How to Build a Fort for Children
One of the great things about children is how powerful their imaginations are, which makes it really easy to find ways to entertain them. One great project that you can do with your children that will provide them with hours of entertainment when you are done is building a fort. Before you break out the lumber, read the steps below to learn how to make a simple fort for children using items that you already have around the house.
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Things You'll Need
- 4 or 5 dining room chairs
- Large blanket (queen or larger)
- 4 or 5 stacks of heavy books
- Pillows (at least one per child)
- Flashlight
Instructions
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1
Take 4 or 5 dining room chairs and form a rough circle with them, leaving an opening on one side about as big as a chair. When you are forming your circle, place the chairs facing outward so that all the chair backs are facing the center of the circle.
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2
Place a pillow in the middle of your circle for each child to sit on.
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3
Place a flashlight in the center of the chair circle so that the children can use it as a lantern inside their fort.
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4
Spread the blanket across the tops of the chair backs, adjusting the chairs you have laid out so that at least a small amount of the blanket makes it down to rest of the seat of each chair.
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5
Place a heavy stack of books on the small piece of blanket on each chair seat so that the blanket is weighed down and will stay in place.
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6
Pull the blanket taunt and weigh it down with the stack of books on either side of the opening in your circle so that there is a little door for the children to crawl through.
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Tips & Warnings
This fort can be built indoors or outside, but if you are building it outside make sure that you use chairs, books and a blanket that you don't mind getting dirty or even wet in case it falls on the ground or it begins to rain.
Diningroom chairs with lower backs are better for this fort because the blanket will fit over the top more easily.
For extra fun in the fort have each child back a backpack with snacks and items that they can use to stay entertained such as books and games.
