The best playhouses for kids, according to experts

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Alicia Betz/Insider

• A good playhouse will be your kids' hideaway for years, and it's a great catalyst for the dramatic play that kids crave and need as they develop.
• We talked with a developmental psychologist as well as toy experts to learn about the benefits of playing in playhouses and to narrow down our selection to bring you the best.
• We have a playhouse option for every age and interest, from indoor teepees to a wooden cottage big enough to fit nine kids.
• Due to unusually high demand and supply shortage, many water tables are out of stock at major retailers. We continue to monitor inventory and update this list accordingly.
• Read more: best kiddie pools, outdoor toys for kids, outdoor toys for toddlers, and indoor toys for toddlers

As a kid, it doesn't get much better than having a miniature house to call your own. Kids love to imitate adults, and that pretend play is integral to their development and learning.

Whether it's a simple cottage just big enough for two kids or a fantasy mini house that makes mom and dad jealous, a playhouse is a wonderful toy that will quickly become a staple in your child's playtime.

What experts have to say about playhouses

We spoke to a developmental psychologist and a few toy experts to learn more about the importance of unstructured and pretend play as well as what to look for in a playhouse.

Developmental psychologist Helen Hadani works with children and parents to help develop toys and is a member of the educational advisory board at The Goddard School. Hadani explained how playhouses support different types of play for children.

She discussed studies conducted by Marianna Brussoni at the University of British Columbia that show many benefits of unstructured play. "Much of children's play is structured or dictated by adults in a controlled setting, but research tells us that free play promotes creativity and gives children the opportunity to test the bounds of their imagination and adapt to their environment," said Hadani.

I know with my daughter, it's so much easier to send her off to play, get messy, and be creative when she's doing it in her own playhouse instead of my living room.

"Dramatic or pretend play is how children practice their world," said Hadani. "They act out social behaviors, express themselves, and learn to adapt as they test out what they see in the real world." Playhouses give children a low-stakes environment to try out different skills.

She also spoke about the importance of play in general, regardless of where or how children do it. "Play is what children do. It is an essential part of learning. As children play they learn to collaborate, communicate, test out ideas, build vocabulary, create, solve problems and do much more," she said.

In addition to Hadani, we also spoke to psychologist Daniel Marston, PhD, ABPP; pediatric occupational therapist Adriane Ransom, MA, OTR/L, SWC; and Laurie Schacht, chief toy officer of The Toy Insider.

We share their playhouse recommendations and tips along with our top picks below. With their help, thorough research, and my experience testing playhouses with my daughter, we bring you some of the best playhouses for kids.

Here are the best playhouses for kids:

• Best wooden playhouse: KidKraft Timber Trail Wooden Outdoor Playhouse
• Best playhouse for multiple kids: Backyard Discovery Spring Cottage Playhouse
• Best playhouse for toddlers: Little Tikes Go Green! Playhouse
• Best budget playhouse: Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse
• Best playhouse with slide: Step2 Woodland Adventure Playhouse and Slide
• Best playhouse for pretend play: Step2 Neat and Tidy Cottage
• Best indoor playhouse: Antsy Pants Playhouse Kit
• Best teepee: Crate & Barrel Teepee