Fun stuff for playhouse?

[madskye]

My DH and I built a playhouse in our backyard for DD in April. It's really cute. Currently it has:

her playkitchen and food/dishes
a table and two chairs
two bean bags
an easel
a few babydolls

Any other suggestions of how to get her jazzed about playing out there? Sometimes I play with her but she is 5 and I would love it if I could get her out there independently more, or even when her friends are over. Or do you think that will come more when she is 7 or 8 and right now she just still wants to be with me for the most part? Or does anyone have ideas of imaginative games we can play out there? We "cook" a lot and throw parties but I feel like I need some help in making it fun other than saying "this is DELICIOUS!" over and over again.

[LaughingHyena]

Having just spent the afternoon planting spring bulbs with my 2 I would say some window boxes/planters and flower seeds.

[nextcommercial]

She probably likes it, but doesn't enjoy playing alone. If she had a girlfriend over, they could probably spend hours out there playing inside and outside of it. But, alone just isn't as much fun.

So, the only thing I can think of to put in there is another kid.

[quantumleap]

The daughter of one of our friends loved having a broom and dustpan, as well as a little clothesline outside with some clothespins and doll clothes, an apron, etc, etc in her playhouse.
I agree though, probably a friend would be the best addition.

[Mama2Bug]

We don't have a playhouse, but DD has various "rooms" throughout our house. She has a play kitchen in a hallway, a cradle and baby doll stuff in a corner of the living room etc. She's also five and spends a lot of time playing "house" and "Mama."

Some of the things that she uses in her play that you haven't mentioned:

*something to play music and read-along books (DD has a record player, but a kid-sized CD player would work)
*kid-sized, but fully functional cleaning supplies (broom, whisk broom, dustpan, feather duster)
*cradle or other bed for baby dolls
*dolly diapers
*books (to read to babies )
*lots of dress-up clothes/accessories and a mirror
*a play phone
*a "pet" and toy accessories
*a toy mailbox (We have this one.)
*baby doll stroller
*bags and play money to turn the play kitchen into a store

[Literate]

We have a basket to lower from the window, fill with pinecones or whatever, and lift back up. Ours is elevated off the ground, however, so that might not work for you.

A friend has a cheap flexible plastic tube, maybe ten feet long, that goes from one level to another for games of "telephone." Super fun, with that extra kid you'll be importing.