Kids Outdoor Playhouses

There are many important things to consider when building a kids outdoor playground from where it will be located, to what equipment to incorporate, to building materials and layout and of course, how to make it as safe as possible. Fortunately, there are many outdoor playhouses and other child friendly playground equipment that can help to provide a safe and fun environment for kids of all ages.

Styles of  Kids Outdoor Playgrounds

When it comes to purchasing an outdoor playhouse, the first consideration should be safety. Other important considerations are size and price, and of course, the interest of the child or children for whom it is being purchased. While a princess playhouse might delight a 6-year-old girl, a boy of the same age is more likely to prefer a log cabin playhouse to act out his imaginative play. There are many playhouses on the market targeted toward specific genders but there are also playhouses that will work for either or both equally well.

KidKraft and Little Tikes, among others, create some very nice plastic playhouses for younger children. These are popular in daycares as well. Safe, economical and fun, these are great for toddlers, but are often quickly outgrown, unlike some of the other styles.

An inflatable playhouse is fun, it is safe, it provides year round fun and encourages kids to be active and expend energy bouncing around on it and in it. There are many different types of inflatable playhouses from around $100 clear up to the luxury playhouse options that can be nearly $2000. A luxury inflatable playhouse usually includes slides and tunnels, tents and other obstacles that make it more versatile and fun. For instance, the Ninja Jump Castle 11 inflatable playhouse offers portability in spite of a large size, a great interactive setup and assures that children will have a bouncing good time. It can accommodate up to ten children at a time and is enjoyed by boys and girls alike.

A wooden playhouse is a great choice as it offers unparalleled versatility. There are many different types of wooden playhouses. A Victorian playhouse made of wood is a charming retreat that really allows a child to play house. The kits for a luxury Victorian playhouse can run from around $450 to several thousand dollars for the more elite and complex designs. A simple wooden playhouse can be purchased for under $500 and it will provide many hours of safe and imaginative play for boys and girls. From country cottage playhouses to the popular log cabin playhouse, a wooden playhouse is a great way to get children out in the yard away from the television and video game systems.

Whether a person chooses to purchase a plastic playhouse, a wooden playhouse in one of many different styles available, or an inflatable playhouse, there are numerous options on the market today that offer different features. Purchasing one of these great playhouses for a kids outdoor playground is an investment in the good health and imagination of a growing child.

If you have ever read the book titled The Secret Garden, or if you ever saw the movie with the same name, then you can understand why a parent should give serious thought to purchase of a garden playhouse. A playhouse in a garden should be viewed as a special kind of outdoor playhouse.

Obviously, all outdoor playhouses were designed to hold up following exposure to the elements. A number of such playhouses can be described as wooden playhouses. Yet not every wooden playhouse fits comfortably into a garden setting. Not every playhouse made out of wood offers the same benefits as the garden playhouse.

In the past, a princess used to leave the castle and wander through the palace gardens. Thus, a princess deserves a garden. Still, not every princess playhouse comes with a garden. Such a playhouse might not even fit comfortably into a garden setting. Only a playhouse that was meant to be placed in a garden can put a “Daddy’s princess” close to a garden.

In the book The Secret Garden, one can see how a playhouse in a garden offers more than the most expensive luxury playhouse. In that book, a young girl creates a garden in the yard of an expensive home. A sick boy lies depressed inside of that same home. While his home had many of the same features as a Victorian playhouse, that young man did not feel happy and content. The heroine of the story lifted that ailing boy’s spirits, when she showed him her secret garden.

Now creators of the inflatable playhouse might be able to claim that a child can get a lift from enjoyment of their air filled playhouse. Still, that would not be the sort of lift that the young boy in The Secret Garden received, when he stepped into his female friend’s secret garden. She showed him how to work with seeds and soil and thus create a living wonder.

In fact, that young man experienced the thrill much like that experienced by those who built and lived in the log cabins of America. Those primitive buildings, structures after which today’s log cabin playhouse was modeled, sat next to a family garden. Much of the produce used on the family’s meal table came from that garden.

Nothing quite compares with the fascination that seems to shine forth whenever one watches the creation of life. The emergence of a plant from the soil represents part of the cycle of life. A child witnessing the growth of plants in a garden can feel assured that he or she will grow into an adult. At the same time, that child can learn the importance of caring for any living thing.

That is the reason that every child deserves exposure to the act of gardening. One sure way to encourage a child to do some gardening is to provide that child with access to a garden playhouse.

Today a young girl’s outdoor playhouse castle can be just that. There was a time when the outdoor playhouse was an old refrigerator box behind the garage or some old boards nailed in the crook of a tree. It took imagination to create a castle and the knights and ladies needed to populate this magic realm.

Due to the lower cost of materials and modern manufacturing methods, a playhouse can be made in almost any configuration and be relatively inexpensive, or cost a small fortune. Some people still prefer the classic wooden playhouse while others prefer a more modern design. Victorian playhouses are designed to replicate old style Victorian houses and can be made of wood or plastic. There are log cabin playhouses and inflatable playhouses are available. You can even have a luxury playhouse custom made to your specifications. We have seen outdoor playhouses so large that they could double as a guest house.

As with most things these days, the construction and use of an outdoor playhouse raises questions of safety and security. A playhouse made of plastic or rigid foam can have round corners and softer surfaces to avoid severe damage to a child who may fall or be pushed into a wall surface. Some luxury playhouses are wired for electricity and have indoor plumbing. Care must be taken to eliminate the possibility of shock to curious junior playhouse owners attempting to copy daddies’ do-it-yourself lifestyle. Often a modern playhouse will have many of the more common playground activities built in. A slide, swing, or climbing ladder can increase the danger level if poorly constructed. When considering an outdoor playhouse for your child you should pay careful attention to the quality of construction. A poorly constructed playhouse will be more dangerous. Built in sandboxes can attract stray animals and be a haven for ticks, fleas, rodents and disease. For younger children, regular supervision may be needed. Security is a concern in areas where crime is more common. An unattended child is in just as much danger in their own back yard as they would be if left alone in a shopping mall. Fortunately, wireless security cameras are reasonably priced and available at most electronics outlets.

An outdoor playhouse can be purchased through many stores. A quick internet search will show dozens of stores offering free shipping and steep discounts. The local shopping center will also have many stores with displays so your child can see what style they like best. Most will have a option for delivery and setup, either free or for minor cost.

The outdoor playhouse is found in all types of neighborhoods from the inner city to the country. While it appears that most children are glued to the TV set or computer these days, there is an age group that still prefers spending time outdoors. For them an outdoor playhouse can be a castle or fort from which they can launch great adventures.