Those with advanced woodworking knowledge will find these play forts plans an ideal weekend project. It includes step-by-step instructions for building wooden play forts with a trap door entry, climbing wall, and swing.
This backyard fort is quick and simple to put together, taking up minimal space in your yard. Kids will love playing inside this fort that features a slide, swing set, and sitting area!
1. Air Fort
Fort building is a beloved childhood activity that fosters imagination and social play. Kids of all ages enjoy creating forts made out of chairs, sofa cushions or sheets and curtain rods to have hours of fun in these hidden corners.
To create this fort, grab a fitted sheet with elastic corners (preferably queen or king size), find an anchor like a chair or table that is tall and heavy like an anchor, then secure one end of the sheet over it using tape or weight of item (preferably light-colored or white sheets are best to allow more natural light into the fort).
Once your fort is assembled, add cushions and blankets as seating, toys for playtime fun and even use a flashlight to light up the fort for an enchanting atmosphere! Use an opportunity like this to tell scary stories as well!
DIY forts are a wonderful way to introduce children to engineering design process. Working within limitations such as limited materials and space will teach your kids to think creatively about a problem they are encountering, develop solutions and try them out. Allow children the freedom to experiment with these projects without forcing them to strictly follow instructions; that way they may get creative instead of getting frustrated when their first attempt fails! As engineers know better than anyone, practicing is how engineers learn, so don't be discouraged if their initial attempt doesn't turn out exactly as expected - that's just part of how engineers learn!
2. Tension Rod Fort
Kids love creating forts - whether it be a secret lair, princess castle or deep dark cave - and with just a few supplies it's easy to transform a cozy corner into one of these DIY hideouts.
This clever tension rod display takes advantage of the spaces between studs as a place to hang plant hooks--making it the ideal solution if you don't have access to window sills but still want the benefits of gardening. Add freshness and vibrant blooms with herbs or flower hooks hanging from this tension rod display!
Though it might seem surprising, this ingenious tension rod solution derived from a shower curtain rod works! Perfect if your workshop lacks floor space; use this handy storage solution as an alternative tool rack - use it for shop towels, rags or whatever else may need holding in place!
Make a blanket fort by simply draping a lightweight sheet or blanket over several chairs, and securing the edges with heavy objects or clothespins. For an augmented sturdier fort, layer multiple blankets or sheets together while placing large pillows or couch cushions against furniture for support. If the fort's ceiling allows, adding flameless candles or battery-powered string lights might create some added ambiance and fun!
Save those paint sticks from being dumped in the recycling bin and use them as window decoration by attaching them to a tension rod. The result will provide an engaging way for children to display their art without taking up valuable wall space.
3. Tent
If your kids aren't quite old enough to play in tents independently yet, they can still have an enjoyable place of their own when the mood strikes them! This woodland hideout folds flat for easy storage tote access and features leaf-shaped LED lights for an added special touch.
This tent stands out from the competition by employing tarps instead of wooden poles for support, hanging from long branches with flaps tucked beneath to provide additional support and cut out nearly all wind from entering its chambers. This type of fort also keeps most wind from reaching those inside it.
It's no secret why this tent is such a hit! Light, airy, and covered with vintage crochet fabric for an authentic handmade aesthetic - not to mention easy assembly without needing power tools!
Kids will love taking turns sitting inside or outside this fort and running around outside! Additionally, it makes an ideal spot for coloring, drawing, and reading sessions! Plus it can be used indoors and outdoors!
Introduce your kids to camping with this adorable tent! Equipped with a grill, working doorbell, and even a skylight - it would make an excellent addition to any backyard and would inspire imaginative play as your children play outside! Make some summer memories! Grab some blankets and pillows before heading outside. Your outdoor fort inspires playful pretend play that helps kids forget all those pesky bugs or harsh sun rays; your little one could transform this tent into anything from a royal castle, seaside cave, barn full of farm animals or even an island hideout!
4. Table Fort
No matter if their imagination takes them to a palace, a forest cabin or even an exotic island, a simple blanket fort will delight them and provide endless hours of imaginative play. A blanket fort can easily become an inviting space with just some extra pillows and couch cushions adding up. Plus it's extremely easy to build as most families already possess all the basic building materials at home!
Make this fort by starting with a flat sheet or blanket. Drape it over a table, adding pillows, blankets and stuffed animals for extra comfort. Clamps, chip clips, or binder clips work great as wall anchors while dining room chairs provide great fort frames that hold up the sheets and can even serve as the sitting area within the fort if desired.
Building this simple hideout together as a family can be an enjoyable project, especially since it is completely portable - perfect for instant fort magic! Not only will kids benefit from taking a break from screens and television, but parents can take this time to focus on chores, read, or work!
This fort is composed of fencing sections and requires some cutting and assembly; however, its assembly should be straightforward. The hardest part is creating the hatch: this involves drilling through one of the fort's corner braces to drill a hole through which you add a flag to a length of PVC pipe containing flags to help children access it later when pulling up or lowering down to reveal or close off an opening on it.
5. Bed Fort
While this fort may appear destined to stay in your child's room, it's easy to create in any space with furniture that provides flat surfaces and plenty of blanket space. Gather supplies needed including sheets and blankets, pillows, a large mattress, chair seats with backs that fold forward easily, wooden dowels (broomstick will also do just as well), clothespins, binder clips, heavy books - plus supplies needed for construction!
Once you have your materials, begin building the fort with pillowcases and other lightweight material that fit over chairs as walls. For roofing purposes, use sheets anchored to chair seatbacks, bookcases or closet rods - it may also help if extra pillows or lighter materials were added as you add structure and security.
Once you've constructed your fort walls, it's time to add the roof. For a higher-angled roof, balance a pole in the center of your fort such as a wooden dowel or broomstick-like column and secure two sheets together with clothespins or binder clips to form a teepee-style roof.
Once your fort is complete, it's time for some fun inside! Use it as an escape room from siblings, read by flashlight, play hide-and-seek with them or simply relax by yourself in peace and solitude. Get creative by decorating it with string lights, glow sticks or even stuffed animals for an immersive glamping experience - whatever you decide, don't forget snacks and water to ensure you stay happy and hydrated while hiding out!