Instructions for Kids on How to Make a Bed Military Style

Use military guidelines to make a bed.

If kids think the military life is full of excitement and drama, teach your kids that every soldier starts by learning the most basic tasks. The military makes neatness and order a high priority because it teaches discipline -- parents can use these strategies too. Soldiers may call them "racks," although you probably call them beds. New soldiers learn how to make their racks in a precise manner with blanket folds measured to ensure that each bed looks the same. When kids know how to make a bed military style, their beds will be extremely neat.

Things You'll Need

• 2 white sheets
• Blanket
• Pillow
• White pillowcase
• Quarter

Instructions

1. Show your kids how to place one sheet onto the mattress and center it side to side and top to bottom. Tuck the sheet under the mattress along the head and foot of the bed, making the sheet neat and taut. Lift the edge of the sheet hanging at the top left corner of the bed and fold it back onto the top of the mattress. With the corner still resting on the mattress, tuck the rest of the side sheet under the side of the mattress down to about the mid-point of the side of the mattress. Pull the corner that you folded onto the top of the mattress back down and tuck it under the mattress tightly. This is a 45-degree sheet tuck. Once kids learn this fold, the rest of the bed-making is easy.

2. Repeat the same tuck on the same side of the mattress at the foot of the bed. Help kids smooth out the wrinkles and then go around to the other side of the bed and tuck the sheet the same way on that side.

3. Place the second sheet on the mattress, lining up the top edge of the sheet exactly 8 inches below the head of the mattress and centering it from side to side. Kids will probably need help measuring. Tuck the bottom corners of the sheets in 45-degree tucks, smoothing the sheets carefully to remove wrinkles.

4. Add the blanket over the top sheet and center it side to side with the top edge of the blanket even with the top edge of the second sheet. Smooth out the wrinkles and make 45-degree tucks at the two bottom corners of the mattress.

5. Take hold of the top sheet and blanket together and fold both layers down exactly 6 inches -- help kids measure this precisely. This will create a 6-inch fold that is exactly 14 inches from the top of the mattress. Smooth out the wrinkles on the top of the blanket and tuck in the sides of the sheet and blanket very tightly.

6. Place the pillow into the pillowcase and center it perfectly in the 14-inch space at the head of the mattress.

7. Drop a quarter down onto your bed. Explain this military tradition to your kids -- if the quarter bounces, you made your bed neat and tight enough.

References

• Marine Military Academy: Right Guide