not go for a product which has light up features and lifelike noises such as grilling and frying? It may keep them occupied for longer.
How we test and choose recommended products
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.
Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs. For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.