KIDS love nothing more than making a home of their own.
A blanket over a couple of kitchen chairs, cushions piled into a shaky teepee or four solid walls and a roof built by grown-ups in the backyard: cubbies are everywhere.
These days there are plenty of pre-assembled or kit cubbies for sale and the designs range from basic log cabins to fairytale castles and forts.
But whether they're home-made or pre-fab, a few basics will make any cubby the perfect centre for adventure, club meetings and quiet daydreaming.
■Up in the air, we fly . . .
Tree-houses are generally a no-no in Australia because of most natives' shape and general lack of stability. But that doesn't mean the cubby has to remain earth-bound. Those built up on stilts can have a sandpit or shade area underneath.
■Green space
Include a garden. It's a chance for the kids to grow some flowers or veggies, make the cubby look like a grown-up house and learn some skills.
■Hide in plain sight
It's important to place a cubbyhouse within easy sight of the house. Position the cubby at a slight angle in the yard to give children a feeling of privacy but make it easy for grown-ups to keep an eye out in case of any accidents.
■Layout
A partially open front promotes inside/outside play and makes it easy to see what's happening. It also allows more light inside. A clear roof panel will also allow more light inside.
■Accessories
Add a letterbox, a blackboard, tables and chairs and a shelf.