Girl or Boy, all kids love to pretend play. Dollhouses are no exception. Dollhouses encourage children to use their imagination and creativity while they play and have a fun.

I often hear my daughters, 3- and 4-years old, playing with their dollhouse and "copying" a conversation we had earlier or one they had heard my husband and I having. Dollhouses are a great tool to encourage conversation and development of vocabulary as the dolls and/or characters must interact. When a child plays with a dollhouse, they make important connections between the real world and the pretend one.

Another great aspect of playing with doll houses, which is comforting for parents, is that they help children build important developmental skills, such as social interaction, sharing and problem-solving.

There are many types and styles of dollhouses on the market. Here I've compiled a list of several that I think are great options, and they're all available at Amazon - just click the picture links on the right side and it'll take you right to Amazon.com.  Also check out my article on Castle Toys for more "castle dollhouse" options. Happy shopping!

This delightful dollhouse is a great option for a small child as their first dollhouse. It features 5 rooms - kitchen, living room, bathroom, parents' room, and a nursery, as well as patio and balcony areas.

Includes a chunky, easy to hold mom, dad and baby. It also has a kitchen unit with refrigerator and oven doors that open, a toilet, a table and two chairs.  Also available as separate purchases are additional figures, such as an African American family, a grandma with a baby in a stroller and rooms, such as parents' room, sister's room and TV room.

This delightful dollhouse is beautifully styled and decorated.  It's realistic and has eight rooms - 4 in the middle and 2 on each side.  The sides open up and the floor folds down to create the side rooms - great for storage of the dollhouse and it's accessories!

The center part also has a pivoting floor that folds down to extend the play area; there's also a staircase that attaches to the center floor.

This dollhouse comes with a dining room furniture set and four family members.  There are tons of additional furniture/room sets and figures available as additional purchases.  The dollhouse measurements are: 44"L x 11"W x 30.5"H.

This fully-furnished, multi-level, wooden dollhouse by Melissa and Doug has 2 moveable staircases and 5 functioning exterior doors, as well as two balconies. It also comes with 5 dolls: a mom, dad, 2 children and an infant.

The back of this dollhouse is fully open to allow your child to play freely with all 5 rooms on 3 levels. The exterior of the house has lavender and pink detailing and is all crafted of wood to make it long-lasting and potentially something that can be passed on from generation to generation.

Additional dolls and furniture can be purchased separately, too.

If you're looking for something a bit larger, the Savannah Dollhouse by KidKraft, decorated like a southern mansion, fits the bill. It's nearly 34" tall and wide and 13" deep. It has 4 levels and 6 rooms of open space, and it comes with 13 pieces of furniture.

It is large enough to accomodate the usage of dolls up to 11.5" tall. The Melissa & Doug Victorian Doll Family (right) is a popular choice to go with this house.

For a more vibrant option, the Glamour Dollhouse by KidKraft is a fun choice.

This 4-level dollhouse is 51" high, 32.5" wide and 15" deep. It includes 21 pieces of furniture and also has a bedroom mirror, 2 chandeliers and stove that all light up with the push of a button.

There's also a piano which, in addition to the toilet and stove, makes realistic sounds.

As with the Savannah Dollhouse (above), the Glamour Dollhouse accommodates dolls that are up to 11.5" tall.