Children's Plastic Playhouses - What Are The Options?

The majority of children's plastic playhouses cost at least $250 onwards. But if you want something cheaper, there is the Step 2 Neat & Tidy Cottage (top left picture), which is under $200. In fact, you can get it for much cheaper and with free shipping to boot through Amazon at times.

No doubt, the Neat & Tidy Cottage is a smaller playhouse compared to some other models. But one point you should not overlook when it comes to this playhouse is that it has an open design. This means you will be able to keep on eye on your kids while they are inside the playhouse with ease. Some playhouses have a very closed-up design that you would not know what is happening inside unless you go and look through the door or window. But with this simple cottage, you won't have this problem. Remember that young kids still need constant supervision, so an open design works well if safety is a worry.

Inside this cottage is a molded-in table, sink, burner and two seats. This is pretty standard with most playhouses but this model also includes a molded-in floor which not many playhouses offer. It also has some interactive features such as a working doorbell and electronic play phone. The playhouse looks simple and nice without any fancy features for its more affordable price.

The other affordable playhouse is the Four Seasons playhouse (right picture), also by Step 2. It is cheaper than the Neat & tidy Cottage but it is also smaller. There is little reason to get this because you can pay a little bit more to get a bigger playhouse. However, if you have a lack of space, then this is an option. Some people just don't have enough room for a playhouse, especially if they want it indoors for certain time of the year. If this is also your situation, then you can look into the Four Seasons model.

One of the popular children's plastic playhouses is the Little Tikes Picnic on the Patio Playhouse. This one is a little more creative because there is a little window by the side to serve up a meal to the guests sitting on the outside. So, there is a small table at the side for your kids to have a little picnic. So, naturally, there is a burner, oven and cupboard inside this playhouse for kids to engage in pretend play. Like the Step 2 playhouses above, there is a mail slot and working doorbell as well.

If you are looking for something a little different, then this Picnic on the Patio playhouse would be worth your consideration. The way it is designed with the little table at the side just opens up the world of pretend play as your kids can have cooking and picnic fun with it.

The other popular plastic playhouse would be the Endless Adventures Tikes Town playhouse (right picture). This one is also very nicely designed with four different themes on each side of the wall. The front has a school or fire house wall with a door. The sides feature a gas pump and a grocery store with an ATM machine. At the back is a sports wall with a basketball hoop.

Therefore, your kids can try to act different roles depending on their preferences for the day. This takes away part of the boredom that comes with playing the same role over and over again with a single theme playhouse. That is the difference that you can get from the Tikes Town playhouse unlike the usual models that you see.

On the more expensive end of the children's plastic playhouses, there is the Step 2 Naturally Playful Welcome Home Playhouse. The higher price is because this is a large playhouse that can comfortably accommodate a few kids inside at the same time. Moreover, it has a skylight roof and two large bay windows. You pay more for this but what you get in return is you will be able to play inside together with your kids with its roomy feature. And if you have older children, they will also be able to move comfortably inside the playhouse without having to stoop.

If you want a playhouse which is more fairy-tale-like, then look at the Storybook Cottage (right picture), which is also a Step 2 product. This one gives you a thatched roof unlike most other cottages. In the interior, there is the usual kitchenette, drop-leaf table and clock with movable hands.

For more interactive play where children's plastic playhouses are concerned, there is the Little Tikes Town Center playhouse. This one is unique because the walls can be opened up to accommodate more kids at the same time and provide access for adults and Cozy Coupe drive-thrus. So, it becomes a 360-degree play area with each wall having a different theme including a cafe, gas pump, retail store and sports section. Taken as a whole, the playhouse can be transformed into what looks like a little town. In that sense, the Little Tikes Town Center Playhouse is perfect for group play because of its flexbility with its movable walls and the more kids, the busier the "town" would be!

One reason why you should consider children's plastic playhouses with climber is because it offers more variety of play. If you have toddlers, all the more reason you should get a playhouse with such extension. After all, climbers are most suited for toddlers and young children who are still developing their motor skills.

While such playhouses may be more expensive, you need to take into account the cost of the climber if purchased separately. It is not uncommon for kids to have these two toys and thus, buying them as a single item may work out to be cheaper. For such a playhouse with a climber, you can consider the Little Tikes Picnic N Playhouse. This one has a climbing wall and slide on one side and a playhouse with a table, dutch door and light on the other. You can also arrange the climbing wall and slide in several different configurations to make it seems new once the current set-up has gotten a little boring for your kids.

While the Picnic N Playhouse is for younger children, you can opt for the Naturally Playful Clubhouse Climber if you have older kids. This one is more exciting with numerous play options and it caters to a wider age range. Tunnel, ladder, bridge, hide-out and towers make this a very adventurous playhouse that will appeal to both girls and boys. There are other features included as well such as table, stools, message board and telephone.

In short, the Clubhouse Climber is a complete playhouse where your kids can let their imaginations run wild. On top of that, it would help them to burn off some energy as it is also a place to engage in some physical activities through climbing, crawling and running from one tower to the next. So, if you want a playhouse for your kids to play pretend and at the same time, you also want them to be physically active for better health, then get the Clubhouse Climber. It will easily achieve your two objectives with one single purchase!