How to choose the best dollhouse for your child
With so many beautiful dollhouses to choose from, how do you choose the best dollhouse for your child, your home and your budget?
Aside from the obvious beauty of a dollhouse they offer so many great opportunities for development and imaginative play. So if you are thinking of getting your little one a dollhouse we think you’re doing the right thing. But before you part with your hard-earned cash there are a few things you might want to consider.
1. A Wooden Dolls House or Plastic
We’re certainly biased when it comes to this but there may be reasons why you might be undecided between wood or plastic.
Wooden dollhouses are generally more environmentally friendly than their plastic counterparts and they are built to last. However, it’s worth making sure you are buying one designed for children as some of the more collectable houses can be very delicate.
2. The ages of your children
If you are buying a dollhouse for a child under 3 then you’re going to want to make sure there are no really tiny pieces that they might swallow or that you can easily take these pieces out and save them for a later date.
We love the Indigo Jamm dolls house for younger children. It’s suitable from 18 months and has no small bits to either get lost or be choked on. Plus the little peg dolls fit in all the Indigo Jamm Vehicles which are also very popular with kids this age.
For older children posable dolls are a great addition as they can be played with and arranged in loads of different ways. The Tender Leaf Goodwood family of dolls are just delightful and posing the dolls and getting them dressed is great for really perfecting those fine motor skills.
3. The Size of the Dollhouse
Depending on how much space you have size can certainly be a big factor when deciding which house to go for.
If space is a consideration then there are plenty of smaller more compact options for you to choose from. We love the Tender Leaf Toys dolls house set, as despite its small size it still has everything you could wish for including a garden complete with a veg patch, flowers, trees and a garden table.
Even smaller again is the Grimms mobile home which is the perfect travel dollhouse.
The Cost
Buying a dolls house could set you back hundreds of pounds yet there are plenty of budget-friendly options if you don’t have that kind of money to spend.
A great place to start if you are looking for great value and high quality is to have a look in local charity shops or on local selling sites. Loads of people buy dollhouses for their kids and most of them won’t be storing them for possible future grandchildren so it’s possible to find some real bargains especially if you give yourself a bit of time.
You might find a lovely house that’s just the shell, in which case all you have to do is buy the furniture and dolls.
And of course there’s always the option to build your own dolls house, which will make it even more special and be a great learning process in itself.
