build a fort - Stuff Parents Need

My husband did most of his growing up in the Pacific Northwest. Home to lush greenery, mild temperatures, and very few icky bugs. Heading outdoors was a joy to get to do, and as a result, he has a deep love for nature.

I was raised in the muggy deep South, where stepping outside 6 months of the year feels like taking a bath, and the bugs are as big as your fist. I, therefore, detested going outside, even as a child, and never really developed that love for the great outdoors.

Encouraging a Love of the Outdoors

I hope for something different for my girls. While the weather in Chattanooga is more similar to my growing up years than to Tim’s, it has enough differences to convince me to give outdoor time some priority in our daily schedules. And my girls both love to get to go outside. I’ve been thinking about what I can do to encourage that love and not squelch it with my own personal preference for being inside. Lately I’ve been considering adding a swingset to the garden. The kids need ways to get their energy out and I think a swingset would help immensely with this need. But this is something that is going to require a bit of saving up for, so I need a simpler solution for the mean time.

Want to see one of my main solutions? It is a work in progress, as it needs time to “grow” but here are the bones of what is going to surely become a source for many great memories for my girls:

This is the GardenFort, available exclusively through and sent to us by Magic Cabin. It takes about 45 minutes to get completely set up, and it is ideal to have 2 people working on it, especially as you work to get the netting secure around the frame. The kit also comes with 3 varieties of seeds that will turn into lush, blooming vines. The end result is going to be something truly magical. Here’s an example :

As much as I disliked being outside, if something like this had been in my backyard, I would have had a very hard time resisting it. My girls already love to play inside of it. Darah calls it her secret fort (though it is not exactly “tucked away” in the backyard!). We are enjoying bringing blankets, books and toys outside and sitting inside of this special space. I can only imagine how magical of a place it will be to my girls when it is covered in vines and truly starts to feel like a little secret garden.

Magic Cabin is, without question, my very favorite online source for imaginative play. The GardenFort is just one example of the imaginative finds there. Here are a few of my other favorite garden related items that would be ideal for encouraging more outdoor time:

1. Swing Seat

2. Child Size Garden Planters

3. Elfin Garden Accessories

What do you think about the GardenFort or these other great outdoor items? What do you do to encourage a love of nature and of being outside? Is it something you struggle with, personally? I’d love to hear!

Oh my word! In the past week, our family has been having SOOOOO much fun playing with our Fun Fort. A Fun Fort is a GENIUS product (one of those, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” items) that makes putting together a fort a cinch, not only for adults, but also for kids.

Don’t be fooled by its simple design! The possibilities for transformation are only limited to your imagination. The edges of the fort material have loops and are stretchy and open and close, meaning you can tie your fort on a door handle, a bed post, or wrap it around a sturdy stuffed animal, even (yeah, we’ve done it!). There are also loops on the inside, so you can create walls. Finally, there are pockets on the corners that are great for hiding your secret treasures (especially if you are building Fort Knox!).

When I first saw the Fun Fort, I knew it was going to be a blast. But I’ll be honest with you, I thought that it might be a mistake to pay $35 for an 8×8 piece of material. Well let me tell you, I now think this product is worth twice its retail price (and remember, I’m a thrifty gal!). I do not have the time, patience or skill to find material like this and evenly space out hooks and loops all over the edges. I don’t even think I could make it for $35, and I’m just talking about material costs, not counting labor.

The second reason I think this toy is such an outstanding buy is because a fort is something that will last and last and be cherished for years, even as your child outgrows most other toys. Forts are one of the last childhood outposts (no pun intended!). I remember still making them in my early teen years, even if the purpose was just to create a space of my own for reading a book or doing my homework. This Fun Fort is going to be right there with Darah for MANY years to come.

Buy it!: Right now the Fun Fort is priced at $34.95 and includes free shipping! I can’t think of a child who wouldn’t flip out to receive this under the tree, as a birthday gift, or just as a really fun rainy day surprise. Buy it here! Plus, you can save 15% on any purchase at The Happy Kid Company (except for the Fun Fort, which is already discounted). Just use code “Stuff Parents Need” and save!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need winner is going to win a Fun Fort! YESSSSS!!!!
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