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Deciding to purchase a dollhouse for a little girl is a big decision. There are several prominent companies such as Mattel, Fisher Price, and Little Tykes who manufacture dollhouses, and there are also numerous smaller companies that market dollhouses. The choices can be seriously overwhelming as each brand makes several dollhouses, each of which have different models and features. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you go about choosing the right dollhouse for your daughter, niece, granddaughter, or friend. 1. Electric or Plain? Many dollhouses come with lights and sounds that really work inside of the rooms. For example, you can push a button on the dollhouse toilet to make a flushing sound, hit a key on the piano to play a tune, and turn lights on and off in individual rooms. Other dollhouses are of the plainer variety, without any electrical components. It is worth noting that the lights and sounds are very often the first part of the dollhouse to break, which can be really disappointing to a young girl. Additionally, the lack of lights and sounds can inspire kids to more fully use their imagination while playing. 2. Plastic or Wood? The vast majority of dollhouses are made out of wood or plastic components. While today's plastics are stronger than those made in the past, the fact of the matter is that plastic deteriorates and becomes brittle over time. Wood will last a lot longer, allowing your little girl to play with the dollhouse for years to come. 3. Big or Small? Dollhouses come in a tremendous variety of sizes. The first thing to consider regarding size is where you want to put the dollhouse inside of your home. If you only have a bit of space available, then you will want to buy a small one. However, if you have a lot of space, then you may want to consider one of the very large dollhouses on the market today, some of which are nearly five feet tall! 4. Furnished or Unfurnished? Some dollhouses come like an empty house without any furniture whatsoever. Other dollhouses come along with enough furniture to decorate each room realistically. If you decide to buy an unfurnished dollhouse, keep in mind the expense of dollhouse furniture and add that to your total tab for this toy! 5. New Dolls or Old? When you are considering a specific dollhouse for your special little girl, think about what type of dolls will fit into this house. Some dollhouses accommodate regular sized dolls that your daughter already owns. Other dollhouses require the purchase of specialty dolls that will specifically fit into this particular house. Whichever dollhouse it is that you end up choosing, rest assured that your little girl will adore it. You will get thousands of hours of pure fun and imaginative play out of this purchase, and your daughter will be entertained for several years. You will have the opportunity to watch endless doll tea parties, fancy dress balls, and other dramatic scenes in the lives of your daughter's dolls as she develops her imagination and fine motor skills through playing with the dollhouse. The truth is that you may find yourself wanting to play with the dollhouse on your own after your little girl goes to sleep, as they are just that much fun! Joy McNamara is a play therapist in a suburb of New York City. She recommends the Kidraft Annabelle dollhouse and the Kidkraft Designer dollhouse for the children with whom she works. Joy lives with her husband five daughters in a Victorian home that is reminiscent of a beautiful dollhouse.
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