| o; Houses | | | | house is decorated and furnished will also help |
| | | | them to develop imaginative and creative skills |
| The charm and appeal of a miniature household | | | | which they will find extremely useful in later life. |
| There is something fascinating about the miniature | | | | Children’s dolls’ houses come in a |
| world of the dolls’ house which has | | | | wide variety of shapes and sizes, and it is |
| enchanted both children and adults for centuries. | | | | important to select the right kind of dolls’ |
| For some, it is the chance to act out the lives of | | | | house for your child. For younger children, a |
| their own tiny family. For others, the appeal is in | | | | robust and hardwearing dolls’ house made |
| lovingly decorating and furnishing each room to | | | | from tough plastic or wood would be most |
| create a beautiful model home. Whatever the | | | | suitable, as it is likely to experience a high level of |
| reason, dolls’ houses are set to continue | | | | wear and tear. Your child may want a house for |
| winning the hearts of children and collectors for a | | | | the dolls they already have, in which case it is |
| long time to come.A Brief History of the | | | | important to get one that is built to the same |
| Dolls’ House | | | | scale as the dolls themselves. Dolls’ Houses |
| The first dolls’ houses were created in the | | | | for Grown-Up Collectors |
| sixteenth century, and were known as baby | | | | The choice of dolls’ houses available for |
| houses’. Over the next few hundred years | | | | adult collectors is perhaps even wider and more |
| the popularity of dolls’ houses steadily | | | | varied than what is on offer for children. Scale |
| increased, and by the nineteenth century many | | | | models of buildings from many different periods |
| children included a dolls’ house in their toy | | | | of history have been lovingly created by expert |
| collection. | | | | craftspeople. For those collectors who like to get |
| In the 1920s a magnificent dolls’ house | | | | more actively involved in the craft, there is a |
| was built for Queen Mary. Many of the most | | | | huge selection of dolls’ house kits available. |
| renowned artisans of the era contributed | | | | The design and creation of dolls’ houses is |
| miniature furniture and other products. The | | | | in itself a very popular hobby. Hobbyists can |
| contents of the house include real Doulton china, | | | | spend a lot of time and effort creating perfect |
| tiny bottles of real Mumm champagne, and scale | | | | miniature versions of existing and imagined |
| model cars built by Rolls Royce. Queen | | | | dwellings. A lot of these people offer their |
| Mary’s dolls’ house is still on display | | | | services to other dolls’ house collectors, |
| in Windsor Castle. | | | | creating furniture, dolls, and even replica food, to |
| Queen Mary’s dolls’ house inspired | | | | scale.A Wealth of Choices for Your Dolls’ |
| other adults to begin dolls’ house | | | | House |
| collections, and these days there are as many | | | | With the amount of choice available, there is a |
| dolls’ houses built for grown-up collectors | | | | dolls’ house to suit the tastes of the |
| as there are for children. Fun and Educational | | | | youngest and oldest enthusiast. For children, a |
| Children’s Dolls’ Houses | | | | dolls’ house is one of the most rewarding |
| One of the most appealing factors of dolls’ | | | | gifts they can receive, providing hours of |
| houses for parents is the educational value they | | | | enjoyment and creative play. Adult collectors of |
| offer. Through playing with a doll’s house, a | | | | dolls’ houses find it an enjoyably |
| child can learn a great deal about the world around | | | | time-consuming and satisfying hobby. |
| them. The choices a child makes about how the | | | | |