How to Play House
Playing house can be a fun way to teach children about family roles and responsibilities. It can also help develop their cognitive, emotional, language and social skills. Pretend play encourages children to experiment with the roles of adults and gives them a chance to try out different ways of doing things.
The first step to playing house is to create the space for kids to play. This can be done by clearing the area of any toys that may be tripping hazards or that might be easily smashed by roughhousing. The floor should be free of debris and there should be plenty of room for children to move around and explore. Then it’s time to decorate.
Creating the space for a playhouse can be an easy DIY project. If you choose to buy a ready-made playhouse, make sure it is sturdy and safe for your child. Ensure that there are no parts that could become choking hazards, and that the paint is non-toxic. If you’re feeling creative, you can add details to the outside of the playhouse to make it more recognizable as an actual house, such as window frames and doors.
If you’re feeling inspired to create a unique playhouse, there are a number of free plans available online. One such plan comes from The Handmade Home, which includes a supply list, required tools, diagrams and detailed step-by-step building instructions. You can even add a tent flap to give the playhouse an extra homey feel.
Another option is to modify the rules of a game to suit your group’s preferences. This is common in RPGs but it can also happen with board games. Maybe you don’t like the way regaining hit points works or you find that the encumbrance system is too generous. In this case, you can create a house rule to change the rules of the game to make it more enjoyable for your group.
You can also create a playhouse with the intention of raising money for charity. For example, a woman named Caryn designed a playhouse that she used to raise funds for Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which is a nonprofit organization of volunteers who serve as voices in court for abused and neglected children. This year, her playhouse raised funds to provide more kids with permanent homes.
When modifying the rules of a game, it is important to make sure that everyone agrees on the changes. Otherwise, the house rule can cause a lot of frustration and may ruin the experience for other players. Once a house rule is agreed upon, it can be shared with the world by posting it on websites such as Board Game Geek. In some cases, the designer of the game may even endorse your rule change and include it in future editions or as an official variant of the rule book. This is a win-win situation for all involved. It’s a great way to foster a love for the game and help it reach a wider audience.
