The ramen set, a play kitchen item that’s out of the ordinary
A bowl, two wooden chopsticks, five noodles, an egg, a cabbage leaf, and a slice of naruto: everything you need to assemble a real bowl of ramen, ingredient by ingredient. The set is the result of a collaboration between Oli&Carol and studio Kiko, and is a clear departure from the usual tea sets made of cups and small spoons.
Handling chopsticks, a real fine motor skills exercise
Catching a flexible noodle with two chopsticks requires coordinating the thumb, index, and middle fingers, gauging pressure, and making constant adjustments. It’s the same trio of fingers used for a pencil, and that is precisely what makes the exercise interesting around the age of three or four, when the child begins to hold a felt-tip pen with more than just a full-hand grip. The youngest ones start by using their fingers, then return to the chopsticks a few months later: the progressive difficulty is part of the game.
Cooking a dish you don't know yet
Serving, mixing, offering, pretending to taste: pretend play involving meals is one of the first games children invent all on their own. With this set, they do so with a dish from elsewhere, with ingredients that have new names. It’s an easy gateway to other cuisines, and an excellent pretext for conversation at home.
The Oli&Carol expertise
The pieces combine two materials here: natural hevea rubber for the ingredients, painted by hand one by one, and FSC-certified wood for the bowl and chopsticks, guaranteeing sustainably managed forests. It is one of the rare items from the brand aimed at older children rather than babies.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is in the set?
A bowl, two chopsticks, five noodles, a slice of naruto, a cabbage leaf, and an egg.
What are the dimensions of the bowl?
13.08 cm in diameter, a size that allows all the ingredients to be stored inside.
Why 3 years old and not before?
Some pieces are small enough to be put in the mouth by a younger child. Under 3 years of age, the set must be used under adult supervision.
Can it be supplemented with other play kitchen toys?
Yes, it pairs very well with a wooden kitchen or an existing tea set, and provides ingredients you won't find anywhere else.
How do you maintain the wooden pieces?
With a slightly damp cloth, without soaking. Wood does not like the dishwasher or standing water.
