Be the neighbor that all the kids want to come over and play because you have the coolest stuff around. I really like the Naturally playful Cottage Combo from Step2 which comes with a swingset, a cottage playhouse and sandbox. You get a complete matching play-set with one swipe of the credit card. Step2 does a very nice job with this product and believe it is one of their best sellers.

Step 2 Cottage Combo Setup

The Swingset has 2 swings, a slide and small little playhouse on one side complete with a little door. The slide is a good length at 5.5’ long and the steps to the slide are wide. The cottage playhouse is 64” high x 55” wide and 50” deep and has a very nice design with “thatched” roof, cute windows with shutters, and charming door. Inside there is even a kitchen and table complete everything to cook your favorite imaginary meal. I especially like the working doorbell and phone! A matching sandbox complete with cover completes the combo. I have to give this combo set a lot of positive remarks.

First, it is very durable and should last a long time. I plan on passing on to my nieces and nephews. I think it has a very attractive design and the kids actually play with it which means a lot. I also believe this product is very safe for the kids. As far as cons I do see many. The table in the playhouse is a little flimsy and some of pieces may need better water drainage but otherwise is very well built.

Price

The complete combo runs about $1000 (with free shipping) from Step2 but shopping around you may be able to get it cheaper. I have seen some comments that it is a little more expensive than mixing and matching other sets but overall I think you are getting a good quality product for the money. I know at one point they were on back order so it seems they are selling a lot of these and I can believe why.

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.

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.

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.

You can purchase a country cottage playhouse in a variety of sizes, styles and type of materials used. An inexpensive outdoor playhouse can cost as little as $199.99. Little Tikes company offers an outdoor cottage style playhouse in this price range. The cottage has windows, Dutch door in the front and is made of durable plastic. It comes in a variety of colors.

You may be looking for a princess playhouse for that special little girl. Available from many retailers in several sizes you can spend upwards to $1,999.99 for a solid wood unit with floors, windows and a front porch. Of course any princess cottage will come in different shades of pink! There are also inexpensive fabric princess playhouses that are sturdy enough for outdoor use and indoor use. The fabric is place over metal frames and gives the playhouse that fairy tale look. Check on the internet for prices from a variety of stores.

Inflatable playhouses are a economical way of getting a playhouse. Some are designed for year round use and can withstand most weather conditions. Prices start at $89.95 and have a large door and windows as well. Some inflatable playhouses will also be equipped with the bouncing floor for added fun.

Little Tikes company offers a log cabin playhouse with Dutch doors, shutters, a pretend grill and fireplace for added fun. You can also find actual cedar and wood log cabins that will be more expensive. Babies R Us offers a plastic model for over three hundred dollars and comes with a chimney.

If you are looking for a Victorian playhouse, you can find different designs and styles. Some, made from plastic can vary in price depending on the size. A wooden Victorian playhouse may cost over nine hundred dollars and comes complete with picket fence, steeped roofs, flower boxes and Victorian style design.

Most playhouses require some kind of assembly. The wooden playhouses normally come as kits that require more assembly. The manufacturer provides detailed instructions, which will make the assembly easier. The great thing about the wooden playhouse kits is that you can paint them any color you want, either to match your home, or get creative with your child. You can also build your own wooden playhouse by purchasing designs and plans for as little as $5.95 and purchase your own materials.

If you have an unlimited budget, you can hire a company to custom design and build your outdoor playhouse. These playhouses range in price from $3,500 to over $30,000, depending on the size, materials and accessories. These luxury playhouses can have running water, cable, wireless internet, heating, cooling and of course TV’s. With elegant furnishings and carpeted or hard wood floors, these life size playhouses are amazing.

Whichever type of playhouse you choose; your child will surely spend hours enjoying it. Whether a log cabin or a country cottage playhouse, you will love watching your child and their imagination soar.

Being able to decorate the inside and outside of the playhouse is going to be a lot of fun for your children, especially little girls.  Little boys are also going to have fun turning it into their favorite castle, or dungeon, while little girls will get to enjoy setting up a kitchen, decorating the walls, and treating it like their own little home.  You can let their imaginations run wild with a box of goodies to help them decorate everything, and make it into their own area.

Because your kids can decorate the inside, you can take it a step further and paint the outside to match the same colors that are on your house.  This will also help your children imagine that they have their own home, which is one of the main reasons to purchase a children's play set in the first place.  Giving them a chance to explore, and open up their imagination to the world of possibilities, as well as figuring out how to handle difficult tasks on their own are two of the best benefits of being able to decorate Victorian playhouses.

As you can see, purchasing a wooden Victorian children's playhouse is a great idea if you need a safe place for your kids to run and play.  Giving them the ability to customize the interior and exterior to their own imagination will give them a sense of direction, by figuring out how to handle tough tasks on their own, without the help of others.  Painting the Victorian playhouse to match your own home will make both appear much more elegant, and will also allow your children to feel like they have their own home, just like mommy and daddy.

Luxury playhouses come in a lot of different varieties, but the most purchased versions are log cabins, princess castles, and pirate ships.  Log cabins are easily upgradeable when your children are beginning to grow out of the original model, and are built to withstand the test of time.  Because these playhouses are built of wood, you can add on swings, slides, monkey bars, extra rooms, and other accessories when you see your child beginning to lose interest in the playhouse.

Another type of luxury playhouse that is being produced are the pirate ship play sets.  These are mainly marketed towards young boys, but you'll find that anyone can get enjoyment from them.  Pirate ships allow little boys to express their imagination, believing that they are taking over the high seas as Captain Blackbeard, or other famous pirates of the deep blue.  Developing their imagination in this way will help them to solve problems later in life a lot easier, by helping them to develop a foundation of thinking for themselves.

Princess castles are another model that are being sold in large numbers, and as you can tell, are usually marketed towards families with little girls in their lives.  Little girls are full of imagination, and giving them a castle of their own to act out the fairy tales that they hear at night is a great way to help them start thinking for themselves.  Not only will your child learn to solve problems on their own, but you are going to get to enjoy the benefits of having them run and play outside all day using up all of their energy, as well as getting a little bit of time to yourself during the afternoon.  All of this can be achieved with the addition of one of the many luxury playhouses on the market today.