Raid the Linen Closet (Before Your Kids Do)
Once you’ve given kids the go-ahead to construct the fort of their dreams, take a minute to help them gather the appropriate building materials. Older towels and spare sets of well-worn sheets are perfect for forts—heirloom quilts and prized linen sheets, not so much. If your kids are old enough to remember and access the approved pillows and blankets, let them know that these particular bed linens are up for grabs so they can set up independently next time. You can also store them together in a dedicated laundry basket or on a certain shelf.
Plenty of Pillows
Pillows and cushions are key to a successful pillow fort. The more, the merrier. Ideally the entire floor of the fort will be covered in pillows, creating a soft, snuggly base that sets the space apart from the rest of the home and lets kids lounge comfortably. Again, some direction here can be key: cushions from the rec room couch and pillows from the kids’ bedrooms are ideal, while treasured pure-down pillows might be deemed bed-only.
Select the Ideal Site
Help kids choose the location on which to build. An out-of-the-way spot works best so the rest of the household isn’t tripping over the fort all night (or week, depending on how accommodating you are). Make sure their structure doesn’t block a television, walkway or door. Carpeting and rugs prevent pillows from sliding around, and sturdy furniture nearby helps with fort stability. Stretch the sheets from the sofa or the foot of a bed to a nearby chair, or drape them over a cleared-off desk to create a cozy cave. Consider letting the fort stay up a day or two—your kids will be proud of their creation and will look forward to retreating to their sanctuary.
Chip Clips: The Secret Weapon
Plastic chip clips are amazing for holding blankets together, attaching throws to furniture and more. They’re lightweight, they won’t hurt little hands and they generally don’t squeeze hard enough to damage furniture (but be sure to check). If you don’t happen to have chip clips on hand, raid your desk for binder clips and bulldog clips that older kids can handle. Hand your construction crew a box, bag or bowl of clips, with a reminder that you expect them to all be collected and returned when the fort has been disassembled.
Light the Night
Battery-operated lanterns with stay-cool LED bulbs give the roughin’-it feel of real camping and are excellent for reading and hanging out. Flameless tea lights create a magical vibe, while flashlights provide the perfect light for shadow puppets and spooky stories. For an extra-special touch, help hang battery-operated LED string lights on the interior or exterior of the fort to create the look of a starry night sky. But if you’d like to facilitate the coolest pillow fort in town—the place to be—give your little architects a party light. Starting at around $10, these lights pack a ton of punch with rotating, color-changing lights—and some even respond to music.
Pillow Fort-Turned-Movie Theater
If your kids can be trusted to watch a movie on a tablet or laptop, let them relax with a film after their building exertions are complete. There are camping, adventure and survival movies for kids of all ages, including animated films, documentaries, action movies and magical adventures.
Survival Snacks
To survive the wilderness (of your living room), your intrepid explorers will need some sustenance. Store-bought s’mores have all the deliciousness of the campfire classic without the mess. Popcorn is always delicious and fun, even if it’s not popped over a fire. There’s no need to serve a full meal or anything particularly messy. Simple snacks will help your campers feel like they’re truly surviving in the wild.
Reading Retreat
A pillow fort is an absolutely dreamy spot to read, so be sure the kids are supplied with a stack of books. To stay on-theme, buy or check out from the library books that revolve around outdoor adventures. There are engaging books about camping and survival for readers of all levels, from fiction to educational outdoor survival manuals. The chance to read with a flashlight in a fort might be enough to motivate even reluctant readers.
Fun Add-Ons
- • A set of walkie-talkies is a childhood favorite and will let you communicate with your campers. Or go retro and help them make a tin can telephone—so much more exciting than any smartphone. A toy mailbox (or even just a shoebox that says "Mail") lets the denizens of the fort communicate with the rest of the household in a charming fashion.
- • Provide a Bluetooth speaker so kids can have a pillow fort dance party or listen to an audiobook or podcast.
- • Gather the household’s stuffed animals, arrange them around the exterior of the fort and give the kids toy binoculars (or real ones, if you feel confident doing so) so they can spot the "wildlife"
- • Give the littlest campers the thrill of adventure with a toy camping set that includes wood, plastic or plush outdoor essentials such as a lantern, tools, camp stove, campfire, marshmallows, hot dogs, and sticks.
- • If the fort-building is part of a sleepover birthday party, carry the camping theme over to the cake, decorations and party favors.
- • Let the pillow fort inspire fun craft projects. Provide kids with a spot to work and a few simple materials—paper, washable paint or markers—so they can create signs, faux windows, art to hang on the walls and other delightful touches to make their fort their own.
We’d love to see all of your creative pillow fort ideas and indoor camping adventures. Share your favorite building tips and hacks with the hashtag #CrateKidsStyle.