When growing up, I used to see kids in the neighborhood having a happy time during holidays, and I was like, ‘why don’t my parents get me such a nice playhouse?’
I could spend the best part of my day in our neighbors’ home, just to have a chance to slide, hide, swing, and even practice cooking in their kids’ playhouses.
The thought of my parents failing to buy me one outdoor playhouse or even indoor playhouse hurt me to the core, but there is one thing I never knew; they did not have money, or even if they had, they saw no need in buying a playhouse for 5 years old boy like me.
I had to live by their decision but made one promise that I must get the best outdoor playhouse for my kids.
Something I did, and I am here to advise young parents, or even those who are expecting their first child on the best and affordable playhouses they can choose for their kids.
As a parent, there is joy in seeing your child’s face lightened every day.
They become happiest when you gift them with something that can give them company, offer a safe playing environment, and promote excellent neighborhood with their agemates within their estates.
This happiness can be escalated when you bring the best playhouse at home, whether its an indoor or an outdoor playing structure.
If you lacked the opportunity to have one in your childhood, do not deny your kids their happiest and educative moment whenever they come back home on holidays.
It not only beneficial to them, but you will have ample time to concentrate on your house chores and office work.
In this piece of writing, we shall look at some of the best playhouses for kids and toddlers in town.
Top 10 Best Outdoor Playhouse for 2024
- Step2 Playhouse Neat & Tidy Cottage.
- Backyard Discovery Sweetwater All Cedar Wooden Playhouse.
- Little Tikes Cape Cottage.
- Step2 All Around Playtime Patio with Canopy Playhouse.
- KidKraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse.
- Step2 Happy Home Cottage & Grill Kids Playhouse.
- UTEX 3 in 1 Pop Up Play Tent with Tunnel Playhouse.
- ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Boat for Kids.
- Truedays Kids Outdoor Indoor Fun Play Big Tent Playhouse.
- Palplay M780P Kids Outdoor Playhouse.
Factors to Consider When Buying the Outdoor Playhouse
Getting any playhouse is not an issue; the issue is to get the best playhouse that will steal the attention of your kid immediately you step in your compound with it.
And this is where the question is, ‘apart from price and the size of your compound, how do you know the best and safest playhouse for your kids and toddlers?’
To help you solve the riddle, take note of the following factors when you budget for the extra playing structure for your young ones;
Design
In an attempt to get your kid a playhouse, failing to include your kid’s interests and activities will amount to zero efforts.
Many playhouses come in different creative themes and colors. The choice of the playhouse design depends on the kid’s favorite aspects, such as color safety purposes.
For instance, when looking for a playhouse for girls, you may want to pick Pink color and Purple colors.
These designs will make your girl feel like queens whenever they are inside.
When going for boys playhouse, look for a more sporty option with enough space for more physical activities.
Additionally, most outdoor playhouses have an open-design for safety purposes.
Kid’s Age
While the kid’s exact age is not a significant factor to consider when buying an outdoor playhouse, it is sometimes better to be realistic.
Kids love playing with anything that comes their way, and they do not have time to analyze if they match their ages.
However, it is in your power to decide which type of playhouse will fit your kid.
However, in most cases, as the kid grows, he or she increases in size; thus, the child’s size is the best consideration in respect to age.
Safety First
The title has it: safety first. Your kids’ safety should be a priority whenever you think of buying any playing structure.
The best outdoor playhouse for toddlers should undergo numerous safety tests and should not have any smaller pieces that can be swallowed accidentally.
They should also be round and smooth to prevent possible injuries.
Mostly, outdoor playhouses come with Greenguard certification to indicate low amounts of volatile organic compounds and chemical emissions.
Additionally, safety features include open door and windows.
Installation Process
Installing the playhouse every day is the last thing you want to waste much of your time on.
Some toddlers like to play anywhere in the backyard, and this would force you to keep on changing the playing station and install the playhouse frequently.
Therefore, as a time-saving tip, look for the outdoor playhouse that is easily installed and disassembled.
An added advantage is buying a lightweight playhouse that you can easily carry along from place to place without much straining or seeing for help.
Top 10 Best Outdoor Playhouse 2024 Reviews
After utilizing the fundamental knowledge on the factors to consider when buying the outdoor playhouse, you can confidently walk in the baby store and ask for the best playhouse to incorporate your kid’s activities.
To simplify the search process, here is a list of the best outdoor playhouse for kids and toddlers in 2020;
#1. Step2 Playhouse Neat and Tidy Cottage
When the parents decide to come up with a playhouse that mimics their real house for their kids, Step2 Playhouse Neat and Tidy Cottage reduce their stress.
The toy is suitable for both boys and girls, and it is created in authentic home design.
Step2 cottage playhouse measures 35 inches width, 51 inches length, and 46.5 inches tall. This spacious room enables your toddlers to have plenty of space to play and even relax.
For portability, the playhouse weighs only 55.1 pounds, which gives the parents an easy time moving it around outdoors.
The weight of the cottage is also efficient for easy installation and disassembling. It is also made of durable, weather-resistant plastic material.
Moreover, step2 playhouse neat and tidy cottage comes with a set of playing features for the kids, including; Dutch-style door and shutters, a doorbell, and a play phone.
There is also an included kitchen space consisting of sink, grill, and seat.
These added features give your kid a great busy time and educative environment.
The playhouse is recommended for kids between 3 and 5 years, although children as old as eight years can still find it exciting.
To further soften the floor, parents may decide to buy additional accessories and comfortably install them on the floor.
The Pros
- Easy to install.
- Durable plastic material.
- Additional real-life playing amenities.
- Open design for safety.
- Easy to clean due to built-in drain holes.
- Real home and stylish design.
- Comes in three versions.
- Compatible with most gardens.
The Cons
- Doorbell require a power source like two AAA batteries that are not included.
- Complains of the playhouse collecting rainwater that is likely to drip inside.
- Hard floor.
#2. Backyard Discovery Sweetwater All Cedar Wooden Playhouse
Backyard Discovery is primarily an outdoor wooden playhouse made of durable and classy cedar that provides weather-resistance and excellent durability.
It is one of the best outdoor playhouses on the market in 2020.
The playhouse measures 46 inches length, 46 inches wide, and 55 inches tall. The dimensions are suitable for older children beyond ten years.
However, the playhouse is recommended to be used by children between 2 years and eight years. The sizes also provide enough space for children to maneuvers the house while playing.
Backyard Discovery Sweetwater playhouse weighs 81 pounds making it more difficult to install and transfer within the backyard.
On the contrary, its heavyweight is essential to provide stability during bad weather.
Additionally, this type of backyard playhouse consists of fun playhouse features such as; play kitchen, door, and windows, flowerpot, and play phone.
The kitchen space has a sink with a twisting knob and a rotating faucet, which is the most attractive point for kids who enjoy rotating valves.
The playhouse has half-sized doors and open windows for easy entry and exit.
It is the best choice for kids who do not like spending time in an indoor playhouse, and they would love to show off to their neighboring friends.
The Pros
- Weather-resistant cedar construction.
- Stable placement.
- Included fun play features.
- Suitable for older children.
- Spacious.
The Cons
- Difficult to install.
- Less portable.
- Hard floor.
#3. Little Tikes Cape Cottage
Little Tikes Cape Cottage is a fantastic cottage for boys and girls who would love to express their creative imagination while enjoying their fun games.
It features a pink or blue theme and is small in size, making it suitable for children below the four years to have full access to the house.
The measurements are 39 inches length, 43 inches wide, and 49 inches tall.
The playhouse is one of the lightest on the market, weighing 29.5 pounds, thus is easily portable and assembled.
The ideal recommended age should not exceed eight years.
The weight of the cottage is also sufficient enough to resist moderate winds outdoors.
Unlike its brothers, Little Tikes Cape Cottage playhouse has only mail slots and flag holders as the added fun play features.
However, it has two white windows with shutters on each side and two entrance doors that allow every kid to have their entryway.
Besides, the house comes with a series of narrow vertical windows for decoration. These windows can be left open or closed with imitations mirrors.
The inner space is empty for the parents to place kid-sized furniture inside, although it is recommended to limit the number of pieces placed inside.
The Pros
- Realistic house design.
- Easy installation.
- Portable.
- Suitable for more than one kid.
- Two working doors for secure entrance and exit.
- Stylish design and colors.
The Cons
- No playing accessories were included.
- The flag is not included.
- Less weather-resistant.
- Too small for playing.
#4. Step2 All Around Playtime Patio with Canopy Playhouse
As the name suggests, this type of outdoor playhouse provides a practical way for the kids and toddlers to play comfortably outside and not be affected by the sun.
Its canopy roof provides optimal shade, giving your kids an excellent exercising environment.
Step2 All Around Playtime Patio measures 47.5 inches length, 47.5 inches width, and five feet tall.
The inner space is enough for several kids between 2 and 8 years to play comfortably.
It also weighs 70 pounds, which offers weather-resistant sturdiness, although it seems heavy for some mothers to move it around.
The playhouse has various fun play features such as an open pavilion design, multiple play stations, sand and water play area, and a market-style canopy.
It is ideal for kids to pretend to a cookout for the family or host a lemonade sale on the market.
The sand and water area provide a more adorable play for kids who like imitating how their parents cook.
This cottage playhouse is more of an educative playhouse than a mere fun-game station.
The Pros
- Stylish creation.
- An innovative and practical ground for young kids.
- Different play stations.
- Adequate space.
- Adequate fun play features.
The Cons
- Less durable material.
- No bottom floors.
#5. Kidkraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse
This is one of its kind. KidKraft Modern Wooden Playhouse is a stylish and realistic outdoor playhouse created in a durable wooden material.
It is made in a modern design that every parent and the kids would love to have.
With its dimensions of 70.9 inches by 48.9 inches and 62.2 inches tall, the playhouse turns out to be the best practical ground for kids to explore their desired imaginations.
KidKraft weighs more than 130 pounds, making it the heaviest outdoor wooden playhouse, but with extra stability.
You do not have to worry about any weather conditions with this type of outdoor playhouse.
The uniqueness of KidKraft Modern Outdoor Wooden Playhouse is also seen in its additional features: an expresso picnic table, two benches, fabric curtains, an outdoor grill with a removable lid, a front door, a flag, and a mailbox.
These features will enable children to enjoy hosting a picnic outside the cottage, putting mail into the mailbox, and relax inside during hot sunny days.
KidKraft installation requires some effort, and many parents prefer installing it only once in a while. Preferably, you can paint the wall or leave it with its natural wood color.
The Pros
- Durable and high-quality wooden structure.
- Adequate space and more comfortable playing.
- Weather-resistant stability.
- Unique additional features.
- Stylish design.
The Cons
- An expensive option.
- Difficult to install.
- Less portable.
- No bottom floors.
#6. Step2 Happy Home Cottage and Grill Kids’ Playhouse
Step2 Happy Home Cottage is in the same category as step2 Neat and Tidy Playhouse although, there are a few modifications that make it suitable for younger toddlers.
It is smaller in size and measures only 35 inches in width and 51 inches length.
It is 46.5 inches tall, and only children between the ages of 2 and five years are recommended to play in.
Due to its smaller size and lightweight, it becomes the most comfortable kids playhouse to be assembled and carried away.
There are two color versions for step2 happy home cottage playhouse; the blue version liked by boys and the pink version preferred by girls.
In addition, to its unique colors, the playhouse has numerous fun features: doorbell, sink, grill, shutters, mailbox, hardwood floor, kitchen seat, fireplace, wall clock, a play phone, and wood and stone molding home design.
It is less sturdy, and parents need to watch when their kids are playing inside or during adverse weather conditions.
The Pros
- Easy installation.
- Portable.
- Numerous additional fun features.
- Durable material.
- Suitable for toddlers.
- Added drain holes to drain, thus easy cleaning.
The Cons
- Inadequate space.
- Less stable.
- Unsafe for kids to play alone.
- Hard floor.
#7. UTEX 3 in 1 Popup Play Tent with Tunnel Playhouse
UTEX 3 in 1 Popup Play Tent is a playhouse that is made entirely from the durable tent materials.
The tent measures 31.5 inches length, 31.5 widths, and 35.5 inches tall. It weighs only 4 pounds, making it easily portable. It also comes with its storage bag.
The installation process is the easiest because you only need to pop it up and watch as your kids enjoy their fun.
UTEX 3in 1 Popup Play tent is made from the high-grade polyester fabric that is highly resistant to wear and tears and durable.
Additionally, UTEX ball is fully compliant with all the safety standards. Ideal for children from 6 months.
UTEX 3 in 1 play tent contains one square tent, one teepee house, and a long tunnel.
You can use the tents and the subway or separate the set to create a ball print playground, racing tunnel, mazes, or magic caves.
When the tents and shaft are assembled, they have a mesh window for ventilation, two small holes on each square canvas, and a tunnel that provides excellent playing opportunities. The tent is also suitable for pets.
The Pros
- Affordable price.
- Comes with a storage bag.
- Easy installation.
- Parents can easily watch as their kids tumble around inside.
- More sturdy.
The Cons
- Does not come with balls.
- Babies can quickly get stuck in small holes in the square tents.
- Dangerous wires framing that keeps the shape of the tunnel.
#8. ECR4Kids Indoor/Outdoor Buccaneer Boat for Kids
The ECR4Kids outdoor playhouse is a multi-color and fun design that comes in red, blue, green, and orange colors.
It measures 54.3 by 30.7 inches in length and width, respectively. It is also 56.7 inches tall.
With a weight of 2.2 pounds, ECR4Kids Buccaneer playhouse is simple to install and move outdoors. Parents can quickly push their kids in the buccaneer boat.
Despite less sturdiness, the boat is amazingly durable and easily stored in the house when not in use.
Buccaneer Boat has a lot of features: pirate flag, steering wheel, captains’ cabin below, a boat row, and a ladder to the upper deck.
It provides a perfect playground for the kid to express their imaginary captain skills and learn social skills to relate with others.
The recommended age is between 2 and 6, while the boat can hold up to three children. However, the boat requires close watch out from parents due to its instability.
The Pros
- Adequate space.
- Easy installation and storage.
- Portable.
- Fun, and bright colors.
The Cons
- It requires close parents to watch out.
- Less stable.
#9. Truedays Kids Outdoor Indoor Fun Play Big Tent Playhouse
The tent is an affordable solution for kids and toddlers who love spending their time outdoors. It can still be used indoors to keep your kid entertained as you focus on other activities.
The dimensions of the tent are 47.2 by 47.2 inches in length and 55.1 inches in height. It is one of the largest tent playhouses on the market for indoor and outdoor kids’ adventure.
The Truedays kids outdoor big tent weighs about 5 pounds; thus, it is easier for parents to install and move around the yard.
Although it has a less stable base, the polyester materials used to manufacture the tent are durable and waterproof.
The playhouse comes with numerous play features, including; a pool of pit balls, a Velcro front-door closure, and two tunnel ports. It incorporates children of all ages as young as 12 months.
Toddlers love playing in a pool of pit balls, and buying this outdoor playhouse will give them the joy they deserve.
It is a simple and affordable type of playhouse for parents looking for something that works better on their budget.
The Pros
- Affordable.
- Easy to install.
- Portable.
- Suitable for all ages.
- Waterproof material.
The Cons
- Fewer features.
- Less durable.
- Less stable.
- Less spacious.
#10. Palplay M780P Kids Outdoor Playhouse
Palplay M780P is a colorful outdoor playhouse made from the best quality materials that are durable and resistant to wear and tears.
It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor kids and can be used for several purposes.
The dimensions are 44.9 inches length, 42.5 inches wide, and 50.7 inches tall. The playhouse looks realistic with enough space to fit a table with some chairs.
It is also designed in bright pink and purple colors for the love of vibrant style.
Parents can quickly assemble and disassemble the playhouse because it is only 32.56lbs in weight.
Palplay M780P Kids Outdoor Playhouse comes with great features like; open design with an unobstructed view, mail slot at the door, hinged windows, balcony, and working doors.
Open windows allow parents to monitor their kids’ activities and ventilate the playhouse. It is suitable for kid as young as two years.
The Pros
- Incredibly affordable.
- Easy installation.
- Durable materials.
- Safe for kids.
- Spacious.
The Cons
- Less stability.
Final Words
Whenever you plan to buy an outdoor playhouse for your kids and toddlers, always go for one to entertain and educate your child at the same time.
Besides, put more considerations into the safety of the kid while playing in the playhouse.
Most parents would prefer those playhouses that require less of their time; therefore, it would be better to ensure that nothing hazardous is around the playhouse.
The article has reviewed some of the best outdoor playhouses, and it aims to guide you to make a sound choice when looking for the outdoor playhouse with slide, or even affordable wooden playhouse.
