[enron29]

So, I'm sure I'm not the only one here with kids. My wife and I are looking into getting a playhouse for the kids this Christmas. I have two daughters, one is 3.5 years and the other will be a year soon. We are looking for one that is big enough for the 3.5 year old to get use out of and the 1 year old to grow into. Been looking around and just can't find one that we love. They seem so small. Only looking to spend around $500 or so.

Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Was thinking about building one too, but I don't have much experience in that and it might be pretty time consuming as well.

Thanks.

[Foodle]

We've had good luck with the Little Tikes play castle. Are you looking for indoor or outdoor?


Your kids are at an age where they'll get a few years use out of it, but they outgrow their toys so fast ...

[amanda hor$t]

giant cardboard boxes, let them build their own forts

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by veloziROTHTOR

giant cardboard boxes, let them build their own forts

Yes, they will play more with the box than the actual toy in many cases. Was just at a kids party as a house full of toys, and they were fighting over who got to play with a refrigerator box in the back yard.

[MisterSkiMask]

I have a Cedar Playhouse from Costco in the garage. I started to put it together, but damn, it is a real construction project. I think the gazebo I built (from lumber, not a kit) was less involved. Maybe I'll work on it this weekend, the main problem is the pieces are so big that I need help moving the pieces and holding things in place.

[enron29]

Yeah, looking for an outside playhouse. While I do agree with the comments about getting more usage out of cardboard boxes, I think that would be more true if I had 2 boys rather than 2 girls. I think the girls will tend to use a playhouse more.

[enron29]

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

I have a Cedar Playhouse from Costco in the garage. I started to put it together, but damn, it is a real construction project. I think the gazebo I built (from lumber, not a kit) was less involved. Maybe I'll work on it this weekend, the main problem is the pieces are so big that I need help moving the pieces and holding things in place.

Is that one of those $1K or more ones? Not really looking to get something that big.

[carve]

Something to be said for the boxes. They can manipulate it themselves, enhancing creativity, which is where the real fun is.

When I was a kid I wanted a treehouse. My dad built me something shaped like our real house up on 10' legs. Basically a shed on stilts. He was pissed when I just wanted to go play with the redneck kids down the road, where we built a dangerous as hell ewok village WAY the hell up in an actual tree out of old pallets and stuff.

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by enron29

I think the girls will tend to use a playhouse more.

Gender neutral. My daughter can play with a single cardboard box for days. First it's a squirrel house, then a pretend TV, then a stuffed animal operating theater, etc. etc.

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by enron29

Is that one of those $1K or more ones? Not really looking to get something that big.

I don't think it was quite that expensive, it was a gift from grandma. But it is a heavy bitch.

[amanda hor$t]

didn't have a big house when i was a kid... though i built a few tents with some bedsheets and chairs, got old fast

had a bigger house (with a big yard) by the time i was a teenager, but then i was too busy with computers, studying etc.

somehow, spending big bucks on a playhouse seems like a waste. if they're like most kids, they'll get tired of it in no time

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

I don't think it was quite that expensive, it was a gift from grandma. But it is a heavy bitch.

The wooden ones do cost that much depending if you get all the bells and whistles. I've been pricing some for a while now for my 4 yr old daughter. Seen some on craigslist also for a few hundred bucks but the problem is moving it.

[enron29]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

The wooden ones do cost that much depending if you get all the bells and whistles. I've been pricing some for a while now for my 4 yr old daughter. Seen some on craigslist also for a few hundred bucks but the problem is moving it.

That's what I was thinking was looking on craigslist, but the fact of tearing down and re-building didn't have me feeling good considering the time and sturdiness after putting it back together.

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by enron29

That's what I was thinking was looking on craigslist, but the fact of tearing down and re-building didn't have me feeling good considering the time and sturdiness after putting it back together.

it would save you a bunch of money and you could also learn where to reinforce it when tearing it down...

[UncleWede]

Consider TuffShed. Once the girls get tired of it in a couple months, then you have something to store your _____ in that is really pretty sturdy. As long as you can get past the whole dollhouse thing for keeping your _______.

[amanda hor$t]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Consider TuffShed. Once the girls get tired of it in a couple months, then you have something to store your _____ in that is really pretty sturdy. As long as you can get past the whole dollhouse thing for keeping your _______.

dungeon, chinese sex swing etc