Making your children play outdoors can be pretty hard, especially in the modern age with television, the internet, and so many digital devices entering their life.
Luckily for you and your family, there’s an old yet still pretty effective way to make your child go out and have some fun; an outdoor playhouse.
Playing with the playhouse is a fantastic experience in every way. It is safe, fun, easy, and can be done with several other kids at the same time.
You need to get your kid, place the playhouse outdoors, and let him/her play without any interruption. And if you want a better experience for your child, bring siblings or friends to the equation; it will be even more entertaining.
So, do you want to know more about the best outdoor playhouses available in the market? Then come further and learn everything you need to know and more!
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10 Best Outdoor Playhouse For Toddler & Kids In 2022
Picking the right playhouse is not an easy job. There are thousands of playhouses in the market and many confusing & misleading options.
To help you pick the right one, here are ten of the best playhouses available out there.
1. Step2 Happy Home Cottage & Grill Kids Playhouse
- Large, open concept playhouse allows for mom or dad to keep a watchful eye!
- Playhouse features a working doorbell, dutch-style door and a fun pass-through mail slot
- Kids playhouse features a built-in floor (with drain holes) to help keep little ones clean and the mud out!
- Interior features a kitchenette, kitchen seat, fireplace, wall clock and fun play phone!
- Charming home design features realistic stone molding and wood finishing
The Step2 Happy Home Cottage & Grill Kids Playhouse is the best outdoor playhouse for demanding parents. Not only does it come with all the details you could ask for in a playhouse, but also with one of the most secure and most durable constructions out there.
The playhouse is open as well, so it helps children see outside and parents to be aware of what’s happening inside at all times. And to make it even better, it allows up to three 1 to 4-year-old kids to fit inside without any issue.
The Step2 Happy Home Cottage & Grill Kids Playhouse design boasts everything for children to play with, from a fireplace, a wall clock, a play phone, a kitchen table, a faucet, a barbecue to even a kitchen seat. On the outside, you get a lamp, a mailbox, a doorbell, and the little doorbell is not loud at all, so if your kid rings it over and over, it will not drive you crazy.
Your children will never run out of things to do with this playhouse, that’s for sure. But this is not all it offers. The Dutch door and shutters make it easy and safe to use. And the plastic build is one of the safest in the market and one of the most durable.
It can stand several hours under the sun without issues, sometimes even days. The best of all; it looks terrific and costs half of what other similar playhouses do. So you get a perfect product at one of the most affordable prices in the market.
Pros:
- It has a floor so you can set it anywhere without worrying about what is underneath.
- Promotes a safe yet durable experience with the top-notch plastic build.
- Comes with several items & decorations not many playhouses offer.
- Looks really good and enticing for toddlers.
- Easy to put together.
Cons:
- Not suitable to play while raining due to poor drainage.
2. Little Tikes Endless Adventures Tikes Town Playhouse
- Playhouse has four different walls full of play features for your little one
- Sports wall with ball for basketball, soccer and more
- Schoolhouse and Firehouse with table and chalkboard
- Gas Station wall includes a gas pumper
- Pretend Grocery Store and Bank wall has a drive up window
The Little Tikes is the perfect choice for children who want more than one thematic. This one comes with four different faces, all with a different theme, from a schoolhouse and firehouse to a sports wall, a grocery store with a bank wall, and a gas station.
It is easily one of the most creative playhouses in the market, perfect for children who want to improve their imagination exponentially.
The playhouse also comes with several items, including a table and chalkboard, a soccer ball and a basketball, a gas pump with its pipe, and a grocery store with a drive-up window and an ATM machine.
If you want your children to fill with endless playing opportunities, this playhouse is the one you should go for. It promotes a more interactive playing experience, primarily when used with other children or grown-ups.
You can help your kid even learn how different places work, including a grocery store, a bank, and even school or firehouse.
For those who want to teach their kids to play sports early, the sports walls come as a perfect option. This playhouse is merely unbeatable when it comes to playing opportunities, and that makes it unique in its type and ideal for all kinds of children.
Pros:
- Its very durable and can withstand harsh weather.
- Exceptional four-themed playhouse for more playing opportunities.
- Enhances social & communication skills with different interactive faces.
- Helps to improve physical activity with sports wall and balls.
Cons:
- Some users complain that the color is a bit bland.
3. Step2 Sweetheart Playhouse, Pink and White
- Electronic doorbell with realistic chime sound and electronic phone for little ones to call over some guests!
- Features a full-sized door, working shutters, decorative roof with skylight and decorative heart shaped flower pot
- Convertible table top flips over to become a pretend outside barbecue grill with clicking knobs
- Clock with movable hands to teach kiddos how to tell time
- The interior of this playhouse for kids is 55.5" (1.41 m) at its tallest point ; Adult assembly required
A pink cottage is what every little girl wants to play with her friends. The Sweetheart Playhouse from Step2 is precisely that, a gingerbread house that comes with one of the most enticing and beautiful designs for girls’ playhouses.
Not only is it gorgeous, but it is also very spacious and comes with an interactive design. It comes with movable doors and windows, shutters, a decorative roof, an electronic doorbell with chime sound, and even an automated phone—other additional items including a barbecue grill, a lock, and a decorative flower pot.
Your little girls will have a fantastic time with this house without a doubt. From a stovetop to a grocery stand, and more, “it helps baby girls to have a fantastic time imagining being the owner of a beautiful house.
And it fits up to three kids inside, which is perfect for tea parties, dinner parties, and a whole larger array of imaginative and role-playing activities.
The best of this house is the ability to provide a very sturdy & reliable performance at all times. Its build even resists days outside without showing wearing or tearing signs. The paint is incredibly resistant, and every item or detail is durable.
And because it does not come with a floor, you can transport this house back and forth without issues, making it not only highly reliable but entirely convenient.
Pros:
- Beautiful and inviting Sweethard cottage design for girls.
- Large design perfect for role-playing and doing activities inside.
- A wide array of interactive items to play with.
- Highly durable, resistant and convenient build.
Cons:
- Really hard to install and put together.
4. ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Pirate Play Boat
- Kids Play Structure — brightly colored boat for imaginative and active play in preschools, child care centers or at home
- Indoors or Outdoors — weather- and fade-resistant design for use in the playroom, in the backyard or on the playground
- Nautical Details — movable steering wheel and plenty of molded details like a pirate's flag, parrot and anchor
- Social Play — there's room on the deck, helm and in the cabin for multiple children ages 2-6 years to play and pretend
- Certified and Safe — GREENGUARD[GOLD] Certified for minimal chemical emissions into indoor air; plastic edges rounded for safety
Recreating a pirate boat, the ECR4Kids is a perfect choice for those who like marine activities. It will work for any kid, and it provides one of the most interactive designs in the market.
When it comes to getting a playhouse that will entertain your child for hours, this one is an incredible choice. The design begins with bright colors, making it very enticing for children from 2 to 6 years to get on and play with it. And of course, it works in a wide variety of places, including gardens and sand plots and indoors and other similar areas.
This way, you get a product that will promote imaginatively and role-play to the highest standards. Not only because this pirate house looks impressive, offers a pretty versatile design and build, but because it comes with many interactive items and details for a perfect experience.
From a movable steering wheel to a parrot, a pirate flag, and even an anchor, “this pirate playhouse has it all”.
Best of all, you get enough space for up to three children to play with it. It offers a room in the deck, in the helm and in the cabin. Children will have a complete experience for unlimited hours of fun.
Even more so, when you consider its fade and weather resistant blow-molded plastic build, which makes it light but also highly reliable and long-lasting.
Pros:
- One of the most attractive models out there with pirate boat theme and bright colors.
- Highly reliable & long-lasting construction with blow molded plastic.
- Spacious and interactive design for unlimited playing hours.
- Can be used for both indoors & outdoors.
- Easy to put together, no tools required.
Cons:
- Pieces can come off pretty easily including interactive parts like the flags and steering wheel.
5. Step2 Neighborhood Fun Center Kids Outdoor Playhouse With Slide
- Large 4 ft. (1.2 meter) long slide promotes active play
- Activity wall includes hook and loop ball target and ring toss to improve hand-eye coordination
- Two fun entrances include a Dutch door and crawl through portal
- Snack table features built-in countertop and two seats
- Includes two balls, two red and two blue rings ; Adult assembly required
One of the largest playhouses you can get for the price, the Neighborhood Fun Center from Step2 is an excellent choice in its entirety. It is also one of the best outdoor playhouses for toddlers on today’s market.
This house comes with a slide and an activity wall. The slide will help any adrenaline-driven child to start going on dangerous adventures, while the activity wall allows toddlers to develop better and sharpen motor skills.
When you add the built-in picnic table and the seats, you get a highly versatile playhouse for children of all ages. It works for any improvement, whether physical, communicative, or social skills “this playhouse works wonders.
You will even get two balls and four rings so kids can have an even more complete experience with it. Add the Dutch door entrance and the crawling portal, and you get an amusing toy that will entertain children for hours without stopping.
Perfect for children between 2 and 5 years old, this playhouse is an option you shouldn’t overlook. It will quickly become a favorite toy for your children, and it is durable & reliable enough to be used practically anywhere. So you won’t get many options as good as this one.
Pros:
- Excellent design for a wide array of activities and playing opportunities.
- Additional interactive wall and slide provide one of the most complete experiences.
- Looks really good and enticing for children of all ages.
- Offers one of the most versatile and light designs for easier installation & transportation.
Cons:
- The slide has a very small top landing, so younger children may have difficulty getting in the right position to safely slide down.
6. KidKraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse with Picnic Table, Mailbox and Outdoor Grill
- Outdoor seating: picnic table and two benches attached to the side to serve family and friends
- Front door latches for realistic and aspirational house play
- Mailbox with flag for receiving notes
- Pretend grill with removable lid to BBQ for the entire neighborhood
- Fabric curtains allow for independent play and safe hideaway space
The KidKraft Modern Playhouse is the best wood playhouse you will find. It is totally interactive, easy to install & use, and completely safe and reliable in its entirety.
The wooden playhouse from KidKraft is an option for the demanding parents who want a higher-quality toy for their children, as it is not only perfect for its overall build but for the amount of creativity it promotes.
The playhouse comes with a front door, a picnic table with two benches, an outdoor grill with a lid, and a mailbox. Your children will get a unique experience with this playhouse, perfect for promoting increased imagination in your back or front yard.
When it comes to versatility, this house also has a lot to offer. It is spacious enough for up to 5 or 6 children to use it at the same time. Developing social and communication skills, as well as having a totally safe & entertaining experience.
But the real deal of this playhouse is its durability and strength. It comes with wooden panels on each side, correctly put together, so it not only prevents breakage but also improves overall durability. What’s even better, the wood is one of the best for kids’ toys, which means it is resistant to wear, tear, warping, and even water.
Pros:
- Not very large and the cedar wood smells really good.
- Very resistant and long-lasting wooden construction.
- Versatile & spacious design for up to 5 children to play together.
- Interesting wooden details and items for better playing experience.
Cons:
- Does not hold together too well for moving or transporting.
7. Step2 All Around Playtime Patio with Canopy Playhouse
- CANOPY COVERED PLAYHOUSE: Kiddos can have their own backyard party with the Step2 All Around Playtime Patio and Canopy. It’s a shaded, open pavilion-style toddler playset with neutral colors and realistic stacked stone detailing for an attractive design.
- INTERACTIVE, 360 DEGREE PLAY: Kids can use the grill playset and enjoy a meal at the table. They can wash dishes at the molded-in sink or play in the built-in sand and water table. A 16-piece accessory kit included for enhanced pretend play.
- ROOM FOR MULTIPLE KIDS: Friends can play together inside or outside of the pavilion-style backyard playhouse. The working doors let little ones in and out, while the canopy cover keeps them out of the direct sun. Assembled dimensions: 60" H x 47.5" W x 47.5" D
- UNMATCHED DURABILITY: This kids’ playset is made with durable, double-walled plastic construction with molded-in colors that won’t chip, fade, crack, or peel so it will last through generations. Plus, it’s low maintenance – just wipe down as needed.
- SKILL-BUILDING FUN: A kids outdoor playset provides hours of fun for toddlers and preschoolers, encouraging little ones to develop fine motor skills, role-playing, language skills and critical thinking.
A backyard is all you need to make your children happy with the All-Around Playtime Patio Playhouse from Step2. It is easily one of the most interactive & entertaining choices in the market, perfect for more curious and active children.
You will allow your child to enjoy a fantastic time while recreating activities such as cooking, playing with sand, eating, or just having a lovely day in the backyard or the beach. It is excellent to make your child’s imagination fly and improve overall creativity.
You’ll get everything from a restaurant to an exciting camping hut, everything you need to make your child happy.
The whole design is pretty well-made; you’ll get a kitchen and a grill, sand with water play area, snack or dinner bar with several dishes, and a canopy-like design with the ceiling for a complete experience. It even holds up to 4 children inside, improving social and role-playing exponentially.
You can set up the playhouse everywhere you want, and it will always provide a reliable & durable experience. Whether one child inside the house or several kids outdoors, this playhouse offers everything your kid could need and more.
Pros:
- The roof is a great option to get some shade during summer without being cooped up in a hot little fully enclosed playhouse.
- Reliable & durable construction for safe and easy use.
- Easy to install and put together.
- Incredibly affordable for its size and overall quality.
- A wide array of interactive items and playing options.
Cons:
- Only downside is that there is no drain on the sink.
8. Backyard Discovery Sweetwater All Cedar Wooden Playhouse
- COZY COTTAGE: Showcasing a country half front door, country style details in the design of the playhouse. The Sweetwater includes custom style flower pots on each side of the front door, kitchen with pots, pans, sink, phone, and a working doorbell.
- LONG LASTING, WITHSTANDS IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS: Why Cedar? Cedar thrives in damp climates, enabling it to withstand many conditions. Our durable cedar wood is rot resistant from the elements.
- THE BEST PLAYHOUSE: Rated by This Old House as the best playhouse on the market. Sweetwater encourages exercise and creativity. Our playhouse is the best gift to give your young children learning to interact, explore and pretend play.
- INDOOR OR OUTDOOR: The Sweetwater playhouse is sturdy and small enough to fit in any size outdoor or indoor area. So when the weather changes, you can keep your child entertained and bring the playhouse indoors.
- SAFETY FEATURES: The Sweetwater playhouse provides hours of fun for your little one. The Sweetwater playhouse is made with quality, safe materials. The cedar is pre-cut and built safely, windows are made without any glass, indoor tools are plastic.
One of the most durable yet convenient designs in the market. Play accessories include a sink, stove, cordless phone, pot & pan set with utensils, and working doorbell.
The playhouse boasts wide windows for breezes and natural light. Its front has flower pot holders and a cute half-door.
It is made of all Cedar Wood, so you get a durable and reliable experience for years. The playhouse resists all kinds of weather changes.
Whether you’ve got one kid or several, this kid-friendly fun set will entertain them for hours.
Pros:
- Easy Assembly
- Play accessories include sink, stove, cordless phone and a working doorbell
- Front features flowerpot holders (flowers and flower pots not included)
- Pot & Pan set with utensils is also included
Cons:
- Wood splits if you don’t predrill the holes during assembly.
9. Truedays Kids Outdoor Indoor Fun Play Big Tent Playhouse
- 【Large Size】he size of the tent is 55.1 x 47.2 x 47.2 inches, which is enough to accommodate 3-4 children to play at the same time, of course you can also accompany your children to play games in the tent. Excellent for indoor or outdoor kids play!
- 【Safe and Durable】This tent is made of high quality nylon and has Velcro on the front door for easy access for kids. With a waterproof floor and a patented Shock Cord PU coated pole system, this kids play tent is designed for kids so you can buy with confidence. The tent also has a tunnel door where kids can play creatively and fun.
- 【Easy Setup & Storage】It's a building quick-opening pop up kid play hut, convenient and quick. You can set up this play Tent in minutes. It is lightweight and can be folded in the included carry bag for storage or travel.
- 【Perfect Gift for Kids】A great choice for birthday and holiday gifts for kids of all ages. This tent is colorful and suitable for boys and girls. Imagine the excitement the children feel when they receive the gift. This toddler tent can be their own little reading world, or an ideal place to play with friends.
A camping tent is never a bad option for getting a playhouse. It may not be the sturdiest or most durable option, but surely one of the most entertaining to get for your children. Especially for little children, this polyester playhouse tent is a fantastic choice that you can take anywhere without issues.
The tent comes with two tunnel doors in the front door for children to access inside differently. It also has several non-movable windows and a very reliable build that keeps children inside. The whole pole system is very secure, with a PU-coated build. And if all this wasn’t enough, the playhouse looks good so that children can be attracted to it more easily.
You can purchase Pit Balls for awesome fun for the kids.
This tent, however, has a thing that puts it above many other options on the list. It is the ability to be folded and bring wherever you are in the most convenient and versatile way possible.
The tent can be open quickly when you reach your destination (garden, back or front yard, beach, camp, etc.). You won’t have to assemble for hours, just a few minutes, and that’s it.
Its inside is very spacious and fits up to three kids at the same time. You won’t believe how useful and convenient this playhouse tent is, so you should put it high on your list if you want a product that delivers value.
Pros:
- Top-notch versatility & convenience with foldable polyester build.
- Camping tent theme allows a wide array of creative scenarios.
- Works anywhere from the yard to the beach and more.
Cons:
- Not as durable or resistant as other playhouses.
10. Step2 Clubhouse Climber Kids Outdoor Playhouse With Slide
- TODDLER OUTDOOR SET: The Step2 Clubhouse Climber Playset creates a make-believe playtime paradise right in your backyard! The large toddler gym has two slides, a bridge, crawl-through tunnels, and encourages active play for multiple kids
- SOCIAL AND ACTIVE PLAY: Open-ended play design encourages little ones to develop imagination, creativity, and role-playing. Not just a climber, this play structure can be a castle, pirate ship, or anything else little ones can dream up with pretend play.
- FUN DETAILS: The Clubhouse Climber looks great in any yard, with a mix of fun and natural colors and textures. Features like the stairs, slides, tunnels, and steering wheel allow gross motor skills practice, hand-eye coordination, and balance during play.
- INDEPENDENT PLAYTIME: Parents will love the easy entry steps with sure-grip rails for safe climbing, and secure placement on the ground. It’s sure to inspire hours of independent toddler outdoor play – with plenty of room to invite friends!
- UNMATCHED DURABILITY: This toy for toddlers is made with durable, double-walled plastic construction with molded-in colors that won’t chip, fade, crack, or peel so it will last through generations. Plus, it’s low maintenance – just wipe down as needed.
Want to help your baby have a fantastic time while learning motor skills & improving overall physicality? Then you need to pick the Clubhouse Climber from Step2, an excellent choice for demanding parents who want quality in every way possible.
This is one of the most elaborate playhouses in the market. It comes with an exciting nature theme plus many interactive items, including a steering wheel, skylights, climber stairs, a bridge, and much more. Your children will have unlimited hours of fun with this option, and it will perform well even in the rain.
The best of the playhouse is that your child can use it standing, crawling, or merely laying inside. It is one of the most adaptable options in the market and one of the most convenient for children. And it is large enough to let up to 3 kids crawl and creep inside without issues.
From the color choices to the interactive design and even the whole versatile build, this design is amazing to bring children to play safely & for hours.
Best of all, it is made with one of the most resistant & reliable plastic builds in the market, so you can install it and put it anywhere you want to let your children play without issues.
Pros:
- Excellent design for more convenience and versatility for children to play.
- One of the most enticing designs and color choices in the market.
- High-quality build works anywhere including yards, beach, and more.
- Sturdy, long-lasting and resistant construction.
Cons:
- The huge build can make it troublesome to transport or move when needed.
Why Should You Invest In a Playhouse?
Playhouses are some of the most expensive toys you can buy for your children. They are also one of the largest and most uncomfortable, and sometimes they are even hard to maintain or keep in neat states.
However, they improve several positive features in children that you won’t get with any other toy in the market. Want to know what? Read on:
Outdoor Activities:
It can be preoccupying when you see your kid never go out and play, especially at a very early age. But with the best outdoor playhouse, this can be eliminated. This way, he improves social skills mental, and physical capacity, and even develops essential health improvement.
Not only because toddlers are less likely to go out and play than bigger kids and teenagers, but because with today’s internet and electronic devices, children are more likely to prefer indoor play than outdoor.
However, with the right playhouse, you can make your children play outside and encourage them to enjoy it without having to see it as a rule or obligation.
Imagination & Creativity:
The playhouse indeed comes with several activities to do, as well as with a preset theme. Nonetheless, there’s nothing better for a child than to create his world to play in.
This imagination product helps enormously with creativity, making your children more intellectually capable in the long term.
Even better, it helps with communication and social skills (even more) when using imagination and creativity while playing with other kids. Some kids also develop negotiation skills and critical emotions this way. So you could say an outdoor playhouse is a perfect toy that helps kids in child development.
What to Know Before Buying The Best Outdoor Playhouse for Kids?
Now that you’ve read ten different playhouses reviews, it is time to pick the best playhouse that your children will love.
But as you know, this won’t be as easy as you think. So, as we want to relieve you from the pressure of picking the wrong product, here are a few recommendations you can follow:
Details & Items:
One of the things that makes a playhouse more entertaining and useful for children is the number and quality of details and items it comes with.
The more interactive theme-related stuff the house offers, the more likely it will help your children be entertained and acquire and develop new skills in the process. So pick one with several interactive items to play with; it will help your children.
Style & Design:
Want your children to feel immediately thrilled by the playhouse? Then pick one that comes with interesting colors and playful design. This way, your children will love the playhouse for its looks and probably feel even more seduced to use it.
Build Quality:
There’s no use in picking a playhouse that looks good if it doesn’t resist the passing of years and heavy use. We recommend always going for a product that stands and holds for years.
This means picking the sturdiest and most resistant product there is. Unless you want more versatility than strength, the ideal playhouse is the one that resists the most.
Maintenance:
Cleaning and maintaining the playhouse in a good stand is essential for the safety of your children and the durability of the product. We recommend going for options that are easy to clean and at the same time need no significant maintenance or care.
This way, you can be sure of buying the right product that lasts and provides a safe experience for your children without taking too much of your time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Want to learn more about playhouse? Then read the most common questions from users.
Q: What’s the most durable and resistant material for outdoor playhouses?
A: For us, there’s not a material that lasts or resists the most. However, we always recommend wooden playhouses and molded plastic ones. These will last and withstand more weather changes and sun than others.
Q: My children are below two years old. Can they use these playhouses?
A: Most playhouses are oriented towards toddlers between 2 and 6. However, they are safe enough for children below two. But, the kid must know how to walk alone and have sufficient balance to avoid accidents.
Q: Can I take these playhouses to the beach or camping?
A: An outdoor playhouse can quickly be brought anywhere you want without any problem. But as long as the build of the house permits it, otherwise, it can be a troublesome deed.
Conclusion
So, are you eager to bring the best outdoor playhouse home to your children? Then don’t hesitate and pick the best option according to your needs from our list.
Remember that a playhouse is not only a place to have fun but to learn & develop several skills, as well as to interact with other children or people. This will be a handy toy for your children, so make sure you pick the right product for a better and more fulfilling experience.
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