Made For Play Blog
Explore child development through play, find inspiration for your next DIY project, and discover tips for selecting the perfect toys for your little ones.
Latest Articles
From Yard to Living Room: Transforming Outdoor Playhouses into Indoor Adventures
Transforming an outdoor playhouse into an indoor playhouse takes creativity and keen space management but will be well worth the result! The dynamics of an indoor playhouse makes an intriguing space for kids and surprisingly be set up to seamlessly blend with your home’s aesthetics. Get tips for how to turn an outdoor playhouse into an indoor sanctuary your kids will absolutely love. Embracing Versatility Taking an outdoor playhouse from your yard to the living room isn’t just about moving a wooden playhouse from one space to another - it’s about reimagining its potential. Embrace versatility and consider how an indoor playhouse with a slide could work in your playroom or other area, or how a playhouse with a picnic table can provide your child with various creative play opportunities right inside your home. The Indoor Playground An indoor playground serves as a haven for kids, with elements to climb, slide, and explore in the safety of your home. The specific components will vary from simple to complex structures, depending on the indoor-outdoor playhouse model you get. At KidKraft, you’ll find a variety of types to choose from, including simple indoor playhouses for toddlers and expansive indoor-outdoor playhouse designs that beautifully blend with home decor while offering a realm of adventure. Benefits of an Indoor Playground for Kids Children’s indoor playhouses foster creativity and active play, providing many benefits such as: Safety - An indoor playhouse for kids ensures children play in a controlled, hazard-free environment. They eliminate the risks outdoor environments might pose. Year-Round Play - Regardless of weather, an indoor wooden playhouse for kids offers endless fun that’s accessible all year long. Developmental Advantages - Engaging with various elements, like an indoor playhouse with a slide, boosts both physical and cognitive growth in toddlers and older kids. These indoor playgrounds stimulate imagination and foster learning through play. They’re also a fantastic way to encourage physical activity indoors! Choosing the Right Playhouse Selecting the perfect indoor wooden playhouse involves several factors. You'll want to consider the size, ensuring it fits comfortably in your living space. Also, the material of the playhouse plays a crucial role in its longevity and safety. You’ll also want to think about what your child enjoys. For example, an indoor playhouse with a slide might spark their imagination more than a traditional setup. Always prioritize safety features and durability to create a secure play environment. This thoughtful approach will ensure your indoor playhouse becomes a cherished space for creativity and fun. Creative Design Ideas for Playhouses Transforming an indoor wooden playhouse into a world of wonder requires creativity. Perhaps a playhouse with a built-in kitchen can inspire your kids to hold an imaginary mini-market. A model with an attached picnic table can encourage indoor picnics and celebrations throughout the year. Or your kids may love a two-story model with a deck and opportunities to climb and slide! If you’re concerned about an indoor playhouse not fitting in with your home’s design aesthetic, our white playhouse may be perfect for you! The blank slate lets you paint over it with any color you desire to match your home. Of course, you can also keep the color as is and attach different decorations and accessories throughout the year to fit various themes and holidays. No matter which playhouse design you get, your indoor playhouse will be more than just a play area but also a haven for growth and imagination. Practical Considerations When Transforming Outdoor Playhouses into Indoor Ones Space requirements demand thoughtful planning for indoor playhouses. Adjustments might be necessary to ensure it's suitable for indoor use, prioritizing your child's safety. Just like when the playhouse is assembled outside, we recommend a 6' safety zone around all sides. More information can be found in the assembly instructions or at our Help Center. Additionally, maintenance will keep the playhouse in top condition. KidKraft Playhouses While our outdoor playhouses are designed to withstand the outdoor elements and rough play, they are also beautiful enough to live inside your home and meet your indoor play needs. Step into a World of Imagination! Shop Now for Playhouses.
Earth Day Activities for Kids
Earth Day is on the horizon, and it's the perfect time to instill a love for our planet in our littles. We’ve rounded up some fun and eco-friendly Earth Day activities to help you teach your kiddos about the importance of caring for the Earth! What is Earth Day and Why Do We Celebrate It? The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in response to growing concern about environmental pollution and its effect on human health. Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes inspired 20 million Americans, especially college students, to show up for Earth Day events across the country. The momentum from this event quickly led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and policies that helped put environmental protections in place. Today, Earth Day carries on the same legacy, drawing our attention to current environmental issues and how we can help! When is Earth Day? Earth Day falls on April 22nd every year! What is the Theme for Earth Day 2024? The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics! This year, EarthDay.org’s goals are to raise awareness of plastic’s impact on human health, advocate for phasing out single use plastics, promote a UN treaty on plastic pollution, and fight against fast fashion. Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids 1. Earth Day Crafts for Kids Get those creative juices flowing with recycled bird feeders, egg carton seed starters, or nature collages. Reusing household items with your little artists is a great way to teach them about recycling and waste reduction…and create some eco-friendly masterpieces in the process! 2. Earth Day Movies for Kids Cuddle up for an Earth Day movie with classics like Wall-E, FernGully, The Lorax, or Happy Feet. These films are kid favorites and help kids understand the impact of waste, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. 3. Earth Day Books for Kids Most local libraries will have a bookshelf or display table of Earth Day-related books. Or you can plan ahead and reserve titles like Our Big Home: An Earth Poem by Linda Glaser, Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals, Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel, The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, or The Earth Book by Todd Parr. 4. Earth Day Projects for Kids Want some hands-on activities for Earth Day that make a difference or help grow your child’s love for nature? Look for local community cleanups, start a garden (even if it’s just a single potted plant!), set up a recycling station together, create a nature scavenger hunt, or just play outdoors! 5. Earth Day Activities for Toddlers Even the littlest kids can still learn to love and care for our planet! Take a nature walk, create a sensory bin with natural materials, have an Earth Day storytime, play simple recycling sorting games, or enjoy a picnic outside. It's never too early to start instilling a love for our planet. Happy Earth Day!
6 Activities for National Sibling Day
Want to go beyond a cute Insta post and really do something to celebrate National Sibling Day with your kids? We’ve got you covered with 6 super simple, super sweet sibling activities for a happy National Siblings Day! What is National Siblings Day? National Sibling Day falls on April 10th each year. How Do You Celebrate National Siblings Day? We recommend keeping it simple and focusing on ways you can foster sibling connection. Here are some ideas for sweet sibling bonding activities to help your littles enjoy time with their brothers or sisters! How Do You Celebrate National Siblings Day? We recommend keeping it simple and focusing on ways you can foster sibling connection. Here are some ideas for sweet sibling bonding activities to help your littles enjoy time with their brothers or sisters! National Siblings Day Activities 1. Siblings Photoshoot Capture the magic of siblinghood with a cute little photoshoot. Professional sessions will give you some beautiful photos, but creating your own DIY photoshoot at home can be just as cute and even more fun for your littles. If you want to go all out, treat it like a photobooth and provide props like hats, funny glasses, or a makeshift backdrop. They’ll love hamming it up for the camera together, and you may get a few silly shots that perfectly sum up their relationship. 2. Play a Game Together Carving out some time for play on National Sibling Day is super simple but still meaningful. And after all, what’s more central to their relationship than playtime? Whether it's a classic board game, a round of "the floor is lava," or inventing their own game, social play is the ultimate form of quality time for kiddos. If your kids are old enough, try a game of “Which Sibling?” where you sit the kids back-to-back with each holding one of their own shoes and one shoe of each of their siblings. Ask them questions like “Who is the best dancer? Who loves pizza the most? Who gets the most excited for Grandma’s visits?” They’ll raise the shoe of the sibling they think fits the best and then turn around to see each other’s answers! 3. Collaborative Arts and Crafts Project From handprint murals to drawings of each other, arts and crafts projects are a great way to get your kids collaborating and thinking about each other on National Sibling Day! One of our favorite ideas is a photo collage. Print out pictures of them together; give them a large poster board, some glue sticks, and stickers for decoration; and let them sort through their favorite photos as they create their collage! Include recent pics as well as older photos that might spark sweet memories. If your littles tend to bicker (as all siblings do at times!),the older photos can be a subtle way to remind them of how excited they were when their little brother came home from the hospital or how much fun they had on vacation last summer. 4. Story Time A fun twist on your usual story time could be letting the kids choose a story from the bookshelf they think each sibling will love. It’s a simple way to encourage thoughtfulness and to help each child feel loved by their siblings. Or you could choose picture books that showcase strong sibling relationships. Check your local library to reserve a copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful by Helen Lanzrein (for sisters and brothers), Maple and Willow Together by Lori Nichols (for sisters), Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick (for brothers) for inspiring stories of sibling relationships. For older kids, longer read-alouds like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan feature timeless sibling adventures (though you won’t be able to finish them in one day, of course!) 5. Picnic at the Park Take the sibling activities outdoors with a little picnic. Pack some favorite snacks for all the kiddos and head to the backyard picnic table , park, or even a nearby zoo for extra adventure! If the weather isn’t cooperating, picnics on the living room floor can be just as fun! The focus is on sharing a meal and creating a relaxed atmosphere for siblings to connect. 6. Movie Night Turn National Siblings Day into a cozy movie night complete with popcorn and a sibling-focused movie. Some ideas include Frozen Despicable Me The Incredibles The Goonies The Chronicles of Narnia: Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe Mary Poppins The Sound of Music Race to Witch Mountain The Aristocats Yours, Mine, & Ours Cheaper by the Dozen Choose an option that’s age appropriate for your littles and is closest to their sibling dynamic! Make it extra memorable by setting up pallets or a blanket fort to snuggle up in as you watch the film. Your National Siblings Day celebrations don’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Setting up simple activities and communicating your own excitement about the day and its meaning can help your kids feel love and gratitude for their brothers and sisters and look forward to National Siblings Day each year!
Buying Guide: Toddler Beds
Move over, crib. Twin-sized bed, wait your turn. Toddler bed? It’s your time to shine. If your little snoozer is looking kind of crammed in their crib or has learned the art of escape, it’s time to make the switch. Our checklist will help you pick a toddler bed that lasts, looks great, and helps your kiddo get a great night’s sleep! Size A toddler bed should help your little one safely explore their newfound independence and feel secure as they transition out of their crib. A bed frame that’s low to the ground keeps even the youngest toddlers safe as they climb in and out of bed. While some cribs can transition into toddler beds, they tend to be higher off the ground than regular toddler beds. Investing in a lower toddler bed might be worth it, especially if your child is under two years of age when they switch. Railings Toddlers are notoriously wiggly sleepers and don’t always have the spatial awareness to keep themselves from falling out of bed. Look for railings that’ll keep your little one safely in bed through the night. For most toddlers, a short partial railing near the headboard does the trick. If you’ve got an extra-wiggly sleeper, you may want to look for rails that come farther down the bed. Mattress size Before you make your pick, make sure that your new toddler bed is compatible with your current crib mattress! Bonus tip: don’t forget to flip the crib mattress to the toddler side if you haven’t already. It’s softer than the extra-firm infant side. Construction Sure, a toddler bed only has to last a few years, but it has to survive the toddler years. Whatever your toddler dishes out, you need a bed that can take it and still keeps them safe night after night. This probably isn’t the time to order from an unknown company on Amazon – especially if you plan to pass the bed down to younger siblings. A brand’s overall reputation and parent reviews are great ways to make sure you’re getting a quality product. Design Never underestimate the power of a cool racecar bed. Whatever your little one is into from princesses to firetrucks, choosing a fun, themed bed can make them more excited about their “big kid” bed. Of course, simple classic designs have their advantages too. They probably look more similar to their crib, which might be comforting for your kiddo. They’re classy and cute, and they’re usually gender-neutral enough to work for any kid’s room. Whatever you’re looking for, KidKraft’s line of toddler beds is time-tested, affordable, and pretty adorable if we say so ourselves. From clean and modern to whimsical and fun, we’ve got a bed that’s perfect for your toddler.
Buying Guide: Kids’ Climbers
There’s a lot of reasons to love kids climbing structures. Climbing benefits kids’ strength, balance, judgment and decision making, and physical and cognitive development –oh, and it’s fun. If you’re ready to create a climbing adventure in your own backyard, our kids’ climbers buying guide is here help you find the right climber for your budget, yard, and kids! Best for Little Climbers: A-Frame Hideaway and Climber $99.99 If your little mountaineer isn't’ ready for a full swing set just yet, the A-Frame Hideaway and Climber is the mini-peak for them. At just 3’ high and with six easy-to-grab climbing rocks, this little climber is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. When they’re ready for a break, they can cozy up in the hideaway tent. Best for Small Yards: Appleton Swing Set $582.99 If you’ve got 80 sq feet to spare in your yard, you’ve got room for the Appleton Swing Set and its rockwall! Okay… you’ll need slightly more than 80 sq feet to account for all the swinging, jumping, and running that’s sure to happen around it. As a climber, the Appleton is great for preschoolers and toddlers. While older kids will handle the rockwall/ladder with ease, they’ll still love to swing, slide, and play in the playhouse! (Also available in white if that’s your vibe!) Can’t decide or just want to see more? Check out all of our swing sets and kids climbing structures, or give us a call with any questions you have about that swing set you’re eyeing. We can’t wait to help!
10 Imaginative Play Ideas
It’s tough to overstate the benefits of imaginative play for kids. Regularly engaging in pretend play can help boost kids’ creativity, confidence, vocabulary, social skills, and more. Even though imaginative play comes naturally to kids, it can easily get crowded out of your child’s day by busy schedules, screens, and other forms of entertainment. So the next time your child is having trouble putting down the iPad, try inspiring some imaginative play time with one of these ideas. Running a Restaurant It’s pretty much a fact that kids love serving adults silly pretend foods. Use your child’s play kitchen or some (non-breakable) real dishes to set up a little kitchen and dining area. Order the wackiest things you can think of and watch your little chef scramble to please their customer. Veterinarian’s Office Give all the stuffed animals a checkup, take some x-rays, and maybe even perform a surgery or two (ahem, pretend surgeries – we know scattered stuffing is the last thing you need!) No toy doctor’s kit? Just grab some bandaids,a thermometer, and a few old medicine syringes to help your kiddo play the part. If they love it, you can use the Let’s Pretend Pet Doctor Pop Up to create an immersive vet’s office right in the playroom. Dollhouse Guests Imagine that the dolls have guests coming over and need to get the dollhouse ready. Have fun pretending to clean the place up and leaving special surprises for the guests – add a little drama by pretending the bathtub broke or the fridge is out of food. Pirate Ship Playset The play deck on your swingset makes for a great pirate ship – especially if you grab a frisbee to use as a steering wheel and an empty paper towel roll for a telescope. Go on a pirating adventure, and use the slide or swings to “splash” into the ocean. Shopping Trip Pretend shopping trips are super fun and usually pretty low maintenance on your part. Give your child a basket or wagon to gather items from the house and then check them out as you slide them across the coffee table (bonus points for “boop” noises!) Use an old wallet, pretend money, or old cards to add to their fun. Building with Blocks The simplicity of blocks and building bricks offer a great chance for toddlers to showcase their imagination! A simple stack of blocks becomes everything from a hospital to top secret headquarters. Incorporate a few of their favorite figurine-sized toys to inspire even more imaginative creations. As your little ones think up fun storylines for their toys to act out, they’ll likely build structures to go along. Fort Building Speaking of blanket forts, they’re a surefire way to inspire imaginative play. Kids’ imagination will transform them into everything from a rabbit’s burrow to a witch’s lair. Have fun seeing what your little one comes up with. Playing Preschool Give your preschooler a chance to be the teacher for once by helping them set up a “school” for their favorite toys. You can use tape to mark a spot on the floor for each “student” and give them all a few school supplies like paper and crayons. If your little one has an easel, set it up as the chalkboard – oh, and be sure to take notes during the lesson! Act Out Favorite Shows When your child gets upset that screen time is over (we’ve all been there), use their love of their favorite shows to kickstart an imaginative play session! Sometimes offering to take on the role of some of their favorite characters can lessen the blow. Whether that means acting like talking pups with cool gadgets or pajama-wearing superheroes, your child is sure to have a blast and appreciate your interest in one of their favorite things. While no toy can replace your child’s imagination, providing a few quality toys that promote pretend play can help ensure that they engage in imaginative play every day. From classic wooden dollhouses and play kitchens, to outdoor swing sets and NERF forts, to innovative setups like the Let’s Pretend Popups and Ultimate Spaceship, all KidKraft toys are designed to foster your child’s love of imaginative play. Because just like our toys, kids are made for make believe!
Imaginative Play Benefits
At KidKraft, “Made for Make Believe” is our motto, so needless to say, imaginative play is near and dear to our hearts. We love it for so many reasons – the magic of seeing kids pretend, the silly ideas kids come up with, the memories of playing as a family. But we also love it for the developmental benefits. Here’s how imaginative play helps your child grow and thrive! What are the benefits of imaginative play? Creativity & Confidence Play pretend with a three-year-old, and you’ll be sure to act out some truly silly situations. Pretend play lets kids build whole worlds and make the “rules.” Since so much of their life is directed by adults, pretend play is one of the few times they get to be in control. Whether they’re saving the day, starting a restaurant, or flying a spaceship, they relish the chance to call the shots and give you directions. Feel free to make suggestions, but ultimately follow their lead and encourage them to be as creative as they want! Social Skills & Empathy When kids engage in imaginative play with peers, they practice a lot of social maneuvering. They must communicate with each other as they establish how the pretend situation works, and they have to navigate real-life social dilemmas when they disagree. Even when kids play pretend alone, they get a chance to put themselves into someone else’s shoes, something that doesn’t come naturally to a toddler. Imagining someone else’s perspective helps them build empathy and understanding. Practical Life Skills Pretend play helps kids learn how to interact in the real world. They can practice social interactions like ordering at a restaurant as well as basic tasks like caring for a pet or cooking. Pretend play is especially great at helping kids practice things they might not get the chance to do in real life just yet. When they are old enough to go school or order their own food, all of the pretend practice they had will help them navigate those situations with confidence. Language & Vocabulary Imaginative play comes with tons of opportunities to learn new words and expand language skills, especially when an adult is involved. Don’t hold back from using rich, specific language when you play with your kids. You might be surprised by how much they can pick up! For example, if you’re playing the part of veterinarian to your child’s teddy bear, don’t limit yourself to “boo boos” and “upset tummies.” Your child will learn more when you include terms like fractures, infections, sprains, and x-rays. You grow their vocabulary as well as their fascination with a subject when you use detailed language. Types of Imaginative Play Imaginative play can take several forms, including independent play, social play with peers, or social play with adults. Each has its own benefits. Independent play lets kids explore on their own terms and develop focus as they engage with what interests them most. Playing with peers builds social skills. Playing with adults can boost language and vocabulary development and provides opportunities for the adults to teach kids about the world through play. Imaginative play can also take the form of dramatic play, where kids act out roles themselves, or play with toys, where kids speak for toys but don’t embody a role themselves. It can center around fantasy or real-world scenarios. Both are beneficial, allowing kids to explore their creativity and learn practical skills that will serve them in real life. Shop Our Imaginative Play Toys Of course, nothing is as important for imaginative play as your child’s own imagination! That being said, toys that promote pretend play can really help them engage in and enjoy imaginative play on a daily basis. For developmentally-friendly toys your kids will love playing with, check out KidKraft’s wide range of play kitchens, dollhouses, and other imaginative play toys. Just like your child, they’re made for make believe!
Best Outdoor Toys for Small Yards
Yards don’t have to be big to be fun. (Just ask your kids!) But shopping for outdoor play structures can be tough if you don’t have a ton of room to spare in your yard. No worries, friends. We’ve got your guide to big fun in little spaces with these outdoor toys for small yards! Small Footprint Swing Sets & Play Sets Love the idea of a swing set for your kids but not sure if you have the room? Check out these small footprint swing sets before you decide for sure! Remember, when you’re measuring your yard, it’s not just the dimension of the swing set you’ll need to account for. The real deciding factor is the “safety zone” – an obstacle-free area around the swing set that’s covered with protective surfacing like wood chips. We’ve done the work for you by calculating exactly how much space your kids will need to play safely on their swing set. Appleton Swing Set The Appleton Swing Set is another small footprint swing set made with tiny yards in mind. A built-in sandbox saves even more space, giving your little one another classic outdoor toy without taking up any more space. Safety Zone Size: 22’ 3” x 28’ Climbers No room to run around? Head upwards instead! If you’re buying a swing set or playset for your small yard, consider one with built-in climbing features (nearly all of our playsets have at least one!) Or opt for our standalone climber for toddlers and preschoolers: A-Frame Hideaway & Climber Coming in at just 41” x 27.5,” this little climber fits almost anywhere and doubles as a play tent. Safety Zone Size: 15’ 6” x 14’ 4” Playhouses Big fun in a small space, playhouses are an ideal outdoor toy for small yards. Playhouses don’t vary in size as much as swing sets do, so even the bigger, deluxe playhouses still fit just fine in most small yards. Here are some of our favorite picks for small spaces: Savannah Swing Playhouse One glance at the KidKraft Savannah Swing Playhouse and kids will want to move right in. This homey charmer welcomes with a calming white paint, dark wooden roof and scalloped half door. Dimensions: 100" x 43.23" x 55.2" Modern Outdoor Playhouse One of our most popular playhouses, the Modern Playhouse is primed and ready to be customized – plus, it’s just the right size for small yards! The cute attached picnic table gives you even more fun per square foot, providing the perfect spot for backyard picnics. Dimensions: 70.08" x 48.9" x 62.24" Sandboxes Sandboxes are another great outdoor toy for small spaces. Since they enable constructive and sensory play instead of highly active play, they’re an excellent way to let kids enjoy the outdoors even when they don’t have room to run around. And with no required safety zone, you only need to account for the measurement of the sandbox itself. Browse through our entire outdoor collection to find the outdoor toys right for your kiddos and your yard. Not sure if the toy you’ve got your eye in will fit in your space? Click on Technical Information and/or Assembly Instructions for product dimensions and safety zone measurements.
