Wooden Playhouse Blog

Turning a wooden playhouse into a theatrical playhouse and stage for a gaggle of puppets is easy and super fun! Children will love the idea of their kids playhouse taking on the role of puppet land, and the friends won’t be able to get enough of it either.

Puppetry has an amazing way of reaching children, regardless of their sentiment or feelings. There is something magical about a puppet, whether it’s a sock puppet dog, a bag that is made to look like a crocodile, or a fan-like paper stick puppet appearing to speak to them. It’s almost as if their imaginations are instantly put into overdrive and a whole new world is unfolded before their eyes. It’s a wonder to see their reactions.

To help your child convert your family’s wooden playhouse into a puppet stage, follow these simple tips:

1. Use the window of the wooden playhouse as the stage. Already, the window probably has a curtain or shutters of sorts which will allow for the “actors” to enter and exit the “stage”. Using the window can expedite time too because you won’t have to spend gobs of time trying to build an alternate stage. Another benefit of using the window is that the voices behind the puppets can hide below the window ledge.

2. You can have your child and their friends write play or just wing it. Either way, children will almost always have something wacky or funny to say. Imagine the crazy exchanges that they will come up with when they are actually TRYING to entertain an audience. The performance should be classic!

3. Let the puppeteers select their own puppets or make them if they want. Who says the puppets have to be Muppet quality? A sock, some markers, and a few odds and ends that you have around the house is more than enough to get them started. They could even construct puppets from regular paper and use popsicle sticks to move them across the stage.

Using a wooden playhouse as a puppet stage is very easy and can be a huge part of a very cool afternoon for kids. If you don’t have a lot of time for prep work, keep things simple. No matter what they see up there, little ones will love the show and are likely to ask for an encore!

Technorati Tags: Puppet ideas, Puppets, Wooden playhouse

Before you purchase a wooden playhouse for your children, you should seriously consider one very important design aspect…whether or not you want the playhouse to have a porch. For some playhouse owners, this will be an open and shut case if the playhouse’s design is based on their current residence. But, believe it or not, a porch can be about more than design. Here’s how:

A wooden playhouse porch can serve as a gathering place for children. Prior to entering the playhouse, kids may want to take time and meet on the porch for really quick talks. If your neighborhood is full of children that visit from yard to yard, then, your child may not actually want everybody to be able to come directly into their wooden playhouse, which is their own private space. So, having a porch allows for them to socialize on their own terms.

There are many funky things that you can do on a wooden playhouse porch such as putting rocking chairs or a hanging swing. Children will be able to rock and swing their days away while being near some of their most precious and special things, which they may house in their playhouse. Imagine how cool it will be for a little girl to get her favorite doll and rock her in the rocking chair on her own porch. That would be absolutely sensational.

The porch of a wooden playhouse can also be a major welcoming space with loads of flowers, whether real or artificial, that makes the playhouse itself seem more inviting. Your child may want to start a container garden on his or her porch. The sky is the limit, but the more foliage, the more beautiful the entry could be for your child and his or her friends.

Your family’s wooden playhouse may be greatly enhanced by having a porch, which could serve as an extension of the playhouse. If a porch would make the structure too large for your space or would cause it not to blend into your yard as well as another style, then leave it off. But if there is any opportunity for you to add a porch, then go for it, sit back and smile as your child rocks and sways in comfort.

Technorati Tags: Play house ideas, Porch, Wooden playhouse

Decorating a kids wooden playhouse is an excellent excuse to take the kids garage sale hunting.  Not only will it allow your kids to find some cheap yet chic items to make their playhouse look absolutely perfect; but, it will also give you the opportunity to spend time with your children and to interact with them in a different way.

Through your shopping experience together you will learn a lot about each other, personal taste, and of course what makes each of you say, “Eww” when you see something that you don’t like. It will be a great time and here are some of the really great stuff that you should be on the lookout for:

1. Anything that is girly! Whether you are looking for lacy remnants to decorate pillows, fancy curtains, or accent rugs to make the playhouse look more feminine, chances are you will find tons of possibilities at a garage sale. If you or your little one should identify some pieces that would fit into the décor of her wooden playhouse, buy it then because you may not see another for such a good price. If she spies a crochet pillow that looks like it was made by someone’s aunt, let her get it even if you don’t particularly love it. It’s her playhouse.

There will never be a lack of doll stuff either. Just about any home that has a girl in it or an older female will have something doll related. From bags of Barbies to Strawberry Shortcake pocketbooks, there is sure to be something that your daughter will “need” to add to the collection that she stores in her wooden playhouse.

2. Cool retro furniture will abound.  If your son or daughter loves the retro look or just can’t get enough of a certain era such as the 80s or 90s, then, checking out local garage sales will be a sure bet. Even if they don’t want “old” looking furniture, you can get the pieces and cover them with hip and updated fabrics or slipcovers. From sturdy wood tables that will stand the test of time to light fixtures and chairs, your child may be able to furnish his or her whole wooden playhouse with these repurposed treasures.

3. Building a book collection couldn’t be easier with garage sale books. Most people will sell their children’s books for as little as a dime. Some may even have a “freebie” box full of books. These books are fantastic for encouraging your child to be an avid reader without spending massive amounts of money on retail priced volumes.

4. They will never be able to find room for all of the toys that they will come across when shopping at garage sales. Their wooden playhouse would have to be palace to cull them all! But, for a parent that would like to provide a few choice pieces of toys that will make their playhouse even more fun, then garage sales are breeding grounds for these things. No matter if your son is in to action figures or your daughter is in to stuffed animals. They will find gobs at local garage sales.

Sprucing up a wooden playhouse is easy and very cheap if your family seeks out garage sale finds. Just let your children pick through and choose items that they really like and everyone will get what they want from your shopping adventure. Take care to clean everything before use and then let your kids enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Accessories, garage sales, Play house ideas, Wooden playhouse

Kids need exercise. A kids wooden playhouse is a perfect place for making that happen. Fitness is an extremely important part of life. For a child, it is essential for their psychological and physical development. Children need to exercise daily to grow up big and strong. As parents, we have a responsibility to provide space and ways for children to be able to get their exercise in. Here are a few strategies for helping your children get the workout that they need in a fun and simply way:

1. Encourage the children to run around the outside of the kids outdoor playhouse with a rousing game of chase or tag! From one corner to the next, children will absolutely love the repetitive action of a good game of chase.  As they run and run, switching off who will be “It”, they will be getting a healthy dose of cardiovascular activity in the process.

2. Creating a garden outside of the kids outdoor playhouse could definitely be a wonderful source of exercise for children. Digging, pulling weeds, raking, and moving dirt are all great ways to get moving. Being out of doors also provides a magnificent way to ensure that they are getting lots of fresh air into those growing lungs.

3. Learn yoga together and practice it in the kids wooden playhouse. Pose by pose, the children that use the playhouse will stretch their way to a healthier life. Yoga is very easy for kids to pick up and will, in time, help them to develop greater flexibility and they will learn to focus and concentrate in a more effective way. Inside of the kids outdoor playhouse, there is often plenty of space for doing all types of yoga moves. So, why not make the most of this peaceful, outdoor environment.

With a kids wooden playhouse, fitness is snap. Running, jumping, digging, and stretching are a large part of what makes life fun for a kid. Doing these great activities and more in and around a kids outdoor playhouse will provide them with the tools that they need to learn to value exercise and good health. That is something that they can hold on to for the rest of their lives.

Technorati Tags: exercise, healthy, Kids outdoor play, Wooden playhouse