Step2 Naturally Playful Clubhouse Climber vs. Little Tykes Playcenter Playhouse?

[tziehm]

I have a very very active 20 mo and a baby due in December. We are looking at plastic play structures for the back yard and just can't decide which we will get the most use out of. The small ones are too small and the bigger ones (like these), well, I just don't know if they are worth the money. We can't afford the wooden ones so we're looking at things like Little Tykes and Step 2, specifically the:

Little Tykes Playcenter Playhouse
http://amos.shop.com.....yn/260/_x_/...nter-Playhouse

and the

Step 2 Naturally Playful Clubhouse Climber
http://www.amazon.co.....ng=UTF8&m=A...RO2AG&v=glance

Anyone have these? Or have you seen or used them at friends' houses or daycare? I would love to hear any info you may have about them.

[COElizabeth]

DS got the Step 2 one (not in the Naturally Playful colors, though) at 15 months old, and we love it. It's the best toy purchase we've made. For many months he played on it every day. Now it might not be every day, but he does still play on it, and if other kids are over they chase each other around on it. We've also hung blankets and sheets over the sides to make a fort for his older cousins. I do think ours gets a lot more use because it's inside, though (we bought it after moving to a new house with a formal living/dining room for which we had no furniture!).

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02
EDD #2, 10-30-04