Indoor Playhouses

1. Time flies. Match a playhouse to your child's age, but allow a little wiggle room so she or he can grow into it.

2. Indoor playhouses are easy to put away, but they're more enticing when you leave them out, ready for fun. Pick a style from cardboard, fabric or foam playhouses.

3. Check inside their playhouse occasionally for hidden treasures. They'll consider the playhouse their private hideaway and it could be the perfect spot to store your keys, your cell phone, and lots of other bounty.

4. When deciding how big a playhouse to get, keep the neighbor kids in mind. Private kids like cozy spaces, social kids will need more room for the gang.

5. Most indoor playhouses are very portable. For those long visits with grandma, bring the house. Having something familiar helps kids to settle down, and diverts them from grandma's breakables.

6. Indoor playhouses clean easily with mild soap and water. Don't use bleach, which fades colors, stinks up the playhouse, and may irritate tender toddler eyes and skin.

7. Surround your playhouse with appropriate toys. Kids grab what's nearby, and it's close-quarters fun. Purge the room of sharp objects.