There are elaborate pretend houses that are designed with realistic features to make them look just like the real thing. These can be very beneficial to little ones by providing them with their own special place where they have an opportunity to indulge in role play. Unfortunately, they can also be very expensive. Even if you take the time to make a pretend home for your child, it can cost a lot and take a lot of time to get the details right. Besides, if your child is very young, you may not think it's quite the right time to get a real playhouse and you may even consider opting for one that is made to use indoors.

Pretend homes can run anywhere from around $30 to more than $5,000. There are many choices you can make in between as well. If you want to get something that will work for your child but you don't want to invest a lot into it, start by looking at the local toy store to see what is available. There are some that are made of molded plastic and others that are made of cloth, depending on whether it will go indoors or out. Even though these are much simpler designs than the ones made to look like the real thing, they will still provide your child with a special place to play and use all the imagination needed to role play.

Starting on the lower end of the scale, for $30 you can find single-piece constructed cardboard homes on the market that will provide a variety of fun for children when used indoors. One model has the outlines of the features on the outside so that children can color in all the features in the colors of their choice. This is great for those children who are having sleepovers and who play well with friends so that coloring the home will give them entertainment in more ways than one! You will also find the teepee tents that are made of fabric in this price range but most are only large enough for one or two kids and offer no room for furniture.

Further up the scale at about $50, you will find the homes that are made from durable fabrics. These are available in different styles and have a variety of different features. Choose a castle for your princess that has a crawl-through tunnel and LED lights that line the doorway.

At around $150, you will find the molded plastic homes that are made to work inside or outside. Most have working doors, some with working windows, and different features are available on different styles. Working mail slots, doorbells, and even attached grills are some of the added features you will find. At about $300, you will find the same type of molded plastic homes but with added features like porches, play tunnels, or play areas.

Of course, depending on the individual store, there will be some variation in price but basically the same styles should cost about the same. You can also choose the option of building one all by yourself!