To buy a Wendy house/play house for 4 year olds?

[MyFavouriteKindOfBalloon]

I have DTs who will be 4 in a couple of weeks. I'm thinking of getting them a Wendy house type thing like this: https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/play-houses-and-tents/smoby-jolie-playhouse/p/207017

I think plastic is a better option than wood because I'll be honest that I'd be too lazy to keep maintaining a wooden one and I wouldn't want it to rot/get all splintery etc from being out in the garden.

But are DTs too old now? It's a big ticket item so will there be longevity to it? They're about a metre now so I'm not sure how much longer they'd be able to stand up in one, and I can't see many where the ceiling is more than ten/twenty cm over this. AIBU to buy it now and should I have bought it earlier or not bothered? Or do kids play in them until much older?

I guess I could get a proper shed or something but that would be very pricey and possibly out of budget.

I'm also wondering whether to get one second hand. Is it worth paying the big premium to get a new one which can be delivered rather than trying to see if I can cram one into my car?

All thoughts welcome!

Agree I don’t think they’ll get much use from that now… second the idea of either a mid kitchen or a wooden/willow tepee structure that stays in the garden and can be a playhouse / den which they can adapt as they get older

My friends have that same house, with a small kitchen extension thing to it. They bought it last year when their two kids were 2.5 and 6 (a small for age six). It has barely been used by either child. They get more out of a large cardboard box they can turn into a house/den/spaceship.

our one that has been up for 18 years was 2nd hand from ebay. It cost me £90 which was a lot for me at that time. But having painted it every few years, it has lasted till now. It is pretty much falling apart now tho!

I also have DTs, who are 6 and a half. They never had that sort of playhouse, and I think by 4, your years of play with one of that style are probably numbered. They'd play with it this summer, and MAYBE next, but that would be it.

Mine have a wendy house that is made of plastic sheeting that tied to plastic poles that easily clip together to make a house-shaped frame. It's a 15 minute job to assemble and/or dismantle, then packs down into a quite small box. So it doesn't have to be out year round. I got it when they were about 18 months. My 2 had it out last weekend, and played with it quite happily. We'll have it out during the summer holidays, but I think this is it's last year. I can't see them being interested this time next year when they're pushing 8.

I bought the Hobbycraft wooden den kit for DD - she still uses it and she's nearly 10. We just drape a sheet over it, pop a rug in it, and she's happy in it all day; playing, reading or drawing.

Oh get them a teepee! So much fun! My 5yo loves it!

Easy to store and suitable for both outside and indoors

I’ve recently got a wooden swing and slide set that’s got a kind of den space under the slide platform - I’m hoping this will be a bit more open-ended and last longer than a play house, especially as my kids are tall. It’s already been a house, a pool, and a jail. It’s something like This but I’ve seen similar second hand for £50 or free if you remove it yourself on Facebook.