Made for Play

Explore child development through play, find inspiration for your next DIY project, and discover tips for selecting the perfect toys for your little ones.

Behind the Design Part 2: From Prototype to Playroom

Behind the Design Part 1: From Spark to Blueprint

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After School Activities

Behind the Design Part 2: From Prototype to Playroom

Part 1 of Behind the KidKraft Design was all about the creative process of our toy and playset designs, from initial inspiration to mood boards and trend research. In Part 2, we’re focusing on what happens next: bringing those concepts to life through prototyping, collaboration, and production. Get ready to discover how sketches become computer-aided design (CAD) models, concepts evolve into real products, and collaboration ensures every detail is just right before landing in your child’s hands. Turning Playset Designs into Prototypes How we design a playset starts with translating ideas into tangible form, and at KidKraft, structural design and mood board creation happen side by side. Early in the process, the team prepares for a concept approval meeting, where executives review CAD models or sketches alongside mood boards and “moments.” These “moments” are the small but memorable details—like a working elevator in a dollhouse or a cozy nook in a playset—that capture both the overall art style and the emotional feel of the design. These checkpoints ensure that the product’s story is clear, the functionality makes sense, and the look ties back to the original inspiration. Style previews further bring the vision to life, helping the team visualize how these details will appear in a child’s world. Hands-On Collaboration With Manufacturers Prototyping is only the beginning. From there, our designers work in close partnership with manufacturers in China and Taiwan to bring each concept to life with precision. This collaboration allows us to maintain meticulous control over details that many brands overlook, such as color consistency, texture, and gloss levels, making this approach truly unique to KidKraft. The process is highly interactive: designers send Adobe Illustrator files overseas, manufacturers print and return samples, and the KidKraft team conducts rigorous checks to ensure every element matches the original vision. Even something as simple as a color swatch can go through multiple rounds of review before approval. By carefully managing these details, we guarantee that every product, from dollhouses to playsets, looks and feels exactly as intended, right down to the smallest finish! Testing, Feedback, and Final Adjustments Toy and playset design is a team effort, and not everyone involved speaks the same “design language.” Interpreting feedback from non-design stakeholders can sometimes pose challenges. But it’s all part of the process. When feedback comes in, our designers collaborate across teams to rethink, rework, and refine, whether it’s improving usability, enhancing safety, or simplifying the assembly process for parents. The goal is always the same: a toy that delivers lasting fun while being safe, sturdy, and easy to set up. Designing for Longevity and Everyday Play KidKraft goes well beyond chasing trends, making sure our designs are created with longevity in mind. Some dollhouse designs from 15–20 years ago are still in production today, loved by new generations of kids! At the same time, our team is just as excited about refreshing those legacy designs, breathing new life into classics so they feel modern, relevant, and ready for years of play ahead. We also love embracing new ideas, like designing kids’ furniture. This requires a different mindset that draws heavily on color, wood stain, and natural fiber trends in exterior and landscape design. Our team is also working on outdoor products like playhouse and wooden playset designs, which bring in more architectural design elements along with updated stain and plastic colors. With every new or updated design, our focus always remains on quality materials, timeless color palettes, and durability that stands up to everyday play. How Play Inspires Design Evolution The most valuable insights come straight from the playroom. Our design team digs into customer reviews to better understand what families love—and where there’s room to improve. They also incorporate a hands-on research approach by regularly visiting homes to see how kids actually interact with toys in real life. These in-person observations and direct feedback loops often lead to meaningful innovations, such as the “open and closed” dollhouse concept, which was born from seeing the need for a toy that could double as storage. This gave kids more ways to play while offering parents a practical solution that keeps play areas tidy. Blending imagination with functionality results in toys that are fun while also fitting seamlessly into family spaces. This immersive research process helps our team continuously improve designs and create toys that kids want to play with and parents want to buy. Bringing It All Together: From Factory to Playroom Once the design is finalized, it moves into full-scale production and quality assurance. Every detail is double-checked so families receive a product that’s safe, durable, and true to KidKraft’s design vision. For the design team, the most rewarding moment is seeing their work come to life in homes—knowing that what started as a sketch is now a centerpiece for play, learning, and imagination! Discover the Finished Designs From bold ideas to beautifully crafted toys, every step of the KidKraft design journey leads to one thing: more imaginative play. Explore the full KidKraft collection, including play kitchens, dollhouses, and activity tables, and see where creativity comes to life in your own home.

Behind the Design Part 1: From Spark to Blueprint

All of our toy and playset designs start with a story. At KidKraft, that story is shaped by imagination, research, and a team of designers who never stop thinking about how children play (and how families live). In this two-part series, we’re pulling back the curtain on our toy and playset design process. This first part will take you inside the earliest stages, from the first spark of inspiration to the blueprint that lays the foundation for every kitchen, wooden playset, and dollhouse design we create. Where KidKraft Playset Designs Begin Ideas at KidKraft come from two main places: requests from our sales team or retail partners and the free-flowing creativity of internal brainstorms. Sometimes a retailer asks for a specific product to meet the needs of their customers. Other times, our team imagines new possibilities during yearly brainstorming sessions. Either way, it’s never a solo effort. Industrial designers, engineers, and product graphic designers collaborate from the very beginning, ensuring every idea balances creativity with practicality. Together, they start shaping toys that children will love—and parents will be happy to bring into their homes. Gathering Inspiration for KidKraft Designs Creative sparks don’t always happen at a desk. To get inspired, our team steps outside the office. Off-site brainstorms might include excursions in a designer's city, with visits to museums, historic homes, or stores to observe design trends in the wild. These experiences fuel days of sketching and sharing ideas back at the studio. From there, mood boards take shape. Our designers gather visuals that highlight color palettes, textures, and architectural details. For wooden playsets or outdoor products, inspiration might come from timeless design elements in nature or real homes, which is why many KidKraft products feel both imaginative and authentic. The Designer Behind the Designs Meet Riley Burrus, Product Graphics Manager at KidKraft Every KidKraft toy begins with a spark of imagination. But behind that spark are real people who pour their creativity and heart into each design. One of those people is Riley Burrus, who has been part of KidKraft for nearly a decade. Riley’s path to toy design wasn’t exactly planned. With a degree in illustration, she imagined herself creating children’s books, weaving stories through words and pictures. But after graduation, while working as a barista and searching for her next step, she stumbled across a LinkedIn job posting for dollhouse illustration. It caught her attention immediately. “I liked children’s book illustration because I love kids and telling stories,” Riley recalls. “When I interviewed for the dollhouse role, I realized this was just a different way of telling stories—one where the artwork itself inspires play.” Today, Riley helps guide KidKraft’s designs from concept to reality. She and other designers often sneak in little “Easter eggs” that make each product feel extra special and enable them to incorporate a tiny bit of themselves into the design. For example, a dollhouse wallpaper might feature their pets, or a tiny framed picture could echo a loved one. For Riley, toy design is more than creating something beautiful or fun. It’s about blending storytelling, imagination, and a personal touch that turns play into something magical. And when kids pick up a KidKraft toy, they’re not just playing with wood, paint, and accessories; they’re stepping into worlds crafted with care by designers like Riley, who see storytelling everywhere. That same spirit of listening and storytelling doesn’t just come from our design team. It also comes from the families who play with our toys every day. Listening to Customers Of course, inspiration also comes directly from the families who play with our products. KidKraft’s design team studies thousands of product reviews across Amazon, Target, Costco, and other retailers to see what parents and kids love, as well as what could be better. For example, our “easy craft line” was developed to reduce assembly time after hearing from parents who wanted a quicker setup. The team also considers both the child’s perspective (fun, imaginative, colorful) and the parent’s perspective (durability, value, aesthetics). It’s this balance that makes toys both entertaining and practical for everyday family life. Spotting Trends Before They Happen Designing toys isn’t just about responding to what’s popular now. A big part of toy design involves predicting what kids (and parents) will want one or two years down the road, when a toy finally hits the shelves. Our design team looks to high fashion, interior design, fine art, and even kids’ animation for inspiration. Trends trickle down across industries, so a color palette from a runway show might eventually influence the look of a play kitchen or dollhouse. Keeping a finger on the pulse of these creative worlds allows our team to design toys that feel fresh, modern, and relevant. Aesthetic Meets Function While toys should always inspire play, they also need to work for the families who buy them. That’s why we blend age-appropriate design (like higher contrast colors for toddlers) with aesthetics parents appreciate, from brass accents to wood textures that echo modern interiors. The goal is to create toys kids love to play with and parents love to see in their living spaces. For instance, a dollhouse or activity table might have a pop of bright color for imaginative play while also featuring textures and finishes that make it blend beautifully into a family room. Visualizing the Blueprint Before a toy becomes real, it lives in sketches, computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, and illustrated “moments” that capture its look and feel. Mood boards, color swatches, and concept art help communicate the vision during concept approval meetings with company leaders. This is where big ideas start to feel tangible, offering an exciting sneak peek of how creativity will soon become reality. From Blueprint to Build: Explore the Designs in Action Every KidKraft product begins with this mix of inspiration, research, and artistry. From sketches to mood boards, each step brings us closer to creating toys that spark imagination and fit seamlessly into family life. Don’t miss Part 2 of this series, where we’ll explore what happens next: prototyping, product development, and the meticulous process of bringing these ideas to life with our global manufacturing partners. Explore KidKraft’s full collection of playsets, dollhouses, play kitchens, kids’ furniture, and more to discover where inspiration becomes play.

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After School Activities

Backyard Recess: The Benefits of After-School Activities After a long day in the classroom, kids need a chance to move, stretch, and recharge. While structured after-school programs are great, sometimes the best post-school activities for kids are the ones that happen right at home in your own backyard! That’s the inspiration behind our Backyard Recess campaign, where families show how they use their playsets and playhouses to transform ordinary afternoons into memorable adventures. Discover the benefits of after-school activities and see how creators like Elizabeth Homen and Courtney Williams are bringing fresh after-school activity ideas to life. How After-School Activities Benefit Your Child After-school activities go beyond just keeping kids occupied; they play an important role in healthy development. Whether climbing, swinging, or diving into imaginative play, children build physical strength, sharpen cognitive skills, and strengthen social connections when they engage in fun, structured activities that challenge and inspire them. Here are some of the key benefits kids gain from after-school activities. Provides physical activity. Movement burns energy, improves coordination, and supports growth. Relieves stress. Gives kids an opportunity to unwind and reset after the structure of the school day. Fosters creativity and imagination. Open-ended play sparks storytelling, problem-solving, and self-expression. Develops social skills. Siblings, friends, and neighbors learn teamwork, sharing, and cooperation. Backyard recess blends these benefits with the convenience of at-home play, so kids can jump right into fun the moment school ends. Elizabeth Homen’s After-School Routine with the Kids For Elizabeth Homen, afternoons are about giving her daughter space to explore and recharge. And the Lantana Lane Playhouse provides the perfect spot for imaginative play, whether her daughter is pretending to cook, plant flowers, or serve a hot beverage. The cozy design of the Lantana Lane Playhouse invites creativity, while the hands-on elements keep little ones engaged, bringing both parents and kids joy once the school day is over. How to Keep Recess Going After the Bell Rings View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elizabeth Homen (@elizabethhomen) Courtney Williams’ Creative Take on After-School Play Courtney Williams takes after-school play outdoors with the Laurel Retreat Swing Set. From climbing and zooming down the slide to relaxing on the swings, her kids of various ages enjoy the mix of movement and freedom they need to shake off the school day. The Laurel Retreat gives her children screen-free structure and a place to unwind and laugh together. It’s also the perfect spot for much-needed downtime while juggling a busy schedule. Easy Back-to-School Routine with KidKraft's Durable Swing Set View this post on Instagram A post shared by Courtney N. Williams (@courtnwilliams) What Families Are Loving About These After-School Setups Across both Elizabeth’s and Courtney’s routines, a few themes stand out: Balance: Kids need both active play and imaginative downtime. Imagination: Whether it’s a playhouse “restaurant” or a pretend castle on the swing set, creativity is at the center of fun. Connection: These spaces create chances for siblings to bond and families to spend time together. After-school play gives kids a space to recharge, grow, and connect. With the right setup, families can create fun and meaningful routines, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. It’s these little daily moments that become the memories kids carry with them. More After-School Activity Ideas to Try Looking for more things to do after school beyond playhouses and swing sets? Here are a few simple, screen-free favorites to spark your child’s imagination: Nature scavenger hunt in the yard or neighborhood Obstacle course using outdoor toys, chalk, and household items Backyard picnic or snack time under the trees Creative crafts with leaves, sticks, or stones Mini sports games, like soccer, basketball, or relay races Sand play with a sandbox or sand table These activities pair perfectly with your existing playset setup, adding variety to your child’s routine. Find the Perfect Playset for At-Home After-School Activities Ready to make your backyard the go-to spot for after-school fun? Our collection of swing sets and playhouses makes it easy to create a space your kids will love coming home to. Explore our swing sets, outdoor playhouses, and other outdoor products to find the perfect fit for your family’s after-school routine. Give your children the gift of a backyard recess they’ll always remember.

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Best Toys for Three Year Olds

Need some toy ideas for your favorite threenager? Our list of best toys for three year olds has you covered. We’ve curated this list to line up with the skills and milestones your three year old is learning to perfect. No gimmicky toys or passive entertainment here – these toys are just as great for learning as they are for having fun! Best for Art & Creativity: Tabletop Easel $34.99 If you loved your child’s scribbles and fingerpaints before, just wait until they start attempting their first real drawings. Three is a special age for your child’s interest in arts and crafts. Whereas before they were mostly fascinated by the colors and textures of their crayons and paints, around 3 or 4 years of age, they’ll start attempting their first stick figures and other simple representations. They might be hard to make out at first, but just wait – you’ll be surprised by how fast their skills develop! A great way to support their drawing and writing is with a fun easel of their very own. They not only make art time more enticing; they help little hands develop a proper grasp of writing tools, an important pre-writing skill! We think the Tabletop Easel is a great size for little ones, but if you want an Easel that will grow with them into the elementary years, be sure to check out our full line of kids’ art easels. $34.99 Best for Musical Fun: Lil’ Symphony Wooden Drum $18.99 A toy that can take a beating! The Lil’ Symphony Wooden Drum is tough enough to stand up to the toddler treatment – a good thing because your toddler won’t want to put it down. The included neck strap means they can start their own one-man marching band. With sturdy sticks and real drum tones, this little toy is great for inspiring an interest in music and teaching basic rhythm. Best Toy for Fine Motor Development: On-the-Go Building Blocks Set Three year olds are still perfecting their fine motor skills, and building bricks are perfect for increasing strength and dexterity in their hands and fingers. Skills that we take for granted – like the ability to line up two bricks perfectly or the strength to pull bricks apart – are still challenging for your toddler. The physical challenge of working with the blocks and the creativity of building their own structures make this a toy that’s sure to hold their attention. The On-the-Go Building Blocks set is a great intro to building bricks for toddlers. It has just enough bricks to let them get creative but not enough to overwhelm or distract them. Plus, its portability makes it a great toy for meltdown-free road trips, plane rides, and meals out. Best Learning Toy for 3 Year Olds: 60-piece Wooden Block Set Yep, another block set! While building bricks are great for your three year old’s fine motor development, it’s still tough for them to build larger structures with them. With the 60-piece wooden block set, they can stack and connect pieces easily and push their building skills to the limit. Plus, half the fun of blocks at this age is that satisfying crash of knocking down a tower! But what exactly are they learning as they play with blocks? A lot! Block play is associated with improved spatial reasoning, enhanced language development, and even higher math scores. One study found that the types of structures kids built as four year olds could predict how well they performed in math classes later on, so three is a great age to encourage more block play for your little one! Best Toy for Three Year Old Girls: Lil’ Doll 2-pc. Play Furniture Set Three year olds love anything that gives them “big-kid status,” including caring for smaller babies and dolls. The Lil’ Doll 2-pc. Play Furniture Set lets them practice feeding their baby dolls in a high chair and putting them to sleep in a cradle. They’ll gain more than just entertainment too; research suggests that doll play helps kids develop social skills and empathy. Best Toys for Three Year Old Boys: Adventure Tracks Dino World T-Rex Tremor Cave $28.38 Only at Walmart Where do we even start when it comes to the benefits of toy train sets? The constructive play of building tracks is great for cognitive development as well as fine motor development. Pushing trains helps develop dexterity, fine motor skills, and grip strength. And that doesn’t even touch on the elements of pretend play – especially when you have themed train sets like the Adventure Tracks: Dino World line. The T-Rex Tremor cave is an ideal, budget-friendly introductory train set that ideal for your dino-loving little guy. For even more dinosaur fun, upgrade to the Dino World Rumble & Roar Complete Set. Want more gift inspiration for the three year old in your life? Shop all of our bestsellers for kid-tested toys they’re sure to love! *Prices are correct as of the publication of this article.

Toy of the Year Award

Have you heard? We’re up for Innovative Toy of the Year for the KidKraft Amazon Alexa Enabled 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market, and we couldn’t be more excited!The Toy of the Year Awards (TOTYs) recognizes the year’s best new toys in a variety of categories from dolls to plushies to playsets. As you might have guessed, the Innovative category honors toys that are truly creative, new, and well… innovative. To land a nomination in this category, a toy must do something that’s never quite been done before. To say that we’re honored to be included in such a list is a huge understatement, but we can’t help but agree that the Alexa Enabled 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market deserves the attention. What Can You Expect From The Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market? This is a play wood kitchen like you’ve never seen before. The KidKraft kid skill for Alexa allows kids to interact with Alexa through games, recipes, jokes, and more as they play. Alexa can recognize and “read” from over 24 recipe cards, building real-world cooking skills even for pre-readers. Games provide new ways for kids to interact with their play kitchen, and of course, those kid-friendly jokes are delightfully cheesy and fun even for the adults in the room. Even without KidKraft kid skill for Alexa, the 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market offers plenty in the way of innovation. Interactive food items and dishes enhance realistic play through sensors. Kids can ring each item up at the store and receive a grand total based on what they bought. Plus, the innovative 360° design lets kids switch back and forth between kitchen play and grocery shopping, providing an even richer play experience from a single toy.People’s choice voting is open now, so be sure to cast your vote and register to watch the TOTYs for free on February 12 to find out who the winners are!

12 Playhouse Decor Ideas

Playhouses are just too cute to not want to decorate them a little. I mean, who can resist tiny wreaths and picket fences? And the interiors? Tiny furniture? Cozy reading nooks? We’re all about it. Here are some of our favorite playhouse decorating ideas for swoon-worthy playhouses: For the exterior Planter Boxes & Wreaths Tons of our favorite KidKraft playhouse DIYs feature adorable tiny wreaths and planter boxes. They’re an easy, inexpensive way to add a lot of extra cheer to the playhouse. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJbH8KpbES/ Mailboxes Sure, the mail person isn’t coming to visit, but tiny mailboxes just look so precious – plus, they give you the chance to sneak sweet notes to your kiddos as they play. If your playhouse didn’t come standard with a mailbox, adding a little letterbox like this one is easy. Custom Paint Job If you’re up for a bigger project, a custom paint job can give your playhouse the exact vibe you’re looking for – from storybook cottage to farmhouse to modern. We’ve been so inspired by all of the custom KidKraft playhouse paint jobs we see on Instagram that we made a playhouse just for that purpose: the Modern Outdoor Playhouse in White is the perfect blank slate for whatever color scheme you or your littles can think up. String Lights Now that daylight hours are getting shorter, outdoor twinkle lights are a fun way to add a little magic to evening play. We especially love the look of Edison bulbs for lining the edge of your playhouse. Just be sure to use lights made for the outdoors! Welcome Mat Simple, precious, and practical, adding a welcome mat to your kiddo’s front door is a cute way to keep it clean and welcome friends inside for a playdate. Holiday Decorations If you’re like us, you have a little too much fun decorating for the holidays, and you might have just a few too many decorative pumpkins and snowmen in the attic. So spreading some holiday fun to the playhouse every season is a no brainer. We love these cozy fall decorations on our Hobby Workshop playhouse and these not so spooky Halloween decorations on our Country Vista model. If you do decorate your KidKraft playhouse for fall or Christmas this year, be sure to share and use #kidkraftkids. We’d love to see what you come up with. For the interior With the outside looking inviting and adorable, next comes the question: what do you put in a playhouse? After all, this is where all the magic and make believe really happen! Curtains Decorative and super fun for kids to open and close, curtains effortlessly dress up your little one’s own personal hideout. Café curtains are usually just the right size for playhouse windows. Kid-sized furniture Depending on the size of your playhouse, a piece or two of kid-sized furniture could be a great addition. While you don’t want to overcrowd the space, furniture can add to the realism of the playhouse and help facilitate more imaginative roleplay. Shelves While you might be tempted to fill the shelves yourself, you’ll have more fun seeing what your littles decide to put on them. Some favorite toys, their own artwork, a collection of pinecones or feathers… the possibilities are really endless with kids. Cushions & pillows Even as an adult, cuddling up in a personal getaway with your favorite book sounds amazing, doesn’t it? A few fluffy cushions or pillows can turn the playhouse into a cozy outdoor reading nook. Of course, to avoid mold or mildew, make sure to use outdoor cushions. Rugs Rugs are another playhouse accessory that can up the coziness factor. Again, be sure to go for outdoor rugs to avoid mold and mildew. Outdoor toys & games The playhouse can be an ideal place to store a few outdoor toys. It will (mostly) protect them from the elements, and kids will have easier access to them than if they were stored in a shed or garage. While big toys like basketball hoops will take up too much space, smaller things like miniature golf sets, balls, and gardening or sandbox tools make for fun additions to playhouse time.For more playhouse decorating and accessory ideas, keep up with us on Instagram. Parents are always wowing us with the way their playhouse DIYs, and we’re sure you’ll find plenty of inspiration too.And if you’re still searching for the perfect playhouse to decorate, our quality wooden playhouses have classic, aesthetic designs and “great bones” for any projects you have in mind.

How Long Do Kids Play With Dollhouses?

How Long Do Kids Play with Dolls & Dollhouses? Dollhouses are more than just cute (though they are that) — they’re also a wealth of developmental play opportunities. Most importantly, dollhouses facilitate imaginative play that helps kids grow their social skills and make sense of the world. Kids act out social situations, imagine multiple perspectives and personalities, and perform practice runs of social conflicts. The benefits of dollhouses go beyond the playtime experience! But how long do girls play with dolls? Do 10-year-olds play with dolls? Do 11-year-olds play with dolls? Find out the best age for a dollhouse and the ideal type of dollhouse for different age groups below. What is the best age for a dollhouse? Is there an appropriate age for a dollhouse? How old is too old to play with dolls? We find that dollhouse play aligns best with the developmental needs and play preferences of kids ages 3 to 9. At these ages, kids love to engage in imaginative and pretend play and act out social scenarios. The beauty of dolls and dollhouses is that they can grow with kids as their imaginations become more complex. Toddlers will love simply reenacting everyday activities in their dollhouses, while older kids will create elaborate storylines and characters. Each child is different, of course, but in general, here’s how you can expect kids of different ages to play and learn with their dollhouse. 1-2 Years Those chubby-cheeked toddlers are just starting to engage in pretend play. They may hug and brush the hair of a baby doll, but most kids under two won’t really understand the concept of pretending their dolls live in a dollhouse. But that doesn’t mean they won’t still have fun with them! Toddlers love exploring the features of a dollhouse, like sound effects and doors that open and close. They’ll also enjoy rearranging furniture and finding all the different ways they can fit dolls and accessories into the dollhouse’s various rooms. At this age, dollhouses are often more about spatial exploration, fine motor skills, and cause and effect than they are about pretend play. As children inch closer to 3 years old, you’ll start to see them engage in simple pretend play, such as putting dolls to bed or making them sit at the kitchen table. Their ideal dollhouse: Is very durable Contains no small pieces that can be choked on Has doors or accessories to open and close 3-5 Years You’ll really see the fun begin here! Around these ages, kids will begin to create storylines with their dolls and act them out in the dollhouse. And no, those stories don’t always make sense, but that’s OK! Just by imagining conflicts and scenarios — no matter how silly they are — your child is still gaining so much understanding of the world and other people. Their ideal dollhouse: Is big enough to play with friends Isn't so tall that they can’t reach the top floors Has simple, sturdy furniture that they can move around without breaking 6-9 Years Yes, 6-9-year-olds play with dolls! And we really love these years for dollhouse play. The creativity you saw earlier only begins to grow, and you may be surprised at just how developed their pretend worlds are. You may also notice that your kiddos’ interests shift to different types of dolls in these years. They may become less interested in a family set of dolls and more interested in Barbies or dolls that look like teenagers. Unfortunately, at this age many boys experience social pressure that prevents them from playing with dolls and dollhouses, or they simply gravitate more toward other kinds of toys. Because dollhouse play can be so beneficial for developing empathy and social skills, consider providing similar toys that match your little boy’s interests like the Everyday Heroes Play Set. Their ideal dollhouse: Is big enough to play with friends Fits the type and size of doll they enjoy Has more detailed accessories and furniture 10-12 Years The golden days of the dollhouse may be winding down at this point, but even those precocious preteens still have fun with dolls and dollhouses. Though at this age, you can expect that play to look different than it used to. For some older kids, playing with their dollhouse becomes a top secret activity. If friends and classmates have stopped playing with dollhouses, your child may start to be self-conscious about still enjoying dollhouses. Though there’s a decent chance their friends are doing the same thing. For others, dollhouses begin to become more of a tool for social play and less an activity they do by themselves. In other words, when your child has a friend over, they may love world-building and playing out complex social situations with dolls and dollhouses, but you may notice that they enjoy dollhouses less when playing alone.So what age is good for a dollhouse? Almost any child pre-teen or younger can benefit from dollhouse play, but the sweetest spot is often between four and nine years old. Their imaginations are going full steam, and they’re always looking for new ways to pretend. Discover our dollhouses for 2-to-4-year olds, 3-to-5 year olds, and 5 years and up now.Trying to find the perfect dollhouse? Check out our collection of dollhouses and dollhouse accessories! FAQs What type of dollhouse is best for a toddler? The best dollhouse for a toddler is sturdy, simple, and designed for little hands, with large, easy-to-grasp furniture and characters. Look for wooden dollhouses with engaging designs, minimal small parts, and open sides for easy access to encourage imaginative play. What are the benefits of dollhouse play? Dollhouse play encourages creativity, storytelling, and social skills as kids act out real-life scenarios and make up their own adventures. It also helps develop fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. What size dolls fit in a KidKraft dollhouse? KidKraft dollhouses vary in size, but most are designed to fit dolls between 5 and 12 inches tall, such as Barbie dolls (11.5 inches) or smaller figurines. Be sure to check the specific model’s dimensions to find the best fit for your child’s dolls!

The Ultimate Kids Holiday Gift Guide for 2022

We love the holiday season for that buzz of excitement, the fun holiday activities, and all the cozy cuddles with our kids. But there’s one thing we can do without: the overwhelming push to buy flashy, noisy toys that only get played with for a week.If you’re tired of the toy box being filled with long-forgotten ghosts of Christmases past, get some gift ideas and inspiration for kids of any age from our 2022 kids holiday gift guide. We’ve filled it with some of KidKraft’s very best for our five pillars of play: active play, cognitive play, creative play, imaginative play, and social play. No fads and gimmicks here: just time-tested gift ideas for kids who love to play. For young toddlers: 18 - 23 months These wiggly, wonderful toddlers are learning new words and concepts by the day. Whereas they loved knocking things down and taking things apart in the months prior, now they’ll revel in the challenge of building, fitting, and putting things back together. Wooden blocks If they don’t have some already, add a set of wooden blocks high on your list! They’re a truly open-ended toy, so they’ll encourage creative play and stick around for years. At 18 months, toddlers attempt simple towers (and love knocking them down). In just a few more months, you’ll see them try to make more complex structures. From there, the sky is truly the limit, and you’ll love seeing how your child incorporates blocks into their worlds of pretend play. Shape Sorter There’s a reason shape sorter is a classic toy. Young toddlers are engaged by the fine motor challenge, while older toddlers love learning and matching shapes and colors. Climbers That whole “climbed before they could walk” thing isn’t just a saying – young toddlers are driven to test their climbing skills on anything in sight. Fortunately, a fun, safe climbing toy can help them explore that urge to climb and keep them from attempting to scale your furniture (or your Christmas tree). A-frame Hideaway & ClimberOne part rock wall, one part tee-pee, this sturdy climber doubles as a pint-sized playhouse, making it the perfect blend of active and imaginative play. Camp & Slide ClimberHave a little one who adores all things nature? They’ll love having daily camping adventures with the Camp & Slide Climber. When they’re done climbing and sliding, they can cozy up in their very own camping tent! Under the rounded arch, tent flaps with camping-inspired designs create a cozy hideout for your little one to snuggle up in and pretend they’re roughing it in the great outdoors. 5-in-1 Sports ClimberWe love presents that get toddlers moving – they have a blast, and you might actually get a little downtime once they’re tired out! And movement is this climber’s speciality. With five different ways to play, your little one is sure to expend all that extra holiday energy as they climb, slide, score soccer goals, shoot baskets, and swing at the baseball targets! For older toddlers: 2 Years Toddlers are constantly learning about the world and their own bodies and limitations! They love activities that challenge their fine motor skills, present them with problems to solve (How do those train tracks fit together?), and help them through developmental stages like schemas (more on that below!). Train Set Have you ever noticed your little one run to the window to watch the garbage truck? Or seem absolutely mesmerized by passing trains? If so, then you know that toddlers and preschoolers are fascinated by “things that go.” Train sets are a great way to feed that interest and encourage creative, explorative play as they build tracks and engage in pretend play. Train sets are versatile enough that high-quality wooden sets like the Figure 8 Train Set will stay in the toy rotation well into the school-age years. Turtle Totter Balance Beam Now that your little one has been a walking pro for months or years, they’re likely looking for other ways to challenge their balance and gross motor skills. The Turtle Totter Balance Beam is just the thing! A Foody Friends Kitchen & Activity Center Many play kitchens are still a little too big for toddlers at this age – the frustration of not being able to reach that top shelf is real. That’s why the Foody Friends Activity Centers are designed with toddlers in mind. A low-profile design keeps everything within your toddler’s reach, and the fun animal designs are just an added bonus. Now all you have to do is choose the animal pal your little one will love best: Cooking Fun Elephant Activity Center,Baking Fun Unicorn Activity Center. For preschoolers: 3 - 4 years Kids at this age are moving into the years of imaginative and pretend play (hooray!). Toys that let them role play, build, and create will always be winners! Adventure Tracks: Safari Run Remember how we said train sets were versatile? Preschoolers (especially preschoolers who love animals and the zoo) will love the added element of imaginative play in the Adventure Tracks: Safari Run play table. In this set, the train cars are animals of the African savanna like fierce lions, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, and leopards. They can connect them with magnets to form a train or play with them individually. A safari through the tracks will take them face-to-face with more animals as they roll past elephants, giraffes, and more. Art Easel Your mini-Picasso already loved crayons and paints as a toddler, but now, you’ll see them move beyond scribbles and shapes and attempt real pictures. Their attention span for creative play like art projects increases around this age, so it’s a great age to invest in a dedicated art station or easel.The Create N Play Art Easel is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one easel that will grow with them well into elementary school. With a built-in chalkboard, dry erase board, storage bin, and drip-free paint cups, it has everything they’ll need to make their next masterpiece and keep messes to a minimum. For even more mess-free projects, the Ultimate Creation Station has room for two plus built-in storage and project trays that make great sensory bins. Dress Up Clothes & Costumes From superheroes to princesses and everything in between, preschoolers love to dress up. A ballgown, a firefighter uniform, or a costume from their favorite character are guaranteed to be a hit. And to keep it all organized, the Pretend N Play Dress Up Unit will let them easily access all their favorite dress-up clothes year-round. Bring on the wardrobe changes! Create and Cook Create and Cook pretend foods are an engaging, budget-friendly idea for pretend play. They work as a stand-alone present or as a fun addition to a play kitchen. This year, kid favorites are the Create and Cook Apple Pie and Create and Cook Avocado Toast! If you’re looking for a play kitchen as well, you can bundle all those pretend play accessories and get a vintage-inspired kitchen with the Create & Cook Kitchen Set, exclusively on KidKraft.com. Let’s Pretend Pop-Ups Speaking of pretend play… Let’s Pretend Pop-Ups are 10/10 going to be a hit with preschoolers and up (and their younger siblings will love getting in on the fun too). These space-saving setups let your kiddo turn the playroom into a full grocery store, restaurant, or vet’s office for immersive pretend play with realistic props and setups. Each pop-up folds down for easy storage and opens up to six sides, so your little one has multiple “rooms” in their little business. For school-age kids: 5 years and up Ahh those dreamy years of endless pretend play. This is when watching kids open presents gets really fun!Pre-schoolers love play kitchens and the chance to mimic practical life skills too, but young school-age kids are especially imaginative with their play kitchens. In the hands of your five or six-year-old, play kitchens become much-loved props for playing everything from shopkeeper to Cinderella. And no, they don’t have to be a big plastic eyesore. KidKraft’s wide selection of quality wooden play kitchens are designed to last and look as chic as your decor. These are some of our favorites this year: Play Kitchens For a modern farmhouse aesthetic: Modern Metallics Farmhouse Play Kitchen: Wood-look storage baskets, a chalkboard for the menu-of-the-day, and veggie harvest fresh from the farm. This kitchen looks great and normalizes healthy eating. For a deluxe kitchen surprise: Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights and Sounds: Little chefs get the full kitchen experience with this play kitchen! Appliances include a fridge with ice maker, light up stove, spacious sink, microwave, and washing machine. The corner design gives it room for all the can include more space and features without taking up a ton of room in your home. For a cheerful, colorful look: Large Pastel Play Kitchen: Finally – bright, cheerful colors that aren’t overwhelming. This happy little kitchen is built to last through years of pretend play. Playhouse Going big this holiday season? Put that “wow” look on their faces with one of our newest and most popular playhouses: the Cozy Escape. This playhouse is a full-out clubhouse dream with two stories, a ladder, a slide, a balcony, and a play kitchen. Find it in the super-stylish navy-and-white combo exclusively on KidKraft.com. For a smaller playhouse in an equally stylish color combo, check out the White & Raven Modern Outdoor Playhouse. Swing Sets Swing sets are another outdoors toy that's sure to wow them! Our Wrangler Way Swing Set or McKinley Swing Set are big enough to grow with them throughout elementary school, and they’re a parent favorite for swoon-worthy paint jobs. If backyard space is limited, check out the Ranger Retreat for a compact, budget-friendly swing set they’ll love. Dollhouses Is anything more timeless than a dollhouse under the tree on Christmas morning? (Except maybe a puppy? Thanks but no thanks!) Dollhouses are another long-time kid favorite that works for multiple age ranges. Preschoolers are drawn to them too, but kids in the kindergarten-and-up range really engage in the type of immersive pretend play that makes dolls and dollhouses so fun. Large, open-concept dollhouses like the So Stylish Mansion Dollhouse allow for 360° play, making it easy for multiple siblings and friends to play together. The KidKraft Disney Princess Dance & Dream brings a little extra magic and fantasy to the realm. And if you have a little horse lover, the Grand Horse Stable & Dollhouse is the perfect way to give her dolls and her toy horses their perfect dream home. Play Sets For the boys or girls who like a little more of a rough-and-tumble vibe for their pretend play, playsets like the Rocket Ship Play Set or Pirate’s Cove Pretend Play Set are perfect dollhouse alternatives. For animal lovers and adventure lovers alike, the Safari 2-in-1 Ride and Play is an innovative combination of a Safari playset and a rideable safari truck!Hopefully, your head is now dancing with visions of sugar plum fairies and fun, engaging kids gift ideas for the kiddos in your life. Prefer to shop by price? Our Holiday Gift Guide has great gift ideas for every budget! Or, if you want to shop by type of play (creative, social, imaginative, cognitive, or active), check out our Shop by Skill page to find toys that align with the developmental milestones your little one is working hard to master!

Rainy Day Activities the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Rainy days don’t have to be dreary. With these 10 rainy day activities for kids, your little ones may actually look forward to stormy days! Couch Cushion Obstacle Course Physical challenge is the name of the game when it comes to rainy day activities for toddlers. Since they can’t run and climb outside, you can help them expend all that energy with a couch cushion obstacle course. Spread out and stack couch cushions and throw pillows and let them climb, crawl, and toddle their way across the room. Add in a blanket fort tunnel, and even older kids will want to get in on the fun! Living Room Campout Whether you use a full-size tent, a blanket fort, or a child’s teepee, indoor campouts are always a hit. Plus, they give a little extra magic to movie nights, storytime, or anything else you’re doing that day. Dollhouse Decorating Rainy days are a wonderful time to encourage pretend play. Come up with a scenario that requires the dollhouse to be decorated such as a royal ball, a favorite holiday, a visit from grandma and grandpa. Supply them with craft supplies like pipe cleaners, crafting pom poms, construction paper, colors, or whatever you have lying around to let them design their own decorations. Once they’ve completed their master design, they’ll have a blast playing out the pretend scenario with their dolls. Make a Work of Art Bust out the art easel, paints, and colors to make a rainy day masterpiece. Make the activity last longer by helping younger kids mix their own DIY fingerpaint. Older kids will enjoy the added challenge of a kids’ drawing tutorial (or drawing book to keep the activity screen-free). Mail those masterpieces to family and friends for the added fun of using stamps and envelopes! Build a City Combine block sets and train sets to turn the playroom into a mini-metropolis. Add in dollhouses or playsets to make your city even more fun and let the kids’ imaginations take over! DIY Enrichment for the Pets The kids aren’t the only ones cooped up in the house, right? They’ll love the chance to do something nice for the family pet by creating a simple enrichment activity. It’s easy to build treat puzzles for cats out of cardboard and paper towel rolls. For dogs, let your child hide a treat or two in a few small boxes (or any container or hiding place) for a “nose work” activity. For hamsters and rabbits, tear up paper towels to create new nesting materials and enjoy watching them get cozy! Dance Party When the stir-craziness starts to set in, crank up a kid-friendly playlist and get everyone on their feet! Bonus points to whoever comes up with the silliest dance moves. Bake Together Nothing says cozy, rainy day like the smell of warm cookies. For extra fun, let your little one measure, pour, and mix kid-safe ingredients (i.e. no raw eggs) at their own play kitchen. They’ll find the chance to complete a real task at their own level empowering and fun. Start a New Book Cozying up with a page-turner is practically mandatory during a thunderstorm, right? For independent readers, pull up a chair next to your kid’s reading nook and get lost in a book of your own. (And don’t forget to bring a few of the cookies you made earlier!) For pre-readers, make reading together extra special today with your best character voices. Tidy Up the Playroom We know – it may not sound fun, but kids are willing to get excited about almost anything. Clean up songs and games –– “Who can put away these blocks the fastest?” –– make even mundane tasks exciting. If you have positive energy, add in some fun, and keep things low pressure, tidying toys can be almost as fun as playing with them.

15 Holiday Pretend Play Ideas for Toddlers

Call us sentimental, but we love all things holiday themed. Peppermint lattes? Cheesy holiday movies? We’re here for it. So naturally, we want to share that holiday fun with the little ones in our lives too – preferably without constant screen time. Cue holiday-themed playtime. These toddler-friendly pretend play ideas are a very merry way to embrace the magic of the holidays with your kiddos all season long! Dollhouse Decorating The dolls deserve a little holiday cheer too, right? Supply your little one with materials to “deck the halls” of their dollhouse, and watch what they come up with. Artificial snow from your tree looks oh-so-winter-wonderland (if you’re up for a little mess, of course). Green pipe cleaners work great as tiny Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands, though toddler hands may need some help with the cutting and twisting. Finish it all off with some craft pom-pom ornaments! Pretend Polar Express That’s not just a toy train. This time of year, it’s the Polar Express itself, and your child is the engineer. White felt or cotton balls can help you create a snowy North Pole around the tracks. Play Kitchen Cookies Baking holiday cookies is probably one of the highlights of the season for your sous-chef. Let them re-enact it by equipping their play kitchen with a rolling pin, modeling clay, and some holiday cookie cutters — all the joy of holiday baking without the sugar rush. North Pole Campout If you have a child’s tent, turn it into an igloo for a North Pole campout. You can even transform your outdoor playhouse into a snowy holiday scene. If you’re feeling crafty, you can help your little explorer decorate with white construction paper “ice blocks” for a real chilly igloo feel. No tent? A good old-fashioned blanket fort does the trick too. The Elves’ Toy Shop A good tool set is a busy elf’s best friend. Your little one’s toy tool set or workbench is the perfect setup for playing an elf in Santa’s workshop. Reindeer Vet Rudolph and the gang need to be in tiptop shape for Christmas Eve. Who better to make sure they’re up to the task than your little veterinarian? (After all, toys are at stake here!) Stuffed animals or even a (very patient) family pet make great pretend reindeer. No plushies or pup to play the part? We love the Schleich reindeer figurines. They’re realistic, less expensive than a stuffed animal, and they make great additions to your little one’s toy stable. Holiday Toy Shopping Real holiday shopping? Maybe a bit stressful. Pretend holiday shopping with your favorite little shopkeeper? Now, that’s some holiday cheer. Let them line up some stuffed animals and toys for their shop while you or a sibling play a happy customer with pretend money. Older kids will love the addition of a toy cash register or shopkeeper stand for more role-play. Light the Menorah There’s something enchanting about a menorah in the window. It’s just too bad you only get to light it once a night, right? A play menorah set with removable candles lets the kids recreate that magic anytime they want. Play-Doh Snowmen We’ll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman … unless, of course, you live in a warmer climate or your kids aren’t fans of the cold. Never fear though. Play-Doh snowmen are a great way to get excited about the holiday season — no mittens required! Santa’s Sleigh You already have the perfect pretend sleigh — your child’s bed! Make some reins by tying or taping both ends of a jump rope to the footboard or headboard. Let them fill up a large bag with toys to deliver, and dig out that old Santa hat (you know you have one somewhere). They’ll jump at the chance to play Santa. Just be sure to remove the jump rope before bedtime. Holiday Sensory Bins For the youngest toddlers, Santa and imaginative play may be out of their reach this year, but holiday-themed sensory bins are just their speed. Fill a few shallow bins with some of the best scents, textures, colors, and sounds of the season. Think things like Christmas tree clippings, (non-chokable) jingle bells, wrapping paper, and red and green dyed rice. Set the bins on a toddler-sized table and watch them explore. Dreidel Painting Up the fun factor of dreidels by using them for spin art and stamps. Lightly dip plastic dreidels in washable paint, and set them spinning on a few pieces of paper. (Of course, you’ll want to be outside for this one!) Then, use a stamping pad or a light coat of paint to stamp the dreidel’s letters and designs onto the paper. Felt Christmas Trees Toddlers are to Christmas trees as moths are to flames (but in the best way). While you can’t make the glowing lights less magical and enticing (and would you really want to anyway?), you can redirect them with a felt Christmas tree. Hang one on the wall, and whenever your toddler is tempted to un-trim the real tree, encourage them to take the felt ornaments on and off the felt tree instead. Holiday Reading Corner Transform your kiddo’s normal reading spot into a cozy, winter-themed nook ready for a visit from Santa. Use poster board or construction paper to make a paper fireplace for the wall. Add in some construction paper flames and logs plus a few cozy blankets, and you just may want to curl up there yourself. Stocking Stuffing Have a stocking to spare? Make it a part of your little one’s toy collection this season. Ask them to fill it with presents for a family member or one of their favorite characters. They’ll love the chance to hunt for goodies around the house, and you’ll love seeing the funny things they pick out as gifts. Now, go make those memories!

Toy Storage Ideas for Keeping Playtime Mess Free

If you’re like most of us, you thought you’d never be the parent with toys all over the house… only to find out that toys have a way of taking over pretty quickly. But never fear – these simple toy storage ideas will help you organize the playroom, reclaim your living room, and keep playtime (mostly) mess free. Rotate your child’s toys First thing’s first. It’s tough for anyone to keep toys organized if all of them are out at once. If you only keep out a select number of toys at a time, both you and your little one will find it much easier to clean up after playtime. You can keep toys that are out of rotation organized in a closet or anywhere your kids won’t have access to them. When you notice that they haven’t played with a certain toy in a few days, swap it out for another one. It cuts through the clutter, and your kids are less likely to get bored with their toys overtime! Simplify rotations with toy caddies Toy caddies make toy rotations super simple. Keep art supplies and activities with multiple pieces in a caddy. Whenever your child loses interest in one activity, it’s time for a rotation! Swap the caddy that’s out for another one that you have stored in the closet. Try forward-facing toy bins for easier clean up Does your kiddo empty out the entire toy box to find one thing? Forward-facing toy bins with multiple small compartments might be your playtime solution. These bins make it easy for kids to find what they want and put it back in place when they’re done. Make book storage kid-friendly Books can take over just as easily as toys, so make a child-friendly book storage solution a priority. Ideally, the bookcase will be small enough that your kiddo can reach the top shelf, empowering them to find what they want and clean up easily. With preschoolers, books are more likely to stay off the floor if you have a sling bookshelf. Why? It’s tough for kids to find the book they want just by looking at the spines – especially if they can’t read yet. Sling shelves let them see the whole cover of the book and quickly find their favorites. When they’re done, they can easily spot the empty space the book should be returned to. If you can’t fit all of their books in the sling shelf, store the rest in a closet and rotate them every week or so. Make your storage work for your space When it comes to storage ideas for the kids’ rooms where space is often tight, multipurpose solutions make all the difference. Tables with built-in storage for toys or toy boxes that can double as a bench or a cozy reading spot give your child another place to play and free up space in their room. Create a no-pressure tidying routine Once you’ve got your toy storage solutions in place, try to get the kids involved in clean up time each day. Many parents find that a quick cleanup at the same time each day (before bed or right after dinner, for example) helps kids know what to expect, making them less likely to resist helping. It’s okay if they aren’t super helpful each time. By modeling the behavior yourself and encouraging them to pick up at least a toy or two, you’ll build habits that pay off overtime. And don’t forget to give yourself a little grace. Even with the most Pinterest-worthy toy storage ideas, no home is perfect all of the time, and that’s okay. It’s all a part of raising those messy, magical things called kids.