E37 Fort Building to Develop Thinkers
The Magic of Fort Building: Why This Childhood Classic is a Must for Raising Thinkers
Think back to when you were a child—did you ever drape blankets over chairs to create a secret hideout? Or maybe you built elaborate forts with siblings or friends, complete with tunnels and “keep out” signs?
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around fort building. I distinctly remember flipping over the couch (with permission!) to create a cavern-like hideaway, piling on blankets, pillows, and even breaking out the sleeping bags for a cozy movie night with my siblings. Then there was the treehouse my dad built with "help" from me and my brother—just a few boards, some rope, and repurposed branches, but to us, it was pure magic. Even on a smaller scale, I loved constructing miniature forts for frogs in my backyard or using twigs and moss to create tiny homes for my Littlest Pet Shop toys at my grandparents’ house. Now, I get to experience the joy of fort building all over again with my own children, and it’s just as magical.
But fort building is more than just fun—it’s a powerful way to develop critical skills in children. Whether your child is stacking pillows, gathering sticks, or sketching blueprints for a backyard treehouse, they’re engaging in deep, meaningful thinking. Let’s explore why fort building is such an incredible activity and how you can encourage it at home!
The Learning Power of Fort Building
When kids build forts, they’re naturally developing:
Spatial Reasoning
They have to figure out how to arrange objects so the structure doesn’t collapse. Where should the biggest pillow go? How can the sheets stay balanced? How much space do they need to actually wriggle inside?
Engineering and Problem-Solving
Kids experiment with different materials, adjust when something doesn’t work, and try again. Some materials are too flimsy, others too rigid. That Y-shaped stick? It’s a winner for so many reasons!
Creativity and Imagination
A fort isn’t just a structure—it’s a pirate ship, a castle, a spaceship! Forts inspire storytelling and role-playing, helping kids expand their creativity in ways screens never could. Not to mention the countless hours reading inside of a fort... which opens up additional levels of imagination.
Collaboration and Communication
If siblings or friends are involved, kids learn to negotiate, share ideas, and work together to bring their vision to life. They adapt to different perspectives and practice teamwork—an essential life skill. Their ideas will not always be the best ones, and that's okay!
Fort Ideas to Try at Home
You don’t need a fancy setup or special materials—just a few household items and a little imagination. Here are some fun ways to encourage fort building:
The Classic Blanket Fort
Sofa cushions, chairs, blankets, and maybe even some clothespins make for the perfect cozy hideaway. Encourage your child to problem-solve: “How can we make the roof stronger?” "Where should we put the door?" "Do we need an escape route?"
Stick and Nature Forts
If you have a backyard or access to a park, challenge your child to build a small fort using sticks, leaves, or even snow!
Mini Forts for Toys
Have them build tiny forts for their stuffed animals or action figures using cardboard, popsicle sticks, or LEGOs.
Treehouse Dreams
If you have the space and resources, a treehouse project can be a fantastic long-term challenge—even if it’s just sketching a design together. At the rate the world is going, you might even be able to submit a picture of the tree of choice to AI and get it to generate a few ideas for you!
DIY Cardboard Castles
Old boxes can be transformed into impressive forts with some scissors and tape. Let kids decorate their castle with markers or stickers! (Not a sponsored message, but the Makedo kits are great for helping with cardboard creations and fine motor skills. I used them regularly with my students, and they’re a game-changer!) Another recommendation: invest in a basic pair of cardboard scissors (one possibility... an affiliate link, so I may earn some commission if you purchase) as well… definitely a huge help for cutting through harder or ticker cardboard!
Embracing the Mess and the Magic
Fort building is an incredible way to engage your child in hands-on learning without them even realizing it. It fosters creativity, resilience, and independence—skills that will serve them well beyond childhood. And yes, it can get messy, but the benefits far outweigh the temporary clutter!
So, next time your kids start pulling cushions off the couch or stacking up sticks in the backyard, take a deep breath and embrace the chaos. They’re not just playing; they’re learning, creating, and thinking.
If your family embarks on some fort-building fun, I’d love to hear about it! Share your child’s creations in the Raising Thinkers Community or drop me a message at RaisingThinkersPodcast.com. And as always, thank you for being part of this journey. Until next time, keep nurturing those young thinkers and have fun with the forts!