Doll Houses

From LoveToKnow Kids

Doll houses continue to be childhood favorites. In fact, there are doll houses for almost any age, even adults.

doll house

Historical Facts

Doll houses can be traced back almost 5,000 years to the Egyptians, whose wooden models were designed with a religious purpose in mind. From there, the houses evolved into sixteenth century European "baby houses". These baby houses were actually cabinets that held intricately designed furniture and dolls set up as individual rooms.

By the time doll houses entered the United States, the trend veered to reproductions of American housing with custom furnishings and lots of details. This trend continued until World War II. After the war, the popularity of the houses grew, and mass production began. While the attention to detail certainly suffered during this time, the affordability of the houses increased. Houses were constructed of sheet metal with plastic furnishings, dolls, and accessories by the 1950's, and continue to remain popular with doll house lovers of all ages today.

Choosing a Doll House

Today, houses come in a variety of styles for a variety of ages, from toddlers to adults. Before you purchase a doll house, however, consider the following points:

  • Age-The age of the person who will use the house should have a direct bearing upon the house that you choose. For a toddler, look for houses that have large, sturdy pieces suitable for little hands. For an elementary aged child or preteen, look for houses with more accessories. Themed houses, such as the Barbie Talking Town House, work well, too. For teens and adults, you can choose to purchase a collectible house that is complete or a house kit to build.
  • Price-As you might have already suspected, doll houses can cost anywhere from under $30 up to several hundred dollars. If you are searching for a collectible house, then remember that you'll probably get what you pay for. Pay close attention to the construction of the house, as well as the accessories that are available.
  • Scale-One of the best things about a doll house is its realistic appearance. This is why scale is so important for those doll houses that will become collector's editions. Before you purchase a more expensive doll house, be sure there are plenty of accessories that will match its scale, including dolls, furniture, and other items.

Types of Houses

You can find doll houses that are suitable for just about any age. Check out the following suggestions:

  • My First Dollhouse-Created by The First Years, this house is suitable for ages 9 to 24 months.
  • Dora's Talking Dollhouse-This doll house is bilingual, and kids will love playing with Dora and her friends. It's suitable for ages 3 years to 6 years.
  • Medium Doll House-This house is suitable for ages 3 and up and features a family of four and furniture as well.
  • Kid Kraft Fashion Deluxe Dollhouse-This doll house, suitable for ages 3 years to 8 years, has colorful furniture and accessories.
  • Victorian Doll House-This Victorian is the perfect first collectible house that your little girl can play with, too. It's suitable for ages 6 and up.
  • Magnolia Doll House-This country farmhouse features silk-screened windows and a curved staircase. It's suitable for ages 8 and up.

Purchasing Kits

If you are entering the world of doll house building, you're probably in the market for a good kit. Keep in mind that, just like with complete houses, kits can be as inexpensive or as expensive as your budget allows. For many, purchasing a kit is just the beginning. Collectors continuously hunt for the perfect piece of furniture or accessory to add to their house. Check out the following sites to help you get started:


 


Comment on Doll Houses



(Displayed with your comment)                        (Will not be displayed)
Verification Code:   
    

Kids Categories
LoveToKnow Tools
More Articles