What's cooking? Ask Starship children

Visitors Amy Haddon, 8, and Trinity Asiata-Turitanga, 9, help Oshay Booth, 8, in the playroom. Photo / Greg Bowker

Starship children's hospital has had its playrooms kitted out with a number of mini kitchen sets and accessories that will enable young patients to play chef and regain a semblance of normality during their hospital stay.

New World has donated a number of the full sets, complete with mini ovens and barbecue grills, for young patients to try their hand at "cooking".

Thanks to the supermarket chain each of the 11 playrooms in the hospital have been equipped with the mini-kitchens, which include colourful accessories, such as mini egg-timers, colourful plastic bowls, rolling pins and utensils.

Budding artist Oshay Booth was one of those who got his chance to play chef at yesterday morning's unboxing of the mini-kitchens.

After the Starship play specialists finished assembling the little kitchens, the 8-year-old got right in to kneading play dough and rolling it into an array of colourful "pastry" sheets.

Mum, Sarah Elliott, who has been in and out of the hospital with Oshay and his older sister Maia for the past eight years, said her children loved the playrooms. She said Oshay, who was in for spinal surgery associated with his genetic condition Neurofibromatosis, was in the playroom every chance he got.

"He loves to paint or play with the memory and board games."

Starship play specialist Hannah Dewe said it was important for children in hospital to have play opportunities that normalised an otherwise unfamiliar environment.

"Playdough, cooking, make-believe, science and exploration all provide unique opportunities for children to develop physically, emotionally and creatively."

Starship Foundation corporate partnership manager Sarah Fraser said the mini-kitchens were more than just toys for the children.