Playhouse Kit: A Buying Guide

A playhouse kit is perfect for parents with a lack of time and limited DIY skills. Let's face it, most modern day parents don't have a lot of spare time! Not many of us can free up a few days to carefully handcraft a beautiful playhouse from scratch. A kit is the perfect solution.

You can buy play house kits for so many different designs, you're bound to find something that your child will love. There's everything from country cottages to castles and ships, tree houses with rope ladders to train stations!

Here's a buying guide to choosing a playhouse kit that will ensure your kids have endless hours of fun for many years to come:

What is a playhouse kit?

In a kit, you're given everything you need to build your playhouse. All the material should be pre-cut and drilled, all hardware included with detailed instructions of how to put it all together. Unless you buy a plastic playhouse that simply snaps together or is precast, you'll still need to actually spend some time building the playhouse and putting it together. However it shouldn't take more than a weekend.

Plastic play house kits

This is the most common kind of kit and they're extremely easy to put together. In under an hour your playhouse should be fully assembled because all you have to do is snap everything in place.

Plastic play house kits are fairly economical. Prices start from around $100. This kind of kit is perfect for a toddler and a great way of introducing them to independent play and using their imagination. The only problem is they'll probably outgrow their playhouse by the age of 6.

Wooden playhouse kits

Wooden kits are increasingly common and whilst the initial investment may be higher, you'll probably find they last longer because you can adapt the playhouse to your growing child. If you buy a fairly simple design, they'll be able to paint and decorate it right through to their teenage years for a den to hangout in with their friends.

Picking up a bargain

The beauty of buying in kit form is that you can really shop around to pick up a great deal. Play house kits are available on the internet and you'll find the same model on various sites at different prices. Shop around and you'll definitely get a good price. Compare prices from retail outlets, online stores, e-bay and catalogues to ensure you're getting the best deal.

Which style to choose?

Get your kids to write a list of everything they want in their playhouse and use their ideas to make a purchase. When the kit arrives, get them involved in building the playhouse to give them a sense of pride in their new toy.

Just because you're buying in kit form, doesn't mean you'll be limited to simple designs. There are very ornate "chocolate box" style playhouse kits, right through to castles with three separate turrets. You'll be provided with everything you need to complete the job, with detailed instructions in case you get stuck.

Safety First

Make sure you choose a play house kit that conforms to the child safety regulations in your country. The last thing you want is an accident caused by poor design or an unsafe piece of equipment. If you're buying a wooden kit, it's advisable to give it another sand to take away any splinters and make sure all screws are properly tightened to avoid injury.

Building Permits

Finally, don't forget to check whether you'll need a building permit to install your playhouse kit. Different countries and regions have different regulations on outbuildings and some even playhouses need permission to be installed.