KidSafePlayhouses

Interiors from the Bungalow

2007-03-20T03:33:00.000-05:00

Here are some interior shots of the bungalow featured in American Bungalow Magazine

click on the images for a larger view

American Bungalow Playhouse

2007-03-09T03:39:00.000-06:00

The full story can be found at http://www.ambungalow.com/AmBungalow/news.htm

Click on the picture for a larger view to see more of the details

If you need to contact me please do so either at Edward1960@hotmail.com or directly at 563-245-2295.

Moving playhouses

2006-11-30T19:10:00.000-06:00

Playhouses can be moved intact... IF you look at the picture below you can see the trailer that I use for deliveries (I build them in my "shop" and then take them to the site. What his means is that an EXISTING playhouse can be transported.So if you have a playhouse they can come with you if you move! Edward1960@hotmail.com 563-245-2295

Pictures??? What pictures????

2006-11-21T21:27:00.000-06:00

E-blogger is having technical difficulties (I will delete comments about their ancestry, intelligence or procreative habits) .... If you would like to see the pictures, most posts are mirrored at my Xanga site (yeah so sue me, it keeps my siblings and I in touch)

http://www.xanga.com/Edward1960/544586731/kidsafe-part-1-of-a-series-doors.html

You may have to cut and paste in some browsers.....

I apologize for the inconvenience....

Kidsafe Playhouses Part 1 of a series DOORS

2006-11-21T01:14:00.000-06:00

So what is KidSafe?
KidSafe is a term I use to describe playhouses built around the simple idea that they should be free of common hazards. My tag line has been "If it isn't SAFE then why bother building it?". I really do believe that and has been a guiding principle of all the playhouses I have built.

I will try not "beat-up" on other builders, but sometimes the easiest way to show what I am talking about is by demonstration.

Basic Playhouse (Ok so its got both log siding and a porch options)

Pretty typical playhouse until you start to look at the details. In this series I want to look at those details.

Doors
IF you look at the picture you may wonder how to get inside.... Well I don't fit though the 18 inch wide, 4f t high door..... so I don't use it.
Playhouses should have two doors... A kid door AND an adult door......

Playhouses are all about imaginative play, soo there must be a door that is kid sized. However imaginative play also leads to interactive play (social development is another topic). The interactive play can be with peers or with care givers. Other children can use the kid door, but how does Grandma come for "tea" if the only access is the mentioned 18in x 4ft front door. It is easy if there is door she can actually use.

There are a number of other reasons for having two doors. (Besides having grandma come for "tea")

1. The doors swing in opposite directions (one swings in, the other swings out) that way a child can never get trapped. Imagine if a playmate were to lean a bicycle against an outswing door. Nothing malicious, just thoughtless, however if there is only one door the child inside might not be able to swing out the door.

2. Children grow (parents don't look) and there will come a day when the playhouse becomes a place to read or even study. With a large door the playhouse "grows" with the child.

3. Other uses for a playhouse. A studio for writing or painting. A potting shed or even just a storage shed (perhaps for summer toys in the winter). With just a "kid door" none of these are possible.

4. Playhouses become a sanctuary, knowing that is THE reason that they must be safe.... All children have spats and tiffs and the playhouse becomes a place of refuge. However without an adult door I can't go to my child who needs me. With the big door I can be with my child who needs comfort in THEIR place of refuge. Knowing that I can rest easy whenever they are out to play. This most important reason may never be required, but with a properly designed playhouse the option is there.

Ed R-....

A Victorian Playhouse

2006-03-06T20:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a front and side sketch of a true Victorian playhouse. Any interest??? and no I'm not sure how much it would cost, but I'd do the first one for $9,700 in cedar, but you'll have to paint it (I'll help choose colors, but with so many possibilities I'll leave the final choices to the "winner")

Playhouse Checklist

2006-03-05T19:20:00.000-06:00

This is a comment I gave to a mother of 6, who asked about the playhouse prices. IF anyone is interested send me an e-mail and we'll do that else where. The point of this blog is playhouse safety. I encourage everyone interested in playhouses to read the following and look at what is beign produced locally. Don't miss the punchline at the end.....

****** MOM, (her screen name)
You're out numbered..... LOL
IF you're truly interested in prices toss me an e-mail and I will flip back you a list. They range from $950 up to the Mollie Madison which was $12,600.... There is no average price. I build them one at a time. I’m fairly sure that if you check locally you find that there is someone building “playhouses”. BUT even with delivery my prices are usually better AND mine are built with an eye towards safety. Do your self a favor and find a commercial builder and look at the quality being offered.

1. are the corners rounded -
2. do they use metal drip edge of the roofs (look especially where the roof edges meet)
3. are the playhouses vented (sofit and ridge vents)
4. Are surfaces sanded and sealed
5. are floors made of treated wood
6. are the windows "kid friendly" (are there any windows at all)
7. are there two doors - one swinging in, one swinging out
8. can the interior be finished, if so how much
9. Are their overhangs at the roof edges or does the water run down the sides of the house
10. Construction materials, full 2x4's for the walls good quality hardware

This is just some of the things to look for. This list ignores workmanship, quality of materials and the reason they build playhouses. Are they a shed builder who makes something that looks like a “playhouse” or are they a playhouse builder? Do they know anything about imaginative play for children?

There is a program by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) called the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS). The goal of the NPPS is to make playspaces safe for children. It is a good program and they have done some remarkable work with every school district in the country.

Are you ready for the punch line?

I am the ONLY playhouse builder in the whole USofA that has ever worked with them.

For those of you haven’t seen it, what a roof corner should look like. ($1,890)

Bad corners from a British builder this 6ft wide by 4ft deep playhouse they get 2500 pounds for (or about $4,000) and it doesn't even have real wondows. scheesh

Why a playhouse?

2006-03-01T22:31:00.000-06:00

Why have a playhouse? Well the truth is you don't NEED a playhouse, but children NEED a place for imaginative play. A playhouse has advantages, but blankets over a card table work too. Like social development a child's imagination needs nurturing. It is part of the reason you read to your children. A child with a dynamic environment develops language skills faster and better and is more cognitively capable than deprived children. This is not new, Dewey knew this in the 1920's, Piaget knew this in the 1930's.
One of the interesting things about a playhouse is it can also teach responsibility. Having a child sweep and clean (and even wash windows) is something even a young elementary student can do within their attention span. I know you want them to clean and sweep the house where you all live, but that house is "yours" the playhouse is "theirs". Likewise, the creativity can be fostered with having a child decorate the playhouse. Perhaps they'd like a "haunted house" or Christmas lights can be hung (one two strings and your done without even much of a ladder). Allow them to plan the decorations (a few corns talks and some pumpkins and the playhouse is ready for a Thanksgiving “feast”. With both the cleaning and the decorating, the sense of accomplishment will do wonders for a child's sense self-worth and success breed more success.
BTW Blogging from my mother’s house…. (changing light bulbs, unstopping a drain, and doing some minor restoration work at my childhood church) Any ways not much for pictures for the next day or two……

The point of this blog

2006-02-28T15:42:00.001-06:00

A message I sent to a mother who felt bad that she could buy one of my playhouses;

Hi thanks for stopping into my little corner of cyberspace.....
I am trying to figure out how to be clear about the point of my blog..... it is NOT my comercial site. The point of my blog is to help people know and perhaps build or buy a SAFE playhouse.
Strictly educational, so don't feel like you are un-invited if all you want to do is learn about safe playspaces ... Trading ideas about Safe playspaces is the whole idea of the blog......
Please come vist again.....

Windows

2006-02-27T16:43:00.000-06:00

The topic for today is windows in the playhouses. Some windows are custom built, while the others are standard sizes. The thing to notice is that they are ALL commercial windows. WHY? Why not just build some. I could and have built replicas for restoration projects.
Commercial windows can be had in thermopane (insulated) glass. Because many of the houses are finished and therefore insulted on the inside thermopane glass makes sense.
BUT the important reason is, of course, Safety.
No casement windows, No awning windows, no recycled windows on hinges.......
Only sliding windows (vertical or horizontal) should be used. Casement and other widows that open and close mechanically are hare for children to operate. IF the window won't open them then the playhouse can overheat. Awning and casement windows project corners out into the play area. IF I am going to take the time to round the roof corners why would I have hard corners from my windows. The homebuilt recycled windows have the same problems as casements and awnings (hard corners projecting) and are often a waste of play space in side. Siding windows are “self-storing” everything is contained in the frame. I like horizontal sliders as there is almost zero chance to get fingers pinched.
If you must use a recycled window there is exactly one way to use it safely. Hinge it on the inside so that it can lay flat on the wall when fully opened.
Look at the pictures and have fun….

Here is what I am talking about the running child crashing into an open casement or awning window? AS a parent I won’t do it... it would give me too many nightmares.

A treehouse (without the tree)

2006-02-26T13:09:00.000-06:00

This is an elevated playhouse. They wanted a treehouse but did not have good trees to build in... soooo. The spiral stairs were actually fun to build (picture taken before the hand rail was installed, then the battery died in the camera, bummer)....

Color

2006-02-25T22:00:00.000-06:00

There was an question unrelated to Playhouses but it did get me thinking about finishes. All of the finishes I use are non-toxic. Especially the ones used on the inside. I am particularly fond of the products by Zinsser. They make a a true shellac that is either clear or pigmented white. As shellacs they are considered by the EPA to be "food safe" once dried. The ONLY problem until then is that the solvent is denatured alcohol so you wouldn't want that in your food... LOL

The other though that the comment stirred up in me is the use of color. The playhouse here and the white playhouse in the previous post are exactly the same house. Let me know what you think of the change. BTW if you like the change I can get you the name of the interior designer who made the color choices. She is very talented....

Mini Victorian

2006-02-23T22:06:00.000-06:00

A mini victorian playhouse that still meets the kidsafe criteria... This was one of the most fun for me to build. From a carpenter's stand point this has the most technical challenges. most important are getting the "Gingerbread" so that there are no points at the ends.
Some of the other challenges were the "bump-out window" the rain "stop" over the adult access door and dormers....

He's back

2006-02-23T22:00:00.000-06:00

What a strange January-February it has been. Limited internet access..... Spring is coming and playhouses are being started.

Metal roof corners, a really bad idea

2006-01-15T10:44:00.000-06:00

Typically found on most commerical playhouses. Consider what the sharp metal corners will do if a child runs into this.

Kid Door

2006-01-15T00:19:00.000-06:00

The camera distorts the top, but here is the "Kid door" from the inside.

Interior

2006-01-15T00:13:00.000-06:00

An interior shot of the log sided playhouse, finishing the interior adds about $500 to the cost of the playhouse.

Roof corners

2006-01-14T23:10:00.000-06:00

Note the rounded corners not only on the heavy support but on the roof corner itself. While this may not seem like much it does make a difference. IF you have ever seen a scalp wound you know how they can bleed. the rounded corners can be seen in all of the other pictures. As a rule if a corner is less than seven (7) feet off the ground the corners MUST be rounded

Adult door

2006-01-14T22:56:00.000-06:00

Another view. This shows the adult-sized door. All playhouse should have two doors. One that opens in another that opens out. That way a child can neither be trapped nor prevent a parent from entering. For a parent to enter it is nice that there is a door one can use without stooping. It is no fun to “come for tea” if you have to crawl into the playhouse.

The other reason for an adult door is that the little house can be used once the child has grown (they do become adults eventually). Perhaps it is not the child who will use it but it might become a potting shed, a mini-office or just a place for a teen to study and/or read in peace.

First Picture

2006-01-11T01:32:00.000-06:00

I hope this works. IF it does you see a 6x8wide playhouse that is log sided with a two foot porch. The exterior, This playhouse is 6x8 feet although the “footprint” is closer to 9x9 feet. This playhouse without a finished interior was $1890.

New to me

2006-01-08T01:05:00.000-06:00

Trying to sort out this whole blogging thing. Especially loading pictures.... uhgh. Until I get that completely figured out here is a site that you might wish to visit. It is run by a friend so stop and say "Hi".

Playhouses

Warning the link contains a couple of pictures of ME. Sorry

Why Playhouses

2006-01-06T22:04:00.000-06:00

Why a Playhouse
Children need a place for imaginative play. It develops creativity, socialization and encourages exploration of ideas. If that place is unsafe and a child gets hurt they will not want to use it (and is thus money wasted). Furthermore, play is most developmental if it is interactive with other children. A safe playhouse means a child can invite friends over and all parents can rest easy. Developing friendships and interaction involved is a major stepping stone in the development of the child. My playhouses also encourage parents and grandparents to participate in the play since all are built with an adult door. It is hard to come for "tea" if the only entrance is 4ft tall and only 18 inches wide.
Properly constructed playhouses can be used for many, many years. With the adult door it can be used for winter storage. As the child grows it can be a quiet place for a teen to study. When the child finally out grows it, as a young adult, it can become a potting shed, a sewing room or even just a place to display a collection. In fact the dressing up of the playhouse can occur though out its use by children. Imagine a spooky haunted house, or place to hold a child's thanksgiving feast suitably decorated with corn stalks, Indian Corn, Squash and anything else the parent and child can think of. Maybe Santa's workshop for a Christmas theme, at 8 x 10 feet (and low to the ground) two strings of holiday lights will do all of the roof edges, windows doors and maybe more. Valentines Day, St Patties and Easter are also possible with in the attention span of child given the small size of a playhouse.
However none of this means anything if the playhouse is not designed for children or worse yet not safe for them.