| To create a perfect play place, start with a | | | | hose. Install a pole leading from the loft to the |
| generic square playhouse (plans are easy to find | | | | floor so your little firefighter can slide down, |
| online) or a pre-fabricated shed, available from | | | | uniform up and rush out to fight fires. Don't |
| most home improvement stores. Customize it | | | | forget the firehouse mascot - a Dalmatian made |
| with some paint, a few fancy features and a little | | | | of wood. |
| imagination. Don't forget to have a ribbon cutting | | | | Forts are classic and still tons of fun. These are |
| ceremony and a proper transfer of keys. | | | | ideal if you're limited on space because forts are |
| For the actor or actress, you can create a stage | | | | typically tall and narrow. Entry to the second |
| to keep their attention for hours. Add a marquee | | | | story can be via ramp, ladder or even climbing |
| out front, a ticket window and numbered bench | | | | wall. Sandboxes make great play places for short |
| seats that wrap around an elevated stage. Don't | | | | ground level surfaces. Or add a garden if your |
| forget to add storage for those all-important | | | | little one has a green thumb. |
| props, a changing area for your star and a | | | | Tower play houses offer plenty of space for a |
| curtained puppet stage. | | | | swing, slide, pole or sandbox underneath since it |
| Is there a knight or maiden in your kingdom? | | | | stands on stilts. Try a rope ladder up to the |
| Then you need a castle. Start with a generic | | | | platform or set it up next to a tree and nail |
| square playhouse and build on a tower, complete | | | | wooden rungs to the trunk for a ladder. |
| with rising staircase. You'll need a window for | | | | You aren't limited to a themed play house, either. |
| Rumpelstiltskin and climbing wall up to the window. | | | | Consider these mini-home additions:o Patios or |
| Interior decorating should be rustic with a plain | | | | porcheso Landscaping with dwarf treeso Zip lineso |
| wooden table and crate chairs. Top off your | | | | Balance boardso Bridgeso Skylights and sun |
| castle with a kid-designed crest and flags. | | | | roofso Slideso Kitchen featureso Battery |
| Princesses will adore having a Tudor style home | | | | operated door bellso Milk crate chairs and climbing |
| just their size in their backyard. To your square | | | | blockso Mailboxo Curtains and blindso Chimneyso |
| playhouse, you'll add window boxes for planting | | | | Anything else your young one's heart desires. |
| real or plastic flowers. Find or make a double | | | | In addition to providing hundreds of hours of glee |
| Dutch door and install a few shutter framed | | | | and entertainment, outdoor play structures also |
| operable windows to let in some light. Put up floral | | | | add to the resale value of your home. While the |
| wallpaper or sponge paint with sweet pastel paints | | | | investment of a do-it-yourself playhouse will |
| stenciled with hearts. Add a loft accessible by | | | | usually come in reasonably cheap, it can add 75% |
| ladder and your princess will be in heaven. | | | | of it's cost to the value of your home. You'll |
| Do you know an aspiring fireman or firewoman? | | | | recover much of the cost and get to take with |
| Paint your box red, install double doors for easy | | | | you all the fun memories a wooden play house will |
| "fire truck" access, a proper firehouse bell and a | | | | bring. |
