If you’re looking for one of the best Victorian Playhouse on the market, look no further than those made by the Little Cottage Company. We delve deep into this wonderful Victorian Playhouse alongside several other impressive playhouse mansions.
All of these playhouse mansions are Amish handcrafted for a level of quality that is impossible to find nowadays, and it shows in the attention to detail for each style of kids playhouse.
Would your child be able to have fun if they were stuck in the middle of an empty room? If an adult was in the same situation they would begin to feel anxious after spending a few minutes away from their smartphone. Children haven’t yet lost the wonderful power of imagination.
Pretend play is one of the biggest things that will impact your child’s life. It’s your sole responsibility to nurture it and give your child the greatest gift in the world, which they won’t fully appreciate until they’ve reached adulthood. If only kids could appreciate things as they happened. Oh well, we were all kids once. Let them play and be thankful later in life.
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Children’s Victorian Playhouses
Do you remember playing in playhouses when you were a child? It’s the most popular way children can pretend play because they’re more realistic than anything else. Your one wouldn’t have been as fancy as models like the Victorian playhouses they have these days, but it still would have made you into the man or woman you are now.
Interior & Exterior Views | Sara’s Victorian Mansion
There are a couple of reasons why they’ve only became bigger and better over the years. We’re going to focus on some beautiful Victorian playhouses in a while, but first let’s look at the two big reasons you should definitely get one for your child:
- Developing Your Child’s Mind
- Improving Physical Health
We’ll discuss the benefits to child development later in the article. First, let’s look at some of the best Victorian playhouse mansions for kids. These are some of the coolest children’s ‘toys’ I’ve ever seen. Your child will never forget the day they step into their very own Victorian mansion playhouse. Honestly, would you? The closest I ever came to something like these was a tent setup up in our backyard. Unfortunately, my parents were not well-off but you’d have to be a fool not to appreciate the bolt of joy and inspiration these kids playhouses would bring to your home.
The best gifts are those that foster great memories and encourage learning. It’s your responsibility create an environment at home that allows your child to expand and explore in meaningful ways. This is true for both adults and children. A Victorian playhouse is — or, at least has the potential to be — a life expanding gift that will continue to give for years after the initial purchase.
How much are joyful memories worth? An expensive gift such as one of these Victorian playhouses is merely a starting point. As a parent, it’s up to you to guide your child toward positive experiences, so it’s important that you participate in activities with them as well as allow them to play independently or with friends. These playhouses are absolutely wonderful in so many ways, but at their core they are a conduit for a variety of activities and experiences to take place.
Mansion Playhouse | Little Cottage Company Grand Portico
Your kids will be the talk of the neighborhood with this stunning mansion playhouse.
Introducing The Amazing Little Cottage Company
The Little Cottage Company has been in business for nearly 20 years because they do something most other companies don’t. They can put an enormous smile on the faces of adults and children at the same time. When your child spots their Victorian playhouse for the very first time they won’t be able to believe it’s real. You’ll be just as amazed once it’s been put together.
They’ve all been carefully hand crafted in Amish country by a woodwork magician who has tried to accomplish a few things. They are designed to be practical while being very stylish. Also, they’re very comfortable and toddlers to young teens will find them spacious. There is a little surprise for you too, because you’ll be able to fit inside them easily compared to most playhouses.
Out of all the Victorian playhouses available there are a few special ones in the lineup, which we’re going to examine in closer detail now to help you decide which one your child will like best:
- Victorian Playhouse
- Grand Portico Mansion Playhouse
- Sara’s Victorian Mansion Playhouse
- Cape Cod Playhouse
- Pennfield Cottage Playhouse
Victorian Playhouse | Kids Mansion
Sizes : 4 x 6 / 6 x 8 / 8 x 8 / 8 x 10 / 8 x 12 / 10 x 12
Includes:
- Wood wall and truss framing.
- High quality siding and trim pre-fastened onto wall panels (insures panels are square).
- Panelized walls sections (not just precut) saves time in assembly.
- Gingerbread trim pre-fastened to panels.
- All other parts are pre-cut and ready to assemble.
- Working windows with safety glass and screen.
- Shutters and flower-boxes.
- One painted heart plexiglass window (white).
- Child’s dutch door.
- Adult dutch door on side.
- Hardware needed to assemble (screws, latches, handles, nails).
- Outside corner trim (white aluminum).
- All trim and siding is pre-primed.
- Handcrafted In: Ohio, USA
- Printed Step by Step manual with color pictures.
Note: Specific supplies & features may depend on size you purchase — Customer Provides Shingles, Drip edge, and paint.
A Nice And Simple Design
Perhaps you don’t want anything too fancy in your garden. If that’s the case, you’ll like the Victorian playhouse because it’s the most basic Little Cottage Company design, which doesn’t in any way mean it’s a bad thing.
It has a few architectural touches to help it look good even though it’s not too extreme. For example, there is gingerbread trim attached to all the panels and it’s noticeable when the playhouse is complete. The heart-shaped plexiglass window looks sweet too.
Various Sizes To Choose From
Before you do anything else you’ll have to decide which size of playhouse you want, because the Victorian playhouses come in 6 different sizes. Your decision might depend on the space you have available, so we’ll cover all the sizes first.
4 x 6 / 6 x 8 / 8 x 8 / 8 x 10 / 8 x 12, and 10 x 12 — the dimensions are in feet (ft). If we take all other sizes out of the equation for a moment, you’ll find a positive and negative with the smallest one. It’s the only playhouse to come with a DIY floor, but it is too small for a loft.
10 x 12-feet Victorian Playhouse
The Ultimate In Customization
This is where things could get really exciting because you’ll be able to customize your playhouse a lot. Imagine having a decking with railings running around the outside of the building. You could have a chimney to improve the look of the roof too.
You’ll have extras like windows, flower boxes, shutters, and a loft upgrade to choose from. The loft is the only unique one out of the bunch, because it comes with flower boxes and shutters. It also has a couple of working windows with safety glass that come as standard.
Build It Within A Few Hours
When your alphabetized panels are offloaded from the delivery truck it’s easy to be pessimistic. You will feel better once you know it only takes hours to put the playhouse together, but it could stretch to a day if you order the biggest model.
No matter what size you end up choosing you’ll still need a helping hand because some things are heavy. They say it takes roughly 4-8 hours until it’s done, but this doesn’t include additional stuff like painting it. You’ll also need to have all the right tools on hand.
Turning The House Into A Shed
Every child grows old and what are you left with when they do? A very beautiful structure taking up space in your garden. Victorian playhouses are great when they’re developing your child’s mind, but when they are doing nothing it’s a different story.
Like other smaller playhouses from the Little Cottage Company you can turn them into a shed, but this will only work with the biggest model on this specific one. It’s because there are double adult doors and the walls on the side are higher up.
Learn more about this Victorian Playhouse mansion on the Little Cottage site.
Grand Portico Mansion Playhouse | 10′ x 16′
Features:
- 22 Working Playhouse windows with safety glass and screens
- 4 stately columns
- Loft with ladder
- Front child door
- Adult sized french door
- High-quality siding and trim
- Beautiful transom windows to frame front door
- 10 Flower boxes
- Printed Step by Step manual w/ color pictures
- Weight: 2,950 lbs.
- Assembly Required
- Printed Step by Step manual with color pictures
- Handcrafted In: Ohio, USA
Note: Customer Provides; Shingles, Drip edge, and paint.
It Really Does Look Like A Mansion
Once you have finished building the Grand Portico Mansion you can give yourself a pat on the back because it’s huge. It’s roughly 10 feet high, 16 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. That is a lot of panels you’ll have to deal with during the building process.
Don’t worry because the Little Cottage Company has made it easy for you by ensuring it has alphabetized panels. All you’ll need to do is screw them together, which they say will take a couple of days if there are two people working on it.
There Are Lots Of Quality Windows
It’s really not as bad as it sounds, even though 22 windows might frighten the life out of you. They’re made with safety glass, so your child won’t be able to hurt themselves on them. The windows measure 14 x 21 inches in size so they’re big enough for children.
There are actually more on the mansion, but the ones we’re talking about are working windows. Your child will be able to open them in summer if it’s a bit hot outside. The other big benefit of having so many windows is all the light it’s going to let in.
The Architecture Of The Building
This isn’t just one giant playhouse that looks plain and boring. The rich architecture is visually stunning. Your neighbors won’t be able to walk past your home without staring at it and you’ll wish your own home looked similar.
The four big columns at the front of the door add a touch of class. Even the siding and trim look good while also protecting the building. Once you’ve painted it (with your child if they’re old enough) it will be the ideal finishing touch.
It Has A Loft With Its Own Ladder
How many Victorian playhouses do you know that are nearly 10 feet high? It’s so big there is an adult sized French door at the back of the building, so you won’t have to squeeze through the realistic 40 x 20 inch child door out front.
The sheer size of the building means they’ve included two floors inside, although the loft isn’t as big as the entire playhouse. If your child wants to climb up they’ll need to use a ladder, which you can take away if they’re a bit young to be climbing.
Arrives With Ten Flower Boxes
As a nice little bonus the mansion will come with lots of flower boxes, which you’ll be able to put at the bottom of the windows on the exterior of the playhouse. Your child will get to grow and nurture their own plants.
It also adds to the beauty of the building, especially if you choose bright flowers. There is actually an option where you’ll be able to order more flower boxes, and while we’re talking about extra options you can order an extra window you’ll need to install yourself.
Sara’s Victorian Mansion Playhouse
Sizes (in feet) : 8′ x 16‘ / 10′ x 18′
Features:
- Wood wall framing.
- Wood trusses.
- Pre-primed siding fastened onto wall panels.
- Panelized walls sections (not just precut) saves time in assembly.
- Pre-fastened gingerbread trim.
- Working windows with safety glass, grids and screens.
- Child dutch door.
- Flower boxes for the bottom windows.
- Adult door.
- Hardware to assemble (screws, latches, handles, nails).
- Loft with ladder for turret side.
- Outside corner trim (high quality composite material)
- Fancy Victorian trim.
- Printed Step by Step manual with color pictures
- Handcrafted In: Ohio, USA
Note: Customer Provides; Shingles, Drip edge, and paint.
It Comes In Two Different Sizes
Sara’s Victorian Mansion is actually similar to the Grand Portico Mansion, but you’ll get to choose from a couple of different sizes. One of them is bigger and the other is slightly smaller. The official sizes are 8′ x 16-feet and 10′ x 18-feet.
They say the average time to put it together is longer, so it will take a couple of people two days if you’re good at DIY. Even if you’re not an expert they’ve still made things easy for you because this playhouse comes with alphabetized panels too.
The Architecture Is Fantastic
If you look closely the architecture is different from the last mansion we looked at, but it’s certainly not any less extravagant. It looks like an old castle complete with a turret on one side of the building that stands out a mile.
There are no columns on this playhouse, but it does have gingerbread trim. It gives it a nice cartoonish feel and I’m sure your child will like it. One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is what color you’re going to paint it.
There Is A Loft In The Building
Are you still young enough to remember Rapunzel, the Disney princess who was locked inside a tower? If you have a daughter with long hair it might give you flashbacks looking at her standing at the window of the turret up in the loft.
Placing the loft there is a nice touch. It’s easily accessible by ladder, but you can take it away like we spoke about before. If you don’t feel like your child will be safe you can ban them from the loft until they’re older and wiser.
A Big Selection Of Windows
There are 17 windows that arrive with the Sara’s Victorian Mansion playhouse, but like the last mansion it’s possible to order more if you have the skills to install them yourself. They can open and close, plus they’re made of safety glass.
The windows measure 14 x 21 inches, and the door on the playhouse measures 20 x 40 inches. There isn’t a French door on the back of the mansion, but you’ll still be able to gain access through the adult door measuring 4 x 6 feet.
Flower Boxes For Extra Decoration
The playhouse is built to last and it already looks fantastic straight out of the box. That being said, everything can always look better and they’ve thrown in 8 flower boxes to brighten it up even more. Extra flower boxes can be ordered too.
If your child is too young to tend to flowers on their own you shouldn’t bother growing them yourself. Wait until you’ve decided what color you’re going to paint the mansion then head to the garden center to pick up flowers that compliment it.
Cape Cod Playhouse | Victorian Kids Mansion
Sizes : 4 x 6 / 6 x 8 / 8 x 8 / 8 x 10 / 8 x 12 / 10 x 12
Features:
- Wood wall and truss framing
- Duratemp siding pre-fastened onto wall panels (insures panels are square)
- Panelized walls sections (not just precut) saves time in assembly
- Straight trim pre-fastened to panels
- All other parts are precut and ready to assemble
- 2 working windows with safety glass and screens
- Shutters and flower boxes
- 2 Caped Cod dormers (non functioning)(these are not open through roof)
- 2 Grid windows in dormers (non functioning)
- Child’s dutch door
- Adult dutch door on side
- Hardware needed to assemble (screws, latches, handles, nails)
- Outside corner trim (white aluminum)
- All trim and siding is pre-primed
- Handcrafted In: Ohio, USA
- Printed Step by Step manual with color pictures
Note: Customer Provides; Shingles, Drip edge, and paint.
It’s Easy To Put Together Quickly
This is going to depend on the size of playhouse you buy, but it shouldn’t take you long to put the Cape Cod model together. Two people are still required due to what the job entails, but if you’re lucky it will take around 4-8 hours of your time.
Like all great Little Cottage Company products the alphabetized panels never hurt. The trim and siding have already been fastened to the panels too, so it’s not the kind of playhouse you should be intimidated by if you’re not skilled at DIY.
There Are Lots Of Sizes Available
There is no need to panic if you don’t have lots of money available right now. The Cape Cod playhouse comes in 6 different sizes and they’ll get cheaper as they get smaller. The biggest one is more than twice as big as the smallest one.
The sizes you’ll get to choose from are: 4 x 6 / 6 x 8 / 8 x 8 / 8 x 10 / 8 x 12 / 10 x 12. Everything is measured in feet (ft). Each size will have slight differences, but they’re only minor and we’ll touch on those briefly in a second.
It Almost Looks Like A Real Home
Architecture enthusiasts might not be impressed by this playhouse, but it’s great if you want something that looks like an ordinary home. It only has 2 working windows, which are made of safety glass and have a grid design along with screens.
You’ll get shutters and flower boxes to improve its appeal. The dormers on the roof make the home look real, but they only open on the biggest model. The smallest models have 2 dormers and a couple of them have 3 dormers, but they’re non functioning.
You Can Choose A Ton Of Upgrades
Maybe it’s the shape of the smaller playhouses, but this one also comes with so many options you’ll be stuck for hours figuring out which ones you want. Aesthetically, the deck and rail upgrade is always going to make the biggest difference.
On a pure enjoyment level, it’s got to be the loft upgrade because two floors is always better than one. Forget it if you get the smallest model. You can add in shutters, more flower boxes, and an extra window. None of those will be as noticeable as the chimney upgrade.
Use The Largest Model In The Future
A lot of parents choose the largest model for a number of reasons. The biggest one is that children will be able to use it for a lot longer if they’re young at the moment. It’s not the kind of toy you want your child to grow out of quickly due to the cost.
Thankfully you can use the 10 x 12 feet model even when your child is all grown up, although you might want to change the color if it’s pink. It can be used as a shed because the side walls are higher and it has double adult doors.
Pennfield Cottage Playhouse | Luxury Playhouse
Sizes : 9 x 8 / 11 x 8 / 11 x 10 / 11 x 12 (in feet)
Features:
- Wood wall framing.
- Wood trusses
- High quality siding and trim per-fastened onto wall panels(insures panels are square)
- Panelized walls sections (not just precut) saves time in assembly
- Straight trim pre-fastened to panels
- All other parts are precut and ready to assemble
- Working windows with safety glass, grids and screens
- Shutters and flowerboxes
- Cape cod dormers (non functioning) — not open to the outside
- Child’s dutch door
- Adult dutch door on side
- Railing for porch
- Covered porch 3’ deep by width of building
- Hardware needed to assemble (screws, latches, handles, nails)
- Outside corner trim (white aluminum)
- Primed siding and trim
- Comes with floor kit
- Handcrafted In: Ohio, USA
- Printed Step by Step manual with color pictures
Note: Customer Provides; Shingles, Drip edge, and paint.
Your Child Can Sit Outside
The mansions we’ve looked at today are in a class of their own, but if you think a porch would look nice the Pennfield Cottage playhouse has the ultimate design. It’s great because your child will be able to sit outside on the decking even when it’s pouring with rain.
They’ll be protected by a porch roof 3 feet in length that runs along the entire width of the building. This particular playhouse also comes with a porch railing straight out of the box, so you won’t have to pay any additional money for it.
Less Sizes You Can Choose From
Pennfield Cottage only has 4 sizes you can choose from compared to the other smaller playhouses, but at least it might help you make your mind up sooner. The sizes available are 9 x 8 / 11 x 8 / 11 x 10 / 11 x 12 — measured in feet (ft).
Not only do all models come with a porch, but all of them include a floor kit too. Every child’s Dutch door is 20 x 40 inches, and the adult ones are all 34 x 61 inches. Only the number of dormers vary depending on the size, but we’ll touch on them later.
It’s Impossible To Mess Up
There is more than one reason why the last of the smaller playhouses is impossible to mess up. So far we’ve spent a lot of time focusing on the alphabetized panels because without them a non-DIY expert would have trouble building any of the Victorian playhouses.
It’s also vital to ensure everything is completely secure when you’re finished. You don’t want your child to get hurt because you messed up, which is why it’s so good the high quality sliding and trim is already fastened onto the panels. It’s guaranteed the playhouse is going to be squared up perfectly.
Lighting Up The Playhouse
The biggest concern with the Pennfield Cottage playhouse is the amount of natural light that will find its way inside. Due to the fact there is an overhanging roof on the porch, the 2 working 14 x 21 inch safety glass windows will not get as much sunlight hitting them.
It doesn’t matter too much because this playhouse roof has dormers. The smaller models have a couple of dormers and the larger models have an extra one, so you’ll know which playhouse to choose if light is a concern. An extra dormer is better than leaving doors open.
Bag Full Of Upgrades Available
You’ve probably noticed these smaller playhouses have far more upgrades than the mansions, but at least you get to choose which ones you want. The loft is an obvious choice even if your child will have to wait a few years to stare out of the non functioning dormers.
All the others we’ve mentioned many times before are available as upgrades too. You’ll just need to decide if the shutters and flower boxes that come as standard is enough. Although the chimney isn’t an essential upgrade, an extra window would help brighten the playhouse up.
Preparing for Your Little Cottage Company Playhouse
These amazing structures can’t be ordered then forgotten about. Once you’ve pulled the trigger there is still much to do, so it’s crucial we talk about getting ready for the arrival of your playhouse to make sure you’re prepared. Before all the fun and games begin please keep these particular things in mind:
Collecting Playhouses From The Delivery Truck
Not only do you need a friend to help you out when it’s time to build any of the Victorian playhouses, but they should be there when everything is dropped off too. They must be a very good friend with muscles like Hercules, because although the average weight of each piece is 40-60 pounds they can reach close to a hundred pounds on selected models.
When they’re delivered everything is going to come on pallets. The driver will be responsible for opening those pallets by removing the wrapping. Once that is done, it’s going to be up to you to unload them. Please remember to pay close attention when you’re taking the panel pieces off the pallets. You should inform the delivery driver of any damages straight away.
Certain Things You Will Need To Supply On Your Own
I’m sure you can imagine you’ll be left with a big pile of equipment in your garden, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be supplied with everything. Apart from some basic tools you’ll need to use, there are a few things in particular you’ll be responsible for:
Roof Shingles – To help your playhouse withstand the elements it will need shingles on the roof, which you’ll need to supply. It’s good because you get to choose which ones to use. They’re not hard to find and can be picked up at your local building supply store.
Drip Edge – The drip edge is a piece of metal that sits on the corner of your roof and lies underneath the bottom shingle. It’s the rock that holds everything together, because its job is to ensure no water causes damage to your playhouse.
Paint – Did you think these things were going to paint themselves? They do come in various colors when you order them prebuilt, but the DIY kits will need to be painted by you. It’s not actually a bad thing because it will give you a lot more say on what the final product will look like.
Setting Up The Ground Where Your Playhouse Will Sit
Lastly, we’ll need to talk about the ground on which Victorian playhouses will sit. It needs to be prepared well in advance as you can’t just plant these giant structures anywhere. We’ve already talked about the dimensions of each playhouse, so start by making sure your site is a foot wider in every direction to control weeds and keep water away.
The second most important rule is to ensure you’re dealing with a level surface, because it’s going to be equally unsafe and annoying if it’s not. The Little Cottage Company usually recommends a couple of options when you are preparing your site to increase the longevity of your playhouse:
Crushed Stone – 3/4 inch clean crushed stone is one of the recommendations, which should sit roughly 5 inches deep. You can either dig out 5 inches of soil and fill the hole with crushed stone, or build out the base with 4 x 4 inch timber and fill the gaps with crushed stone.
Concrete Pad – This option won’t be as good at letting rainwater drain away, but it’s still recommended as one of the top options. The only thing you’re asked to do is keep it as close to ground level as possible, which is to prevent accidents more than anything else.
Please Note: You’ll notice a lot of the Victorian playhouses don’t come with DIY wooden floors. If your particular model doesn’t, the concrete pad is the best option, because it will be more comfortable for your child if they’re not playing on crushed stone.
Child Development | Victorian Playhouses
Why it matters? Why is pretend play an important part of growing up?
An excerpt from : The Need for Pretend Play in Child Development
“An important benefit of early pretend play may be its enhancement of the child’s capacity for cognitive flexibility and, ultimately, creativity (Russ, 2004; Singer & Singer, 2005). Russ, for example, in longitudinal studies, found that early imaginative play was associated with increased creative performance years later (Russ, 2004; Russ, & Fiorelli, 2010). Root-Bernstein’s research with clearly creative individuals such as Nobel Prize winners and MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant awardees, indicated that early childhood games about make-believe worlds were more frequent in such individuals than in control participants in their fields (Root-Bernstein, 2012)…”
Now that you have a better idea about the variety of beautiful Victorian playhouses from Little Cottage Company, let’s get into some of the important reasons why it’s important to provide an environment of creativity and pretend play for your child or children.
Let’s go in-depth and explore two significant justifications for investing your money in a Victorian Playhouse Mansion for your little ones. Obviously, not everyone can afford to purchase these playhouses, but if you’re somebody who can afford then I strongly recommend doing so for you child. Just imagine what it was like growing up when you were young and how much joy the smallest things gave you.
Now, imagine all the memories that having your own Victorian Playhouse in your own backyard would mean to you, not to mention how it would encourage more engagement with friends and family. It’s essential that kids grow up in an environment that is nurturing, loving and interactive. Kids naturally want to explore and create so the more you can encourage this type of behavior the better off they will likely be as they move into adulthood.
Developing Your Child’s Mind
Your child will continue to develop from the day they are born until they reach the end of adolescence. Although we know the ways in which they’ll develop, every single child is the world will do it in their own unique way and in their own time.
Letting them have fun in playhouses will only boost their development in ways you couldn’t imagine. It really could shape them into the person they become further down the line, so you’ll probably want to know the main benefits a playhouse will offer them:
Please Note: I’m sure you know there are a lot more things we could talk about. The point was only to show you how important playhouses are in developing your child’s mind, so hopefully all the examples we’ll focus on below is enough.
Learn How To Empathize With Others
Have you ever heard of the ‘theory of mind’ concept? When your child is young they won’t yet know that the thoughts of other people differ from their own. Pretend play will allow them go fully grasp this if they haven’t already.
Once they know other children suffer from various emotions they’ll learn how to empathize with them. When you look at the way we’re headed as a society right now you can see why this is at the top of the list.
An Increase In Their Language Usage
This obviously won’t work if your child isn’t old enough to talk, but if they’re currently building up their vocabulary it’s going to skyrocket. Other language usage skills will come on leaps and bounds too.
You’ll see them start to use more adjectives, future tenses, and subjunctives in their conversations with you. If you can’t remember what those even mean it shows you how powerful Victorian playhouses actually are.
Coming Up With Creative New Ideas
Creativity is perhaps the thing adults lose most once they start working. Your child will only be learning anything is possible as they come up with tons of creative ideas for things like games and decorating their playhouse.
This will let them excel at divergent thinking. It’s one of the methods children can use to think of creative ideas, which involves them exploring lots of potential solutions before deciding on their favorite one.
Expressing Different Kinds Of Emotions
If things aren’t going well in your child’s make believe world they’ll be unhappy. When the opposite is true they will feel absolutely fantastic. They will be able to express all sorts of emotions through pretend play.
You might be wondering why this is vital when they’ll express real emotions automatically throughout their life anyway. When they express them on purpose inside their playhouse they’ll be merging cognition with emotions.
Encourages Them To Be More Social
We’re in the middle of an epidemic at the moment as I’m sure you already know. The troubling part is how much it’s affecting children. Thanks to electronic devices they’re losing their ability to socialize.
Once your child reaches an age where it’s more terrifying to make new friends you don’t want them to become an outcast. If they become extremely social at a young age it will carry over as they progress through school.
They’ll Learn How To Negotiate Deals
None of the other children will have extravagant Victorian playhouses, so maybe they’ll spend more time at your home. It doesn’t mean your child will get to make all the rules when they’re playing games.
We spoke a little about empathy earlier, but they’ll need to learn how to be assertive too. When you combine them together it’s easy to see they will have to learn how to become good at negotiating.
Learning To Become A Great Leader
On certain occasions they will in fact get to make all the rules. Even the military knows how important this is, which is why recruits will need to learn how to lead during officer training as well as learning how to cooperate.
If your child can learn to become a leader at an early age during pretend play they’ll benefit in lots of ways. One of them will be the ability to solve problems under pressure when others are relying on them.
Becoming Resistant To Mental Disorders
In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the amount of children suffering from common mental disorders like depression and anxiety. The amount of time children spend with adults these days is thought to contribute towards it.
They don’t have the chance to grow as adults away from adults, which can cause issues when they finally have to face situations alone. It’s best to let them prepare for this well in advance when they’re still young.
Thinking From Different Perspectives
If there is nobody else playing with your child they’ll need to do everything on their own. This will usually involve other characters and sometimes they’ll need to pretend to be two people at the same time.
It’s more complicated than it sounds if you’re only a small child. If you want to have the maximum amount of fun possible you’ll need to think from two different perspectives, which they’ll quickly become good at.
Becoming More Confident In Themselves
Your child is always used to getting bossed around, because you’ll always be telling them what to do. It’s surely about time they get to become a hero who can do anything they want in their imaginary world.
We’ve reached a stage where we know positive affirmations delivered over time has a big impact on your confidence. Your child won’t even know they’re doing it while pretending to be a superhero or princess.
Improving Their Physical Health
Shaping a child’s mind will always be the most important thing as they grow older, but physical health is a big deal too. Could you have imagined Victorian playhouses would have benefits in this department? Let’s have a look at them to help convince you pretend play works more than the mind:
Spending More Time Outdoors
The generation of children sitting playing video games every day don’t get a lot of fresh air. They’ve probably forgot what it feels like to go outside, but your child won’t even though they’ll technically be inside a playhouse.
Fresh air has various benefits like cleaning the lungs and energizing the body. Your child will also get their daily dose of vitamin D, which can only be absorbed through the sunlight hitting their skin.
Easier To Keep Weight Down
Children don’t need to stay in shape in the same way adults do. It’s not like they want to go around rocking a six pack, but they do want to stay at a healthy weight to avoid future health complications.
They’ll feel more confident if they are not overweight too, which is sad but children as young as 5 years old are suffering from body image issues. Running around outside will surely help.
They Won’t Get Sick As Often
One of the worst things a parent has to go through is watching their child get sick. If they don’t spend a lot of time outdoors it might happen regularly, but when the opposite is true they will get sick less often.
This has to do with the fact children who move around have a stronger immune system, which will fight off various illnesses. It will improve their digestive system too, so they’ll not suffer from any stomach-related problems all the time.
Falling Asleep Easier At Night
Children need more sleep than adults, but you’ll know how difficult it is getting them into bed at the moment. When you do manage to put them to bed they’ll probably wake you up in the middle of the night.
When you try putting children to bed after they’ve been running around playing in playhouses all day something strange will happen. They’ll be so tired their sleep schedule will improve drastically.
It Helps To Relieve Stress
If you don’t remember being stressed out much when you were younger it’s probably because you have a bad memory. Children are more stressed these days, but we’ve all suffered from it in the past and it’s not nice.
When your child is suffering from stress the could get headaches, stomach pains, and terrible mood swings. Pretend play is an excellent way for them to relieve the stress from their life every day.
Pretend Play Ideas for Kids
In a while we’re going to look at some beautiful Victorian playhouses that will take your breath away. Before we look at them it might be a good idea to look at some popular ways children use their playhouses. You’ll be able to imagine them playing inside each one a lot easier.
An Animal Veterinary Hospital – If you have any pets your child could turn their playhouse into an animal veterinary hospital. If they were performing operations they would have to be imaginary ones, but you could drop a little hint to take the dog outside and give it a good wash.
Teaching In The Classroom – This one is a great idea because your child will develop everything we’ve talked about, but they will learn even more at the same time. They’ll be able to pretend they’re a teacher and give their friends lessons, or if it’s the opposite way around they might learn something new.
Putting Out Fires In Your Garden – Hopefully you have a real hose in your garden because the bushes might catch on fire. Your child will be able to rush outside and use the hose to put the fire out. At the same time they’ll be watering all your plants for you.
Working For A Decorating Company – Victorian playhouses are big and beautiful, so the owner will need the help of a decorating company. Your child is the best employee in the business, so they’ll be the one sent out to decorate the playhouse as they see fit.
A House In The Jungle – Let your child watch Tarzan then send them out to the playhouse. They’ll be able to pretend they’re living in the middle of a jungle. If you have a large garden with lots of trees they’ll enjoy going out exploring and communicating with the wildlife.
Opening Their Own Fancy Restaurant – You’ll need to get your child a toy kitchen set, but it will be worth it because they’ll be able to cook you tasty mud pies. You can even put a table and chairs in the playhouse to eat your lunch with them.
A Secret Superhero Lair – Unfortunately you won’t be allowed into their superhero lair because it’s meant to be a secret. Luckily there are lots of male and female superheroes these days, so they’ll be able to fight crime whether they are a girl or boy.
Resting In Their Luxurious Castle – Think about all the luxurious castles around the world where a prince or princess would hang out. The one in your garden will definitely be the best of them all. They could be a knight instead and go out fighting.
Studying In The Library – Where is your child going to study if you don’t have a library in your home? They’ll be able to go out to their playhouse, plus the structures are so big they can keep their books out there too. Be careful not to make a lot of noise.
Crazy Experiments In The Science Lab – Children love messing around with science experiments, plus it’s a great hobby to have if they want a great career. Get them a science kit so they can conduct experiments in their lab while trying not to blow anything up.
And the list goes on and on…
Will your Child Love these Victorian Playhouses?
Try to remember both you and your child will benefit from these Victorian playhouses. In the short-term they will feel like the luckiest child alive no matter which model you choose. It will become their favorite toy within seconds and they’ll have memories of it for the rest of their life. You’ll also never be able to drag them away from it.
The mental development and physical health benefits help them too, but they also benefit you as a parent. It’s crucial you do everything possible when they’re young to help them excel and as you watch them grow up you’ll feel like the luckiest person in the world. If pretend play isn’t a big part of their life already at least you now know how important it is.
Learn more about the Victorian era.
