The plastic tea set has always been a favorite play toy for very young children. They love to pretend to serve tea to their dollies, friends and family members. There is no worry about breakage as these tea sets are made of plastic, rather than porcelain, and all pieces are dishwasher safe. Plastic tea sets are virtually indestructible and can withstand years of hard play.
One particular type of plastic tea set is the new green toys “earth friendly” style. It is manufactured of recycled plastic milk jugs which would otherwise end up in the landfill. This green recycled plastic is completely safe and has no phthalate and it is BPA-free. It is also lead-free which is not always the case with some plastics. The Green Toy company is a US company and its main driving force is saving the Earth. The cardboard packaging is also recycled.
The recycled plastic tea set comes with a four piece serving of cups, saucers, spoons and creamer, sugar and teapot with a lid. It is plainly designed in soft, pastel colors, which is very attractive. The entire set fits onto a tray and the lids stay put on the tea pot and sugar bowl. There are other green toys available online for purchase to entertain your child from the same Green Toy company. What a breakthrough!
The hello kitty toy tea set is very rare and usually found in collectible stores or online on Ebay.com. The set, made of porcelain, was made in 1999 and has not been made since. The set includes four cups and a tea pot with the Hello Kitty logo and four plain white saucers. If you find such a set at a flea market or garage sale, be sure to try to buy it as it is going to be a precious piece of memorabilia.
The lil doll tea set is another brand of tea sets which is available for the 3-5 year set. It is made of poly-porcelain and is available in lovely pastel colors. It also comes in a set of four cups, saucers, spoons a tiny creamer and sugar. It is perfect for playing with your dolls and it is hand washable. The entire set comes packed inside a wicker style picnic basket which makes outdoor play more fun.
The American plastic toy my very own 26 piece tea cart is an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship. The tea set comes with its own serving cart on wheels and shelves for all of the dishes and tea pot. There are 26 pieces altogether and it is made easy for the young ladies to push from the table to the kitchen. It can be ordered on Amazon.com and is deliverable to your home for a shipping fee. The entire cart weighs with contents four pounds and is quite sturdy. What a sweet deal for under twenty dollars.
While shopping, also consider consignment shops and Craigslist or Kijiji for gently used, second hand plastic tea sets. Keep a particular eye open for any items from the 1970’s and 1980’s especially with Strawberry Shortcake as the brand name. Many families often have yard sales to downsize their homes of toys and you might spot that vintage tea set you had been hoping for. Try the Goodwill and other second hand shops for their toy selections and they just need to be washed up with an ounce of bleach in the sudsy, warm water. You might even find the Hello Kitty or Strawberry Shortcake clothes for your girl while you are browsing.
Parents are particularly happy when they see their children playing by themselves or with friends. The social atmosphere is great for their development and their readiness for school. Older children can graduate to miniature or full size porcelain tea sets and learn to take care of these precious pieces. Keep them in a safe place for her until she is an adult and can hand them to her children. Grandparents should also consider having a plastic tea set at their house for when the youngsters come for a visit.