DIY Fort in a Bag Gift for Kids

Building a fort is such a basic yet enjoyable activity for kids. My DIY Fort in a Bag for Kids is perfect because all the ingredients for a great fort are together in one bag. All the components are stored in the bag so the child can simply grab the bag to build the best fort ever. This homemade DIY Fort in a Bag is a great gift for Christmas or a birthday.

Fort making is a favorite activity at my house. My kids often would go hunting around the house for the components to make a fort. The sheets were upstairs, the clothespins were in the laundry room, and the flashlights were in the cupboard. They would swipe chip clips form a kitchen drawer to use as fasteners. The clips would get mixed up in the toys and I wouldn’t have any left in my kitchen drawers. My plan was to create a bag for them with all the fort supplies to be kept together. These supplies in the bag were designated fort components for creative kid use.

I love the imagination and building skills kids develop while building forts. They exercise their brains being creative. They learn about the laws of physics trying to figure out how to make their fort stay up and stay together. Fort making has been an art developed by kids for many years yet it still holds a strong appeal for kids even in this digital age. I love it when they drop the electronics and stretch their limbs to build a good old-fashioned fort.

DIY Fort in a Bag Supplies:

This DIY Fort in a Bag can be made for under $39.00 + tax. This price could be reduced or modified based on how the Fort in a Bag is customized. Certain items could be left out to make it cheaper. I purchased a king size sheet but substitutions could be done such as using all old sheets rather than purchasing a sheet. I visited my local dollar store to buy many of the items.

• Eveready LED Lantern with built in hook $5.39 (Target)
• Wood clothespins 50 pack $2.98 (Amazon, or Target, or Walmart, or dollar store)
• 2 quart bin with a lid $1.00 (dollar store)
• dry erase board to write notes on $1.00 (dollar store)
• twine $1.00 (dollar store)
• 6 pack of mini bungees $1.00 (dollar store)
• Mesh laundry bag $1.00 (dollar store)
• 2 packs of multicolored spring loaded chip clips $2.00 ($1.00 each at the dollar store)
• rectangular storage bin the size of a shoe box $1.00 (dollar store)
• king size flat sheet $18.99 (Target) or skip this if using old sheets and subtract it from the total
• two to three old sheets from your home FREE
• Mini chalk board $3.00 (Target dollar spot or check your local dollar store)
• Total cost: $38.36 + tax

Fun Fort Ideas:

The lantern could be hung from the ceiling from its hook on a piece of twine strung along the inside of the fort roof. This little plastic lantern is lightweight so it hang easily on the twine. The alternative would be for the kids to use a clothespin to fasten a small bungee cord to the wall of their fort and hang the lantern on the bungee hook. This gives them a light to turn on inside their fort to brighten it up and make it seem like a real room.

Purchasing a white board with a strap attached is perfect because the kids can write on it and hang it inside the fort with the bungees, string, or either the clothespins or clips. They could also hang it on the outside of the fort near their door with their names on it. The kids could write the name of what their fort is for the day on the board. The mini chalkboard could also be used to write their names, a pretend address for their fort, or the name of their fort for the day. The options are endless.

Hoag BROS. Snack Bar:

My kids make a fort every few weeks called “Hoag Bros. Snack Bar” which is so much fun. They create a menu of snacks to eat while they watch a movie on the portable DVD player inside the fort. The white board or the chalkboard are used for their sign on the outside of the fort and for the menu inside the snack bar fort. The sign could also be used to announce the name of the movie playing inside. They pile in bean bags, pillows, and blankets inside the fort to make it comfy. Stuffed animals or their pet guinea pigs are the other attendees watching the movie and eating snacks.

 

Storage:

The storage bins can be stored inside their fort during play time. Once they take the fort down all the supplies can go back into the bins for storage. Other items could be added to the bins such as small flashlights, coloring supplies, kid scissors for twine cutting, or small toys. All of the supplies can be stored in the mesh laundry bag.

Forts Inspire:

Forts inspire play time and imagination. The fort may be a bedroom or a house. It could be a restaurant or art studio. The fort could be divided into rooms like a house or apartment. The possibilities for forts are endless. The kids stretch their imaginations in fort play. Their minds can run free creating the fort space to be whatever their hearts desire.

Homemade is Best:

Everything homemade is the best. The child will love it because this DIY Fort in a Bag gift was made just for them. It can be customized as desired. This will be a gift cherished by the child for years. Make the gift of creativity for a child in your life and watch their imagination explode!

 

 

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