Nursery World - Enabling Environments: Collections

Before spending a lot of money on an outside playhouse, settings must think carefully about how it fits their specific needs, says Nicole Weinstein.

Outdoor playhouses offer children many opportunities to explore independently and imitate real life in the safety of a space designed with their height in mind. Playhouses come in many different shapes and sizes: some have windows and doors that open, others have verandas or balconies, and some are on stilts. These 'homes' can be set up with cooking and family role-play resources, picnic blankets and cushions, or they can be turned into shops, railway stations, castles or Superhero homes.

Julie Mountain, director of outdoor play consultancy Play Learning Life, says that there's 'no doubt' that children love outdoor playhouses. But she warns, 'They're great if a setting has a large outdoor space where other types of play are well catered for - including informal den building. But the presence of a playhouse should not detract from other forms of play.'

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