What’s so great about forts?
Building forts involves big body movements, pushing, pulling, lifting, planning and executing, teamwork, creative problem solving, scientific inquiry, and can involve some wonderful dramatic and imaginative play. It’s also really fun, engaging, and satisfying.
If you have a bunch of sticks and loose parts at home, you could build a fort in your front yard. Otherwise, you’ll probably need to get out into the woods.
You’ll want to find a spot that is fairly dry or wear waterproof footwear— it isn’t quite as fun to have wet feet in the cold weather.
I like to find a spot that has some natural landscape elements that could help with the fort. Big mossy stumps, trees that fork into a Y, or a big rootball from a downed tree are all great places to stop and inspect, and possibly use as a part of the fort.
You can search for images of forts online, but leaning many smaller sticks against something stable to create a den or a little room is what you’re going for. Kids are usually very good at figuring out what kind of fort they want to build. When I build forts with children, I often offer myself as a “gatherer” — I turn into a busy squirrel and focus on helping pick up and deliver piles of sticks, leaves and pine boughs. I don’t do all the gathering (they should help too), but I tend to stay out of building and designing unless I’m asked for my input.
Once the skeleton of the fort is up and stable, you have the option of covering the fort over with pine or hemlock boughs, leaves, moss, or even a tarp.
SAFTEY CONSIDERATIONS
*It’s important to keep an eye on dead logs and snags, or anything that could collapse on your child when they’re inside the fort. This includes the sticks used to build (make sure they aren’t weak and crumbly), the stable element used to lean sticks agains (a tall fully dead, wobbly tree wouldn’t be good), and the design of the fort itself. When you are leaning sticks, you’ll want to make sure there is some stability to the leaners.
*I generally do not let kids climb on top of their forts, even if they appear totally stable, as they could collapse while someone is inside.
*if you use tools like saws, make sure you are monitoring or helping. Tools aren’t necessary, but they can be a fun addition, especially with older children.
ALTERNATIVES AND WAYS TO EXTEND THE ACTIVITY
*If you need to stay closer to home and you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, your child could make a mini fort in the yard for their small toys (like action figures or legos- see photo for an example).
*Your child can draw a design and a building plan for their fort beforehand, and then try and build based on their plans. They could even bring a tape measure or tools (handsaw, rope, hatchet) out with them.
*Make the fort into a store or a bakery. Your child could make things to sell, designate a currency (acorns? 2 inch sticks? yellow leaves?) and sell their goods for a price. You could also set up a trading system if you have multiple children with you.
*You can build forts pretty much anywhere. Most parents are familiar with the good old blanket fort, and if you can’t get outside today, I definitely recommend doing that instead! Blankets, couch cushions, scarves, and chairs would be the supplies you need for an indoor fort, but feel free to get creative!