Playhouse--how old will still enjoy it?

[puffingirl]

DD will be 4 this summer.  My parents asked me if she'd enjoy one of those playhouses that go outside in the yard.  While I think she would really like it now, I wonder how much longer that interest would hold.  It's one of those things that I think would have been a better choice at age 2 or 3 so she'd get more time out of it.  But I don't know--do 5 or even 6 year olds still like those?   Any words of wisdom?

[AllisonR]

My kids are 4 and 6 and still use their outside playhouse a lot. However, if it was one of those small ones, I doubt my 6 yo would still use it much. It's one DH built, so it is rather large, maybe 5 and a half feet tall at the highest point.  

[4evermom]

A bigger one like the pp described could get years of use.  My 9 yo would still use a wood playhouse as a fort if he had one and it wasn't too tiny.  I think it's more of an issue of outgrowing it in size than outgrowing it in interest.  

I see the plastic ones being sold on craigslist so looking for a used one might be a good way to acquire one and not feel bad if she doesn't use it for long. 

[LaughingHyena]

My kids are 4 and 6 and love having hiding places in the garden. I think they are both a bit big for the little tykes type play houses now though as they are quite tall. A large one would probably get used.

Our solution has been a climbing frame that we can put a sheet over to make a den. They also love playing in tents. The tiny pop up toys ones are bit small for them both to fit so I'm thinking of getting a cheep tent for the garden this year.

[doubledutch]

i remember enjoying playhouses at other kids' homes (and my grandparents' house) until i was at least 10.  older kids might not be playing house, per se, but still like having a place to go like that.

[puffingirl]

Thanks for the input.  I'll talk to the folks and see what they had in mind for size and mull it over. 

[treeoflife3]

I personally STILL want a play house... If we had had one growing up, my friends and I probably would have still used it as teenagers to hang out in assuming it was big enough for a couple of us to sit, even if we were a bit cramped.  I've always loved forts though and dream of living in a tree house haha.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by treeoflife3 

I personally STILL want a play house... If we had had one growing up, my friends and I probably would have still used it as teenagers to hang out in assuming it was big enough for a couple of us to sit, even if we were a bit cramped.  I've always loved forts though and dream of living in a tree house haha.

My teens have plans to build a treehouse at our cottage, lol! It will be more like a small bunkie for extra guests with room for a small bed or a couple of sleeping bags. When he was a tween, DS had a friend who had turned his garage (with parental help) into a "hang out". It was the most popular place to spend time for his group. I agree that it depends on the size, though. If they feel too squeezed, the kids won't want to use it. 

[MomtoDandJ]

Unfortunately I think it totally depends on the kid!  I have nephews that still play in those kinds of houses (which they now call "forts") until they are 10 or 12.  Other friends of our had kids that stopped playing in them when they were 4.  I think it totally depends on how interested your child is in imaginary play.

[ElliesMomma]

a nice sparkling new one is nice; however those can be easily had used, you can find them at a garage sale for like $5 or sometimes even just taken out to the curb. 

most if not all kids do NOT care one bit if it's dirty or a little banged up 

Edited by ElliesMomma - 5/28/11 at 10:02pm

[puffingirl]

She loves imaginative play--it's what she does most of the time.  She'd have a blast in it this year--I just wasn't sure how they age into it.  Sounds like if it's big enough, she might enjoy it for a while (especially now that she's getting old enough to want to have friends over to play).

[transylvania_mom]

We just bought one mostly for dd who's almost 2, but my ds (6) absolutely loves it! But I think he's starting to outgrow it.