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We all need a place to relax, a place that we find peaceful & can call our own.
We all need a place to call our own and for children, it’s their Wendy House or often known as a Playhouse, Wooden Play House and our Australian Friends call it a Cubby House. A playhouse raised from the ground can be classed as a Wooden Treehouse!
We bought the Wendy House when they were quite small – 3 & 5 – and it has been through many transformations.
To begin with we all used to play there together; my children enjoying the fact that their mother had to bend double to sit at the child-sized table & chairs we bought for them, while they served me cups of orange squash from their tea set. It was lovely to see them “playing house” and we found that they wanted their own version of many items we had in the proper house. Tiny rags & a dustpan & brush to clean their new environment were top of the list – which always made me laugh as their bedrooms were, (and still are,) a complete mess! A small cooker with pots & pans was also one of the first things to be moved in, along with cutlery, crockery & a plastic bowl “to wash up” in.
Their imagination, (and the role-play they took part in,) took off in a big way, but it was interesting to see how they emulated what they had seen in their own lives; you could hear conversations that were not dissimilar to ones my husband & I had on a daily basis – “I’ll wash up as you cooked” or “have some wine”!
As they grew older they wanted us in the garden, but not necessarily in their house, so the children often played together while we pottered in the garden or generally got on with jobs. They still played “house”, but increasingly the Garden Playhouse became a Pirate’s galleon or H.Q. for their spy game. It also began to be used by the children separately, a place to be on their own. My son especially would use the Wendy house as a place to draw, and at one time most of the walls were covered with his versions of new Pokemon characters.
Time moves on at an ever increasing pace, and now the Wendy House has taken on yet another role. The tiny table & chairs, cooker & dolls have been donated to smaller children that we know, and bean bags & chalk boards have been moved in to create a den. My daughter is definitely becoming a young lady, as she can now sit in the Wendy House with her friends & chat for England! At 13, my son uses it less, but still insists on planting the window boxes with pansies every spring and from a parent’s point of view I feel it has been money well spent.
Can a garden shed be used?
It’s always difficult to know exactly what type of Playhouse to buy or how much to spend, but it is always best to buy a structure that has been designed for the purpose of child’s play, as you can be sure of its safety features. Children who are allowed to play in converted sheds run the risk of injury from glass in the windows and doors & hinges that are too big to be used safely by their little hands. You also want a structure that is child-sized so that it sparks a little one’s imagination & is special for them.
I always feel that a single storey play house is safer, as your children will want to feel “grown up” and left alone at times without you wondering how they are dealing with the stairs. Often play houses that have an upper level are a compromise, as you end up with two levels that both have very little head height and playing can be restricted.
Play houses can be made from a variety of materials and it depends what you are looking for.
Fabric:
If you want a structure that can be erected & removed easily, then you should consider a plastic frame with a fabric or plastic cover. These often feature children’s cartoon characters & can be used both inside & out. They are cheap & fun, but do not offer longevity & are easily broken.
Plastic:
Companies like Little Tikes offer plastic play houses which can be left outside in the garden or placed in a bedroom. Because they are plastic there are no sharp edges but the structures can become very hot in summer and are generally very small & therefore more suitable for younger children.
Wood:
Wood offers the best option for a permanent structure in your garden as it will blend in with its surroundings & weather & age beautifully. Most woods are pre-treated and play house packages are generally made for home installation with panels ready sized & pre-drilled for ease. A coat of wood preserver annually will ensure that the play house continues to look great. The Selwood Savannah is a good example of a quality wooden play house.
Play houses now offer nearly as many variations as family homes, and you can now pay many thousands of pounds for themed play houses. The design you choose will be a personal choice but there are some safety features that you should look for in all cases.
Ensure that the windows do not contain Glass or Perspex, as both of these materials can be dangerous for young children. The best option is for the window frames to be left empty; this will ensure not only that the structure is as safe as can be, but also allow you to hear your children without them being seen. Look for doors that can open in two sections as this will allow air to circulate on hot days, keeping the play house cool.
Play houses without floors are a great idea, as it allows you to choose weather you want to place the house on a permanent concrete base, or erect it on the grass & move it from place to place. The latter option also allows you to move the play house to a more remote area of the garden as your children grow & no longer need constant adult supervision.
Whatever you decide to choose for your family, a play house is a great investment, and can really help a child express themselves. It will give your children years of pleasure & allow them that vital piece of privacy that we all need.
