Child Doll Houses: How to choose the right house for your child

Choosing suitable child doll houses is very important to every parent. You want to know that your child will be safe and that the toy won't break or harm your child in any way and also that it is suitable for their age group and that they are going to be able to have hours of fun with it.

With many toys it is easy to distinguish whether the item is suitable for a child but with dolls houses it can sometimes be difficult. There are so many options available and with some houses made specifically for adults it is difficult to know which are child doll houses.

When choosing child doll houses there are a few points to watch out for:

• The Material the doll house is made from
• How it is constructed
• The Price
• Structure

Material

This is probably one the most important areas to look at when choosing child doll houses. The material the house is made from can determine how safe it will be for your child to play with and also how long it will last. There are two main woods that doll houses are made from Plywood and MDF. Plywood is the cheaper of the two so if you are on a budget you will probably find a plywood house less expensive but MDF houses are by far much safer and more suitable for children.

Plywood is a thinner wood and can splinter where MDF is very strong and is man made from saw dust so there is no way it will splinter. If you have a plywood dolls house you will often find the edges rough, the wood is also not as strong so will not stand up to as much play as an MDF house. A plywood house may be cheaper but it will not last as long with a child playing with it.

"MDF will not splinter, is very strong so should not break and it makes extremely robust dolls houses. This is by far the most suitable wood for a child's dolls house"

Construction

The next thing you need to look at is the construction of the dolls house. Is it put together with just glue or does it have screws as well? Now there are advantages and disadvantages to both of these.

Just Glue: If the dolls house is put together with just glue this will give the house a nice finish as you won't be able to see any unsightly screws but it will not be as strong as a house held together with screws.

Screws & Glue: If a house is put together with screws and glue or just screws you have the advantage of added stability and the house will probably stand up to more play but you will also be able to see lots of unsightly screw heads. Having a house with screws all down the sides can really spoil the finished look and also if they are not fitted properly your child could catch themselves on these.

What you really need to be looking out for is a house that is put together with glue, dowel and some screws for added stability. The glue and dowel will hold the house together firmly and screws at some discrete points will add stability but won't spoil the finished effect.

Price

As with all items you get what you pay for. Watch out for doll houses that look like a bargain, they are usually very low quality and you may end up with a house that doesn't fit together properly and breaks easily.

Structure

Look at the structure of the house. With child doll houses you want something that doesn't have any small add on parts that could break off. You need to check that doors and windows look secure and that they have strong hinges, thick wooden or plastic doors are the best for child doll houses.

Finally check if there are any add-on basements, attics or side wings available for the house. If this is a house that you want your child to grow up with you may want to extend it at some point to give them some extra rooms to play with. Many child doll houses do not have these add-on's available so you will need to check.

Once you have chosen the dolls house for your child you may want to light and decorate it click lighting and decorating child doll houses to find out how.

Great Bargains on Child Doll Houses

Below are a few examples of the best dolls houses available for children and information on where you can get them at a discounted price:

Available In The UK This is a wonderful doll house for little girls. It is made in the UK and is a very high standard. It has six huge rooms and a staircase that winds up the center of the house. The house itself is very sturdy and suitable for children over 36 months. It comes as a kit and is unpainted so you can design the exterior to match your little girls bedroom. It is very easy to put together and you can actually get your little ones involved in building the house and make a project for you both. This house is excellent value for money, it usually retails at £85 but you can get it at a discount price! Click Here to find out more!

Available In The USA As the name suggests this wood doll house is perfect for a little girls first doll house. The picture here actually shows the doll house and the basement the actual doll house is only the top two floors. This house is made completely of wood and is open plan with access from all sides. It is perfect for when more that one child plays together because there is lots of access to the rooms. The house has four rooms and a balcony. Your little girl can develop roleplay, story telling and social skills playing with this house. This house usually retails at around $55 and the basement at around $40. Click Here to find out more!

Available In The UK If you want a house for your little girl that is completely finished then take a look at this house. It comes fully painted and decorated, purple and pink on the outside and wallpapered on the inside. There are three floors in the house with stairs and the outside has moving window shutters and doors. This is an excellent house for little girls age three and over. There is a small amount of assembly required but this just involves slotting the walls and floors into place everything else is already fixed. Click Here to find out more!

Available In The USA This house has lots of decorative detail throughout the interior and exterior. The outside of the house is papered in a beautiful pink colour with a checkerboard roof that is covered with real wooden tiles. The inside of the house is decorated with a tasteful blend of pastels & bright hues precisely painted--dainty flowers, graceful stripes, ceramic-looking tiles & wooden floors, and two staircases of beautiful mahogany. This house is extremely good value for money and you can also add lighting to the package. Click Here to find out more!

Doll Houses for Birthdays

If you are thinking of getting a doll house for your little girls birthday why not give her a birthday card to match the house. There is a fantastic web site where you can print as many birthday cards as you like free of charge. Click Barneys Printable Birthday Cards

If you are looking for a dolls house for your childs birthday I have found an excellent resource for you to make the day extra special. Plan the Coolest Kids Birthday party ever to go with their perfect gift. Click Here to take a look at this excellent web site and get some ideas.