Updated 24th August 2023.
Playhouses are great for child development and - most importantly - loads of fun. So which one is best for you and your children?
Children love having a space to call their own, a secret den just for them. In Summer they love to set up “house” in the garden and hang out away from boring mums and dads. In winter, a playhouse can be a cosy home within your home.
Studies show that the sort of pretend play encouraged by playhouses can also help children develop creativity and social skills. Here’s our parents guide to the very best children's playhouses around.
Why playhouses are great for children
They encourage imaginative play, helping to develop creative skills. That's an area that can start in children at a young age, and keeping that sense of play is vital as they get older too.
Playhouses also encourage collaborative play, helping to develop social skills. Get 2 or more children in a playhouse and watch how quickly their team building skills start.
According to a number of studies, and even the Wall Street Journal (!) playhouses encourage autonomous play. This helps children independently develop interests and passions, and gets them working problems out for themselves.
Wooden Playhouse or Plastic? How to choose the right one
A good playhouse is a great investment, but you need the right one for both your kids and your surroundings. There’s a few questions you’ll need to ask yourself:
With all that in mind, here’s our review of 7 of the very best playhouses for children.
£319.00 from Shedstore
If they’re fighting aliens, monsters or the forces of darkness, your little troopers need a place to store weapons, discuss strategy and stop for a nice drink of juice. This wooden playhouse is a great little hideaway in the garden, with three windows and two opening observation points (so no baddies can sneak up unobserved). But it does take a bit of assembly and an annual wood treatment.
Material: Wood
Assembly and maintenance: 3-5 hours (2 people) and annual treatment
Suitable for: 3+
£329.99 from Early Learning Centre
At the front it’s a school, on one side a shop, on the other a petrol station and round the back a ballgame court. This great little playhouse has been made with little imaginations very much in mind, featuring four fun-packed ‘around town’ zones for countless play scenarios.
Material: Plastic
Assembly and maintenance: Flat packed - some assembly required, weather resistant
Suitable for: 2+
£63.99 on Amazon
This cosy teepee tent provides a great place to sleep, read, draw or play, both inside and out. It gives kids a sense of safety and privacy, letting them create worlds and adventures that are entirely their own. Best of all, it’s easy to put up and take down.
Material: Cotton and Wood
Assembly and maintenance: Minimal, and the cotton is machine washable
Suitable for: 3+
£29.99 from Notonthehighstreet
Sometimes all kids really need to fire their imaginations is a big cardboard box. This one aids the process with readymade doors, windows and a roof. It’s easy to put together and is shipped plain so that your children can personalise it with paints or felt tips. The playhouse is made from tough recycled cardboard and easily stored when not in use.
Material: Cardboard
Assembly and maintenance: Easy assembly, inspect regularly for signs of damage
Suitable for: 18 months +
£399.99 from eBay
This fine wooden wigwam is perfect for a wild west adventure, and makes an attractive feature for any garden. The sustainably sourced wood is pre-treated so you can paint or stain it in any colour you like, or leave it as it is, and there’s a fabric door so kids can use it as their own private hideaway. Be aware that it will take a couple of adults the best part of a day to put together, though.
Material: Wood
Assembly and maintenance: 2 adults, 6 - 8 hours.
Suitable for: 3+
£399.99 from Amazon
It’s not cheap but this high quality playhouse comes with a balcony, ladder and slide, and it’s elevated position gives kids the illusion of being in their own private clubhouse, far from the adult crowd. The pressure treated timber is low maintenance and hard wearing.
Material: Wood (house) and Plastic (slide)
Assembly and maintenance: 2 adults, several hours. Comes with 10 year guarantee
Suitable for: 3+
£358.78 from Amazon
This fine, compact design is great if you don’t have much space, and features working doors and windows with shutters. It’s durable, easy to assemble and put away, and the Cape Cottage’s detailed brickwork design make it look like your child’s very own home.
Material: Plastic
Assembly and maintenance: Easy assembly, no maintenance
Suitable for: 2+
