KidKraft reveals a stove that works with Alexa but not only

KidKraft's new kitchen is a smart health connected toy that works with Alexa. Children love to cook; or at least pretend. They like to imitate their parents, especially when it comes to preparing delicious things to eat. However, our cooking routines have changed a lot thanks to voice control technology.

KidKraft connects

KidKraft has therefore set itself up to offer an incredibly realistic but also whimsical playful cooking experience. The toy does not directly integrate Alexa, but can connect with an Echo smart health connected speaker.

On the design side, it's pretty basic. There is a fridge (decorated to look like a smart fridge), a sink, a stove, an oven, and even a small microwave. There are a variety of cooking utensils and foods you can play with. They are made of plastic, wood and felt. Many of these items contain RFID chips. They which can therefore be detected by readers placed throughout the kitchen. This means that when a child fills a pot with water and boils it, he hears the liquid boiling.

Connection with Alexa

To benefit from connectivity with Alexa, the child must use the "recipe cards" provided. These are not real recipes with ingredients and instructions. It’s just a picture of the food the child wants to prepare. Simply insert the card into a special reader on the counter to start the preparation process with the help of Alexa.

Alexa will tell the child if he should take a saucepan or frying pan, if he should fill it with water and if he should cut ingredients on the small cutting board. If the requested food is not in the pantry, fear not: there is a store on the other side.

Two play areas

In this part, the child will discover shelves for products and even a false freezer for prepackaged frozen food. There is an automatic checkout where children “scan” their items, which can then be put in the reusable cloth bag. Children can pay for their groceries with money from the drawer and then resume cooking on the other side. Or, if there are two children, one can cook in the kitchen while the other runs the store. There are many possibilities for collaboration.

Even if a child plays alone, Alexa is sure to maintain a social and lively atmosphere by making all kinds of jokes on the dish that the child could prepare. It’s pure fatherly humor, but kids love cheesy jokes.

There is also a game like "Twenty questions" where children will have to find the ingredients that match Alexa's description: Round, fruit, red. Children have three chances to find the right item and scan it at checkout.

KidKraft has competition

KidKraft isn't the only company experimenting with using smart assistants to play. Little Tikes also used Alexa to interact with children playing in one of its fake kitchens. But Alexa cannot interact directly with the kitchen, it only guides children in their play experience.

It's no surprise, then, that the KidKraft 2-in-1 Alexa Kitchen and Market was an Amazonian exclusive when it launched this year. And the price ? 300 dollars.

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW