Winter Camp-in

Most elementary-aged kids love building their own space -forts, closet hideaways and tents.  

I remember when my friends and I hauled refrigerator boxes from a nearby appliance store.  You should have seen the stacks of collapsed boxes we’d pile on our wagons, and then hitch the wagons to our bicycles.  When it was time to construct our forts, we’d set those huge refrigerator boxes on their sides, connect several of them together and cut holes for doorways and windows.  It was the creating and building that was fun! 

We disassembled the forts and then took them right back to the trash pile -no recycling back in those days.  One rain storm is all it took to realize we needed to keep our eyes on the weather forecast.  Otherwise we'd get stuck having to transport soaked, flimsy cardboard. 

When the weather was cold outside, I turned to indoor construction -draping sheets and blankets over table chairs. 

Do you have a fond memory of building your own space? 

Kids LOVE to construct their own spaces! 

For those of us who live in areas where there is supposed to be snow during the winter but haven’t seen any yet, offering to have your kids construct an indoor tent is a way you can help them burn some of their untapped winter energy (anticipation for snow).  Your child’s imagination and creativity can be sparked by this simple playful activity of building a tent. 

The most important element of an indoor tent-making experience is that it remains “FUN” and doesn’t become overrun with parent direction.  The type of “FUN” that is open-ended play, or free play.  Toss your child some sheets, blankets and towels and tell them to go build a tent over a couple kitchen chairs or a table that isn’t often used. 

Give your child a quick introductory demonstration if you think it’s needed before they take ownership of the construction and begin exploring their own ideas.  When something doesn’t work, your child will rethink their decisions and make modifications.  This is trial and error at its best, real life problem solving. 

One tip I’ll offer at the onset of this activity is this:  a little bit of foresight can go a long way when it comes to preparing your child for the demolition of the tent.  So here is something that might help.  At the onset of the tent building, explain that you will want to take pictures (and videos) of the tent, maybe even the tent building process.  Also, offer to identify a reserved space on a wall or door to post a printed photo of each tent (yes there is going to be more than one, so you might as well encourage it).  Explain this could be the first of many tents to be built and the pictures will help preserve their existence even after being knocked down.  If there can be many tents, then your child can change designs and make improvements from one tent to the next. 

At this point, allow your child to create and develop their own experience -their own excitement.  Your role becomes that of encourager and offering support when asked, rather than an architect or site manager.  Don’t do it!  Resist!  Stop yourself!

Here are some suggestions on how you can engage in conversation about your child’s efforts without directing their play. 

Ask what type of activities your child would like to do inside the tent.  Their ideas may include reading, doing homework, building with LEGOs, doing word searches, playing card games along with many other options.  Maybe sleeping in the tent can be an option.  If your child is a very young age, offer to be the secretary and write a list of your child's ideas.  Or, offer to ‘fetch’ a piece of paper so your child can make a list of the ideas. 

Ask if your child would like to arrange a play date to help with future tent building.  Maybe a sleepover is an option and tent building could become a cooperative experience, including the option of spending the night sleeping in the tent.  Collaborative play is helpful in building self-esteem.  It can involve taking social risks, learning how to recover from social mistakes and self-regulating emotions. 

About sleeping on the floor:  it might not be the most comfortable way to spend a night.  Possible remedies include using sofa cushions, lounge chair cushions that might be stored away for the season, inflatable mattresses or cots reserved for extra overnight guests, and even pool floats.  Anything to soften the night’s sleep!

You will demonstrate value for your child’s play as you ask how they intend to use the tent.  Your willingness to get down on their level to participate in activities taking place at the tent will reinforce how important it is to you for your child to do childlike things!

Build on your child's enthusiasm and desire to spend time in the tent.  When you are asked if they can eat dinner in the tent, ask if the whole family is invited (to sit near and around the tent to join in the fun).  Follow up by asking your child to help plan and make a camping-themed meal.

Ask your child to host family movie night (or family game night).  They might be willing to sacrifice the usual big screen, in order to experience watching a movie on a device in order to host the family in the tent they built.  Offer to bring the popcorn!

No camping experience (outdoor or indoor) is complete without s’mores.  Just saying!

Gather some materials your child can use to make signs and other decorations for the outside and inside of the tent. 

Tent building can become a favorite past-time for many children.  Your enthusiastic support will mean a lot. 

May your child have many self-taught moments building tents!

Enjoy!

Ron