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A children’s outdoor playhouse is one of the best gifts you can give to surprise your little ones, whether it’s for a birthday, Christmas, or any special occasion. It means more time spent playing outdoors and less time glued to screens, along with years of fun shared with siblings, friends, and even you!
Picking the perfect playhouse is one thing, but figuring out how to reveal it as a huge gift is another. That’s where we come in to help. Here are five fantastic ideas, each guaranteed to make the moment truly unforgettable. Take a look below.
Wrap It Up: How to Wrap a Playhouse
Like any other gift, a playhouse deserves to be dressed up in some wrapping. However, given its size, you’ll likely need something a bit larger or several rolls of your usual gift wrap.
For instance, if you’ve picked a smaller Wendy House, you could cover it using plenty of wrapping paper. Use tape or rope to keep the edges of the tarp or wrapping paper in place.
For a larger playhouse, a colourful tarpaulin or big fabric sheet works well, too, and you can tie a big ribbon around the whole thing. If it’s a Christmas playhouse gift idea, throw on some fairy lights for a magical touch when it’s revealed.
Tip: Measure the playhouse before you start. It will give you a good idea of how much wrapping paper or tarp you’ll need, so you don’t end up wasting anything. Also, note that the playhouse should already be assembled before wrapping it.
Take Your Child Outside Blindfolded
This builds up excitement and adds an element of surprise, doesn’t it? The idea is to blindfold your child and lead them outside, maybe to the garden, without letting them peek at what’s waiting. When you get to the playhouse, take off the blindfold to reveal the surprise!
You can either go for this to save time wrapping the playhouse or skip the wrapping altogether and use a giant bow instead. Then, when they remove the eye mask or covering, the ribbon will make it look like a real present.
Tip: Add a ribbon to the door and make a ceremony by cutting it.
Create a Scavenger Hunt
What better way to surprise your kids than with a little scavenger hunt? It will be something they remember, especially when they finally discover what all the hunting was for!
For this concept, you’ll need to hide a series of clues around the house, each one leading them closer to the garden and the playhouse. The clues can be little riddles or simple directions that the kids need to solve or follow to get to the next spot. Just like any other scavenger hunt, really! The final clue will lead them straight to the playhouse, where they can uncover the big surprise.
Tips: Use painting supplies as clues. They’ll know exactly what they’re for when they see their reward. Hint: paint the wooden playhouse! Check out these ‘Tips for Painting Your Wooden Garden Building’ to learn more.
Match the Playhouse Theme with a Costume
Here’s how it works: first, dress them up in a costume of their favourite character. The playhouse should match their costume so it looks like the world of that character. For instance, a Disney princess where the playhouse becomes their castle or a Harry Potter character with a Hogwarts-style tower playhouse.
This is great for younger kids who love the idea of stepping into their favourite character’s world. It might take a bit of time and effort, but it’ll definitely be worth it.
Tip: To make it even more surprising, drape the playhouse in fabric or a curtain. And don’t forget the giant bow!
Let Them See the Pieces Come Together
This works a bit like a scavenger hunt but with larger pieces. You can either show them or let them search for the unassembled parts of the playhouse, making it a bit of a mystery. Think of things like a mini lock and key, fence panels, or window boxes, just to name a few. Or, why not show them pieces of the walls, windows, or roof sections and let them help put it all together?
It makes them feel like they’re part of creating something special. Even better, the whole process of putting it together becomes a fun activity in itself.
Round-up
To reveal a playhouse as a gift to your child, have it assembled and wrap it up with a tarp, fabric sheets, or plenty of wrapping paper. To make it even more exciting, take your little one outside blindfolded, where the wrapped playhouse—or one with a giant bow on it—awaits them.
Another idea is to set up a scavenger hunt, with the playhouse as their final reward. You could also dress them in their favourite costume that matches the theme of the playhouse! And to add a little extra fun, let them help put the playhouse together as part of the big reveal.
Now, to make sure they can enjoy their playhouse all year round, have a read of this next: How Your Kids Can Enjoy Their Outdoor Playhouse in Cold Weather
