Choosing gifts or toys for children whether they are your own children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren or friends of the family there is nothing so satisfying as to know that you have chosen a gift which will ignite their imagination.
A trend which has stood the test of time is the concept of play houses of some sort which can be children's wigwams, play tents, wendy houses or treepees.
Whichever version of the concept you decide on you will be flavour of the month with both the children and their parents.
Children's wigwams and play tents of all types can be played with indoors and outdoors and are easily dismounted when there is a need.
From the child's point of view apart from the fun and imagination they inspire it is a little home that they can call their own which is perfect at their developmental stage.
Here you have a venue for role-play, creativity and somewhere for your little one to have some time out.
My personal experience, quite a large number of years ago, was that my play tent was the centre of the summer fun for not only me but plenty of my friends.
It lived in the garden when the weather allowed and when friends called it was our fun and secret life from adults.
Children's wigwams take it to a more interesting level as it adds a tribal level to the experience.
Most people have a deep rooted need to be part of a tribe or group and these kids wigwams lend themselves perfectly to this purpose as well as those of imaginative play and a den away from adults, yet of course in a safe place.
The original wigwam also known as a wickiup were the dwellings used by Native Americans which were structures which were either permanent or temporary made over frames of arched poles.
A wigwam differs from a tipi in so far as the tipi is normally a temporary structure normally made from animal hides and the wigwam used roofing materials such as bark, grass, brush and mats.
Tipi is a Lakota word which means to dwell.
One of the popular children's wigwams is the Cowboys & Indians Wigwam with a design which makes it suitable for children of three years old and upwards.
It really helps stimulate their imagination as well as giving them the excuse to get dressed up as part of their play.
Another popular kids wigwam is the fairy wigwam which is really pretty and perfect for the aspiring Harry Potter type child, another lovely happy place for a child to engage in creative play.
Another option which is slightly different is the treepee which is a tent that hangs from a tree.
So it is like a combination of a play tent and a tree house all in one plus is has a trampoline element to it.
It has to be said that in this computer age these play options are even more important than they were many years ago, so give your child the opportunity to play creatively in children's wigwams, treepees or tents.