When I was young I had a tree house at the bottom of the garden. It had two small rooms, a little table and stool, and a window at both the front and the back. I used to love that tree house, and made it my den, eating meals there, playing games, and watching out of the back window at the road which ran along the back of the garden, watching people who didn't know I was there. To me, that tree house was my own little private world.

Today there is a very wide range of playhouses and tree houses for children, either ready assembled or requiring some basic assembly. These playhouses are usually ground based, or raised on their own feet, and come in an amazing range of styles. There are play houses that have two stories, multiple rooms windows and doors, and even a veranda at the front. To all intents and purposes, these play houses are miniature houses, and not bad little places to live.

With a little furniture, which is also readily available, children can really go to town making these places their own little homes. It is important that children do have this kind of opportunity if it is possible, because giving a child a space which is all their own is valuable. Children, like us, need to feel they have their own space, a quiet place which is just theirs. With play houses there's a very real physical limitations - adults would struggle to get into most of these, and it would certainly be awkward and uncomfortable to be inside one if you are much taller than about three feet. Because children know this, it gives them a real feeling of ownership of the space.

In addition, it provides a valuable tool to explore role play situations, which is a very important part of growing up, and practising social skills, communication, interaction and even exploring personal values, feelings and interests gives children the chance to make more sense of the world around them, and of their own place within society as an individual.

Playhouses can cost a lot less than you might think these days, although certainly top end luxury playhouses are also available. If you can't afford one however, then simply giving the children the props to create their own space is more than enough - either a play tent, wendy house or even just a couple of clothes airers and some sheets will do! The wonderful thing about being a child is that your imagination is very adept at filling in the gaps, and if a play house is made of two airers and a bed sheet, then the child will change this into a secret palace, a castle, a spaceship, or whatever other type of space they need for today.

One of the things which helps a child identify themselves and their space is to decorate the play house or other space with their own belongings and furniture. Some small child size furniture needn't cost a fortune - I have seen small plastic garden chairs for children for sale for a pound! A few accessories will go a long way to making a house a home.