How to Extend the Lifespan of a Wendy House
A playhouse, or wendy house, provides a dedicated space where children can follow their curiosity, develop social and emotional skills, exercise their fine and gross motor skills, and engage in imaginative pretend play. As kids grow up, however, their interests may change, and they might not want to spend as much time in the playhouse.
Fortunately, parents can extend the lifespan of a backyard wendy house by adding furniture and accessories, changing the theme to reinvigorate interest, and encouraging themed play. By doing so, they can provide a versatile space that will help kids continue to use the playhouse as they enter pre-school and elementary school.
As the name suggests, playhouses are a toy domestic dwelling, often built for children to play make-believe and act out different family roles and activities. For example, a child might pretend to be cooking or cleaning in their own playhouse, or they might use it to host imaginary parties for their friends. These kinds of play have a number of developmental benefits for toddlers and preschoolers, including improving their coordination and motor skills, building social-emotional competencies, and learning to identify and solve problems.
When used appropriately, a playhouse can also offer opportunities for outdoor exercise. Physical activity helps to improve coordination and muscle strength, and it can help children burn off restless energy. When kids don’t have an outlet for their energy, they can be more easily frustrated and misbehave, even without intending to do so. This is why it’s important to make sure kids have a safe and accessible place to release their energy, such as a playhouse.
The best playhouses allow kids to interact and collaborate with friends and siblings. Getting children to engage in cooperative play teaches them how to work together, share their toys, and accommodate each other’s wants and needs. In addition, collaborating on tasks in the playhouse helps them to develop communication skills and learn how to resolve conflicts and disagreements. These are all important social and problem-solving skills that can be difficult to develop through screen time alone.
To maximize the benefits of a playhouse, choose an outdoor model that is made from durable materials like cedar, which resists rot and is cool to the touch on hot days. This also means that the playhouse will be able to withstand the elements and continue to look good after years of use. Backyard Discovery offers playhouses that are easy to assemble using their patented BILT system, which makes use of precut and prestained components, making the process fast and simple.
To encourage social interaction, consider choosing a playhouse that comes with accessories like a chalkboard wall or a kid-sized table and chairs. Adding other fun features, such as a rock climbing wall or a slide, can help to entice kids to play more in the playhouse. The biggest hit in our tests, though, was the slide on this two-story wood playhouse from KidKraft. Our 5-year-old tester could spend hours playing on the slide, whether he was pushing cars down it or simply going up and down.
