Kids love playing pretend. They play house, they serve you at their cafe, and they can spend hours running around playing superheroes. Having an outdoor playhouse is a great way to encourage them in their imaginary worlds while also getting them active and outside. At least, that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Sure, we can say we’re just buying a playhouse for them, to grow their imaginations, get more screen-free time, yada yada.
But let’s be honest, we’re also buying the playhouse for us, too. Because we never really outgrow the appeal of a good cozy clubhouse, and now we have the budget and Amazon Prime to make our childhood dreams come true. A quick search in #playhouse or #playhousemakeover on Instagram will show you more than half a million posts of adults building their dream playhouse for their kids. So whether you’re a Pinterest parent with a hankering for a project or just a parent who prefers a turn-key durable playhouse to keep the kids busy, we’ve found a house for you.
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What to Consider
When you’re looking for a playhouse, initially, you’re probably just giving them a once-over for aesthetics and accessories, and that is a huge part of the decision-making process. However, you also need to think about where it’s going to be, what weather it will be exposed to (if any), the size, the base, and the cost. We understand that gifts, even bigger gifts like a playhouse, have a budget, and we do consider that. We’ve also considered the houses that have the most customization potential.
Location
First, you’ll need to assess where your playhouse is going. Areas that get a lot of sunlight might need more shade on the actual playhouse, making plastic models the least ideal option for these types of spaces because of how hot they get. If your area is prone to floods, you may need to install a base or foundation for the playhouse in order to make it safe and prevent rot. This is an additional cost you might consider, which might change how your budget looks.
Weather
This is a biggie. If you live in an area that frequently sees weather swings and extreme temperatures, you need something hardwood and study. Plastic is only OK in these circumstances if you’re bringing the house into a shed or a garage during said extreme weather. Alternatively, if you live in a humid climate, you might have to take additional care with sealing wood playhouses and cleaning them often to prevent mold growth. Humid-climate dwellers might consider plastic because of how easy it is to clean. Unfortunately, for super dry, super hot climates, the issues are the same with plastic and with wood — they might start to get brittle, but it will take a long time for that to happen.
Size and Base
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These two go hand in hand. Most of these playhouses don’t have a bottom. Therefore, you may need to add one if you live in a muddy or insect or reptile-prone area — which can be pricey. Needless to say, the bigger the footprint, the more expensive it will be to build a base for the outdoor playhouse. The Step2 model does have a base attached, and it’s pretty affordable, so you might consider that model if you are in an area where you need a base but you don’t have the budget to build one.
Cost
The playhouses on the market right now really run the gamut as far as prices and options go. There are simple models that are on the more affordable side — think basic structures generally built from hardwood or a polymer. And then, on the other end of the spectrum, there are custom builds that can cost thousands of dollars.
How We Chose
I searched high and low to find a number of highly rated outdoor playhouses from a variety of manufacturers in a range of prices and materials. In many cases, I spoke to the manufacturers directly about their products to learn about their development and design. I also spoke directly to parents who have these playhouses to find out what they love or don’t love about them, which made me eliminate some sets from this list. Each playhouse on this list has been chosen because of its durability, the ingenuity of the design, and how children reacted to them and interact with them. Playhouses that don’t get played with aren’t useful. I eliminated several choices because their manufacturing standards were too low, their sizes were awkward, or the designs didn’t delight. In each of our choices, there is a balance between utility and cost, with the aim being many years of play for your children, making it a good value.No matter what your budget is, we’ve found an outdoor playhouse that will both suit your needs and thrill your kids.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
