Fort Building
Here's What To Do
Ask your child to think of what materials they would need to build a fort. Gather the materials from around the house. Consider using blankets, sheets, kitchen chairs, or even low tables in your home. Clothespins, large clips, and rubber bands can also be helpful!
Ask your child their plan for building the fort, then build! Encourage your child to do as much as they can by themselves.
Ask your child to assess your design. Does it seem sturdy? Can people fit inside? How can it be improved? Revise the fort if needed.
Go inside and play!
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Stretch to get ready for building: reach high into the sky, then touch your toes.
Engage:
- "What will you use to make the walls? What will you use to make the roof?"
- "What will keep everything from falling over?"
Encourage:
- "Hmmmm… it looks like that blanket keeps falling down. What could we change to stop that from happening?"
- "Tell me where you want that clothespin to go and I'll help you put it there."
Reflect:
- How did we change our design to make it better? What materials and tools did we use to build our design?
Not quite ready?
Build a smaller structure for toys, using more simple tools like blocks.
Ready for more?
Encourage your child to design some interior features (like a bed, a light, or a place to store favorite toys).
As your child masters this skill...
They will revise their ideas and understand how to build a more stable structure.