An Outdoor Fort | Enriched Children

Hopefully for most of you, you're enjoying the nice side of Spring weather.  I have seriously been loving the ease of having my boys outside all day long- plus, it's not cold enough to need toques and mittens, and not warm enough for sunscreen.  Perfect Spring weather.

This week we took one of our favorite indoor activities to the outdoors. Forts. I'm positive all of you have made at least one fort with your kids this year.  Since the weather was warm enough, I hauled out the blankets and chairs and we began "constructing".

I'm quite certain that their Dad would have made them a way better fort with rooms and what not, but they were stuck with me so we managed a big sheet propped up on some chairs and our BBQ.

We brought in some toys and enjoyed our afternoon snack in the fort.

Bringing indoor activities outside seems to be something very magical and special for children.  Feel free to incorporate other "indoor" activities along with your fort like snack time, stories or crafts.  doing these typical "indoor" activities in the outdoors just seems to add a special enrichment to the particular activity.

What I love about forts is:

• They are totally free to do!  Use whatever you have in your house. Make it as fancy or as simple (like mine) as you want.
• Easily adapted for all ages.  My 1.5-year-old was ecstatic that there was a blanket outside that he could hide under.  But if your children are much older, they might want to try to add rooms like a kitchen or bedroom to the fort!

If you're looking for a more permanent fort solution check out THESE amazing teepee tents that your children can hide away in!