Why our playhouse is perfectly tailored to the psychological needs of children

As the founder of LIONHERZ, it's incredibly important to me that my products aren't just beautiful to look at, but also meet children's deep needs. And that's about more than just fun and games. The playhouse is a wonderful example of this, as it's far more than a classic children's toy. It's a place of refuge—a safe, protected space that meets children's psychological needs.

You should know that I love talking to my customers about developing new products. The feedback and inspiration I receive from this process is priceless. After all, my products shouldn't just please me—they should also, above all, bring a smile to the faces of parents and their children and offer educational and psychological benefits. I'm particularly proud of our new playhouse, which I developed in close collaboration with a customer who also works as a psychologist.

The inspiration behind our playhouse – A conversation with a psychologist

I regularly receive inquiries from psychologists and therapists who would like to purchase my products for their practice spaces. Our teepees and play tents are particularly popular, as they offer children a protected space where they can feel safe and secure.

Before developing our playhouse, I had an inspiring conversation with a client/psychologist who gave me further valuable insights into how important such safe spaces really are for children and what she had observed in her practice that is particularly important in design.

She explained to me that from a psychological perspective, it's essential for children to have places where they can completely retreat. A playhouse that's completely enclosed provides exactly the space children need to feel safe. The ability to completely lock the door is a crucial factor in this. Children should have control over who is allowed in and the freedom to invite someone in or be alone. This allows them to settle in, protect themselves, and experience their privacy—an aspect that is particularly important for children in today's fast-paced and often noisy world.

This is what we paid attention to when designing the playhouse

From this valuable conversation, the vision for our playhouse emerged. We designed the house so that it's not just a playground for children, but a true retreat with educational and psychological value. Here are the key features we paid particular attention to:

• Completely lockable door : The playhouse door is equipped with one transparent and one opaque curtain, unlike any other playhouse on the market. This allows the child to decide whether they want to be completely alone or allow a little insight. This option reinforces a sense of control and independence – important aspects for developing self-confidence and autonomy.

• Inviting mailbox for role play : We've added a unique, design-protected small mailbox to the front of the house. This simple addition gives children the opportunity to greet and invite their "house visitors." This allows them to actively shape who is allowed to enter their own domain, establish rules, or send little messages. The mailbox encourages social interaction through play and gives children the freedom to share the space as they wish.

• Timeless and neutral design : The creamy white color scheme of the playhouse is not only aesthetically pleasing but also unisex, making it suitable for both boys and girls. The simple design is non-distracting and allows children to customize the playhouse to their own liking and fill it with their imagination.

• Cozy interior : A quilted, soft mat inside the playhouse ensures your child sits comfortably and cozily. A place of refuge needs to be not only psychologically safe, but also physically safe. Therefore, we placed great importance on the coziness and well-being of the interior. My son has fallen asleep in it several times, so it must be that cozy :)

• Decorative loops for customization : To make the room even more personal, we've added loops to the roof where children can attach decorative items or the included bunting. This allows the playhouse to be personalized and allows children to customize the room and see it as their own little home. This attachment option is missing from every other playhouse on the market, making it impossible to attach items without them falling off.

More than just a toy – A place of security

Our playhouse is more than just a toy. It's a place of comfort and security where children have the freedom to create their own world and immerse themselves in their imagination. This is especially important in a world that is often noisy and full of impressions for children. A retreat like our playhouse offers children a space that is entirely theirs and that they can control themselves. This not only promotes creativity, but also self-confidence and social skills.

A heartfelt project for LIONHERZ

This playhouse is a personal passion project for me. Working with my client and gaining practical psychological insights has shown me how important it is to develop products that truly address children's needs. I'm proud to offer a playhouse that supports children's psychological and educational development while also providing enjoyment.

I hope that this playhouse will become a small, safe place of security in many children's rooms and that it will bring a smile to the faces of the children – and also the parents.

Magical greetings,

your Martina from LIONHERZ

PS: If you have ideas and inspiration for our existing products or new projects, please feel free to contact me anytime :)