Outdoor Playhouses Fun & Activities

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, children spend an average of 50 hours a week in front of a computer or television screen. As a result, doctors have seen a sharp rise in childhood obesity as well as an increase in other diseases and conditions, such as ADHD. Available in a wide variety of options, outdoor playhouses are a great way to boost your child's imagination as well as to get him more active. Purchase a prebuilt castle, house or fort or involve your child and make one from scratch.

Play House

Whether good or bad, it's no surprise that children like to imitate their parents. An outdoor playhouse is one way children imitate what they see at home. Pretend the playhouse is your child's own home and let her play house. Equip the house with household items such as bake wear, pretend cleaning supplies and furniture. Let your child be the adult while you act like a child. Children absorb much in their day-to-day lives and express what they see.

Save the Playhouse

According to the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play, children that play outdoors regularly have a more active imagination, play more creatively and have greater respect for themselves and others. That is why you see children fighting imaginary battles or chasing imaginary things. Create a scenario where your child has to fight the bad guy to save the playhouse. Leave the bad guy up to his imagination or play the bad guy yourself. Choose an exciting reward for his hard work, such as a new toy for the playhouse or extra time outdoors.

Have a Picnic

Instead of eating lunch or dinner indoors, enjoy a meal in your child's playhouse. Many outdoor playhouses feature a front porch, seating bench or other areas to sit down and eat. While you are indoors making sandwiches, encourage your child to play in her house and make lunch too. Then, as you're enjoying your meal, ask your child what she made and how she made it. Pretend to eat and enjoy her special home-cooked meal.

Learn outdoors

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, children learn better when they involve all of their senses into the learning experience. With that said, explore your backyard and find interesting looking leaves, bugs and rocks. Then, retreat back to the playhouse and teach your child about why leaves change colors or what happens to the caterpillar when it turns into a butterfly. These kinds of experiences will stick more to your child's memory than hours spent studying a book.