As parents, we’re always looking for creative ways to get our kiddos off of their screens and outside more. The best kids’ playhouses can do just that, especially for the youngest children, including toddlers and preschoolers. These outdoor playhouses for kids often offer mini kitchens, indoor seating and interesting realistic details from shutters to mailboxes to attract kiddos’ attention and fire up their imaginations for hours of imaginative play in the backyard like with our top pick, the Step2 Charming Cottage Kids Playhouse.
Find the best kids' playhouse from among these cute and creative picks. Plastic Playhouse With Slide
There are endless benefits to providing your child with a playhouse of their own, according to Amanda Vierheller, COO and cofounder of Playgarden Online, an online preschool program. “Kids’ playhouses are magical places for little ones to enjoy experiential play and follow their curiosity,” she says. They help develop cognitive, gross motor, social and emotional skills, as well as encourage problem solving and language development through playing with peers. “They also provide children with opportunities to learn through sensory exploration and promote creativity and imagination through hands-on play.”
Ready to start (play)house hunting? From modern homes you’ll want to “live” in to lightweight cottages with the cutest kitchens, here are the best kids’ playhouses to purchase now. After reading this story, you may want to check out our favorite swing sets for kids and the best outdoor toys.
The fun begins soon as little ones step inside this charming Step2 cottage, after ringing the real doorbell and swinging open the dutch-style door of course. There’s a little fireplace where they can read books or “roast” marshmallows, a play sink with an outdoor tabletop for serving up snacks (and bench seating to enjoy them at), plus molded-in storage to stash toys, pretend food and more. The flower boxes are great for budding gardeners looking to plant their own stuff—real or fake—too.
Some other key features to love about this kids’ playhouse, according to real parent reviewers, are its relative ease of assembly, durability and the fact that it can entertain kiddos of varying ages. Several reviewers reported their playhouse continued to look brand-new after many years of use.
Several mom friends I spoke with wish they had purchased a simple plastic kids’ playhouse like this Little Tikes Cottage for ease of assembly, portability and the fact that it’s so easy to wash off with a hose. Best suited for toddlers and preschoolers, little ones love the working door, two windows with shutters that open (to peep their heads out of, of course) and the mail slot to deliver important documents and letters to siblings. You can use it indoors or out, or move it around to different spots in the yard, so it won’t destroy your grass. At about $120, you really can’t beat the price.
From cooking and climbing to crawling and creating art, there’s so much fun to be had inside this petite plastic playhouse. It’s super lightweight and fits through a standard-sized door, so you can easily bring it in to burn some big toddler energy on a rainy day. Favorite features include the mini play kitchen, climbing ramp and ladders with toddler-friendly hand and foot holds, art board with a marker tray, mail slots and the little tunnels on the bottom for tiny ones to crawl through. The peek portals up top are a big hit with toddlers too. Because it’s modular, as your little one grows, you can add on to it with other sets to create a bigger play structure.
Take their play to new heights with this sturdy, two-story cedar wood playhouse that thrills preschoolers and their big siblings. The bottom can be kept open for imaginary play, or you can stick a sandbox or baby pool underneath to create a separate sensory zone.
Kiddos get a kick out of climbing the ladder and cooking in the clubhouse up top, which has a cool stovetop and battery-powered blender for whipping up pretend smoothies and more. Getting down is even more fun with the 6-foot wave slide featuring a railing to help prevent falls. This kids’ playhouse is great for siblings of various ages and makes a great hideaway (similar to a treehouse) for older ones to have their own private space. According to the manufacturer, it’s recommended for ages 2 to 8.
Our neighbors have this premium wooden playhouse and all the kids on the block—ages 4 through 6—really enjoy playing in it. “We’ve had it for 2 years and it has held up really well,” says mom Amanda. “Our 5-year-old loves the doorbell and checking the mailbox for letters. The planter box is also so cute!”
There’s a clock with moveable hands, a doorbell that actually rings and large serving windows with a cafe-style canopy, plus two chalkboards for creating a daily menu or just drawing in general. It’s big enough that all three of our kiddos can comfortably play inside together too. And for the price, it’s really good quality.
Fire up the faux grill in this spacious, pavilion-style playhouse that’s perfect for summertime sensory play, thanks to a built-in sand and water table, as well as an adorable molded-in sink kids can wash dishes in. It has an adorable little BBQ area and a snack table where they can enjoy “eating” all their creations.
Best of all, it’s completely covered with a canopy, so there’s always shade to keep little ones cool and protected on warm days. With an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, this popular playhouse is big enough to fit multiple children and comes with a 16-piece accessory set that includes pretend pots, plates, grilling tools and a water spinner. Parents appreciate how easy it is to clean with a quick wipe down.
If you’re like me and would prefer a pretty playhouse that looks straight off of Redfin, then this top-rated, modern model from Backyard Discovery is an excellent choice. It’s made of high-quality, durable cedar wood that’s rot-resistant and able to withstand the elements. Tiny gardeners can delight in picking flowers and creating their own mini bouquets to decorate the flowerpots flanking the front door.
A working doorbell is sure to entertain, as is a custom snack window, sink and stove—with included pots and pans—for playing pretend restaurant. Their own cordless phone is just the cherry on top for placing orders, calling friends or wherever their imagination takes them.
Like oversize MagnaTiles, this Superspace playhouse is the ultimate fort builder, allowing kids to create whatever they can dream up—from a movie theater to a pirate ship or their very own restaurant. Vierheller is a huge fun. “Constructing your own playhouse combines problem solving, building and creativity and lets kids create a new space every time to accommodate a variety of activities.”
This popular set includes 22 panels of varying shapes for unlimited open-ended play where little ones make the rules. Parents like that the eco-friendly panels—made from recycled plastic bottles—can easily be stacked and stored away when playtime is over. Add on extra panel sets for even more building possibilities.
To get a feel for what features to look for when curating this list, I spoke to two play experts, including an interior designer who specializes in creating Pinterest-worthy kids’ playrooms, as well as the cofounder and curriculum developer of an NYC preschool.
Moreover, I asked my group of mom friends what they loved (and didn’t love) about the playhouses they’ve owned, and took into account my own personal experience watching my kiddos play at a neighbor’s wooden playhouse down the street. To make the cut, all playhouses included on this list received at least 4.4 out of 5 stars and mostly rave reviews by real parents.
Designed for children as young as 18 months all the way through elementary school, the best kids’ playhouses are safe, well-made and age-appropriate. “Sturdy platforms, rounded edges and railings that are high enough to prevent falls are crucial,” says Amanda Vierheller. She recommends looking for a playhouse that allows for physical, social and imaginative play to promote whole-child development. And, of course, for parents who don’t want a huge eyesore, a playhouse that’s aesthetically-pleasing is important too. Other things to consider are how easy the playhouse is to assemble, clean and move around—should you want to.
When purchasing a playhouse online, Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms, suggests looking at the size and height of the playhouse. “If the interior space is too small, kids won’t be able to play inside, which is the fun part for them,” she says. “If the height is too low, children also won’t be able to stand in it or they will outgrow it too quickly,” she warns.
You’ll also want to keep in mind any space constraints you have when it comes to your backyard or living room. It’s always a good idea to measure the area where you intend to put the playhouse and then check dimensions before you make a purchase, so that you can be sure it will fit.
The best kids’ playhouse is durable, easy to keep clean and engages your child with plenty of pretend play features that are age-appropriate. Vierheller recommends looking for playhouses that inspire social interactions and encourage children to imagine and get creative, as well as offer opportunities to practice gross motor skills like climbing. To layer learning, look for a playhouse with a water and/or sand table for some sensory play.
Playhouses benefit a wide range of ages. “Many are suitable for little ones as young as 18 months, and larger playhouses are available to engage children up to 12-years-old,” says Vierheller. “Providing little ones with their own space encourages independence, self-soothing and problem solving. It also helps build self confidence and resilience as they grow through different phases of development.”
Absolutely. Bowen-Poole almost always includes a playhouse, fort or pretend play area in her playroom designs because they are amazing for kids for so many reasons. “This type of play encourages kids to be creative and try new ideas, increasing their confidence,” she says. Playhouses are also great for physical health, motor skills development, cognitive thinking, language skills and so much more. “They provide endless opportunities for pretend play, and children who engage in pretend play in the early years develop stronger social, emotional and literacy skills,” notes Vierheller.
Definitely. “Toddlers are working on developing their sense of self and one of the best ways to encourage this type of mindful reflection is to include a pretend play area in your home or playroom,” advises Bowen-Poole. “Pretend play can really help develop social and emotional skills, which are so important for self-reflection and empathy.” Moreover, the right playhouse can also allow toddlers a safe space to grow cognitive, physical and social skills. “Playhouses provide time for self-directed play, which builds focus and independence by allowing them to make their own decisions and accomplish things on their own,” adds Vierheller.
I am a temporary reporter for the wealth team covering billionaires. Prior to joining Forbes, I reported for Nikkei Asia and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. I hold a Master of Science in Journalism and a Master of International Affairs, both from Columbia University. Tips: mhunterhart@forbes.com.
I am a temporary reporter for the wealth team covering billionaires. Prior to joining Forbes, I reported for Nikkei Asia and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting. I hold a Master of Science in Journalism and a Master of International Affairs, both from Columbia University. Tips: mhunterhart@forbes.com.
I’m a senior fashion editor covering women's and men's fashion, accessories and fitness apparel. My writing has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Prior to joining Forbes, I wrote two books, including The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture, and Fashion, and I currently hold certificates in the history of design from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and fashion styling from the Business of Fashion. I grew up in Rhode Island, studied art history at Brown University and was—and remain—a sneaker obsessive with far too many pairs of white sneakers.
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I am a staff writer and product reviewer for Forbes Vetted currently residing in Austin, Texas. I primarily cover deals and consumer shopping, and previously worked as a deals staff writer for Wirecutter. My byline has also appeared in the New York Times. I have over four years of experience writing in the e-commerce sphere, and spend most of my time scouring the web for the latest consumer news and best discounts.
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2 Storey Playhouse Alison is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor who has been sharing buying advice and product reviews for over a decade. She likes martial arts, cats, good food, and saving money. She dislikes writing about herself.