What a clever idea! Around here, our makeshift forts and playhouses take up a lot of couch cushions, blankets, and floor space. They also have a way of slowly expanding to fill an entire room. So I love this neat and tidy version of a playhouse that is simple, compact, and best of all, is easily set up and taken down!
Kate from Centsational Girl spotted this tablecloth playhouse for sale, and set out to make her own. She simply measured her table, stitched together some fabric to fit the top and sides, and cut out some doors and windows. She even added some sweet little curtains to complete the "house" look. Such a sweet and simple idea, and not too terribly involved — I can see myself tackling this on a rainy Saturday afternoon without too much fuss. I also love how you can just leave it up, or of course pack it away in a flash if you need to.
See more photos and details at Centsational Girl.
(Image: Kate from Centsational Girl)
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I found this one on Pinterest last year and it's been on my to-do list ever since. So cute.
http://horsleyhome.blogspot.com/2012/02/pinned-to-real-life.html
I don't have any kids, but I did grow up with two younger brothers, and all I can think of is that if Moms are going to encourage little ones to play 'fort' under a cloth covered table, it's best to make sure there is nothing on the table that breaks or can break heads if it should come crashing down. Tablecloths and even fitted covers with adorable 'windows' can be inadvertently pulled off.
Have to say my gut says 'how boring'. For me, the entire fun of building a fort in childhood was the process of construction. Procuring the pieces, figuring out how to put them together, having it fall apart and doing again. I'm sure a certain amount of time was spent playing in the final fort, but most of the fun was in making it. Although this version is simple and clean for the parent, I think it takes away most of the Joy and Imagination for the kid.
My mother use to do this for us and I do it for my great niece and nephew. They love it. I put a small work out matt, a few pillow and give them a flashlight. They play under the table for hours on end.
Vaguely remember mom having a pre made one; paper, no less, to go over a cardtable for us in the ulp. . . mid fifties. Think it had drawn on windows and a door of some sort.
whatever happened to just using an old sheet?
I think in a small apartment this could be great fun, especially for 18 month to 3 year olds who aren't hefting big cushions around yet. For a toddler I would even accessorize the space by sticking an acrylic mirror, sensory objects (felt, tile, stones, carpet), duplo building plates or a flat busy board on the underside of the table. Sure a sheet would do it -- but they slip off and this is a cute idea!
Kiwi99 - I'm with you. In "my day" we just through a sheet over the dining room table and strung a flashlight up from the underside of the table. Boom. Fort.