One of the best ways to test and expand your child's imagination is to see what kind of adventures they can get into while inside of their very own blanket fort. This classic staple of childhood will provoke your kid intellectually while providing them with a safe environment to have loads of fun! In addition, you'll be able to spend some quality time with your child and maybe have a little bit of fun yourself.
Things You Will NeedLots and lots of blankets!
Lots and lots of pillows!
Sturdy structures (Couches, chairs, tv stands, etc. Most anything will work)
Rubber bands (optional)
Step 1Your first step will be to position the furniture in your chosen room in such a way that the hanging blankets will create a structure that resembles a tent. The size, shape, and location is completely up to you -- there's really no way to get that part wrong. However, this step is perhaps the most important when it comes to safety. You want to make sure that the structure you're using will support the weight of the blankets and not turn over. That would cause the innocent playfulness of the situation to end rather quickly.
Step 2Now it's time to bind the corners of the blankets to your furniture. This part can be as easy or as intricate as you choose to make it. If you are using heavier blankets, you might consider using string or rubber bands to provide added measures to keeping the fort intact. Most of the time, if you're using simple sheets, you'll be able to drape the sheets over the furniture and they'll stay that way. Use your own discretion when deciding how best to keep the fort up.
You should run a "stress test" on the fort before you and your child begin playing. Yank on the blankets to make sure they'll stay up with a reasonable amount of force exerted on them. An afternoon of fun can quick become frustrating if the fort collapses.
Step 3You should now take the pillows you've gathered and put them inside of the fort. How many you need will be determined entirely by your chosen location. If the room you're playing in hardwood or tiled, you'll need quite a few more than if it had plush carpet. Please keep in mind that your child will be playing inside of it, so too many pillows is far better than not enough.
Please note that even if you have a plush carpet, pillows would still probably be a welcome addition. Many times a child will want to fall asleep inside of their fort and comfort is very important.
Step 4At this point, you're ready to begin your playtime extravaganza. Stock the fort up with any needed supplies and get ready to have loads of fun!
Your children's young age will not be around forever, so it's important to grasp every moment you can enjoying the innocent fun that comes from that life period. I remember blanket forts being one of the staple playtime activities of my childhood and how entrancing and enjoyable they can be. Hopefully, you'll be able to recapture that magic with your own child and get into a few adventures yourself!
Tips & WarningsYou should probably use old blankets, as children can be extremely messy at times. There's no sense ruining your good linens if you have older worn ones to spare.
Be open minded and let your child pick the games while you're playing in the fort. You'll be surprised and very pleased at the interesting things he or she will come up with!
Don't feel like it's necessary to call it a "fort." If you have a girl, they might like it better to call it a blanket castle. The name is completely open for change.