Why kids built tents

• Posted on 12 February 2021
• By Marjolein Ekkelboom
• 0

Because kids learn through play, tent-building provides them with the chance to create their space their world, a world in which they are in charge. That is why we built our furniture at Mini Beee to provide kids with their space to relax, play and create their own safe world.

Maaike’s little girl is always pulling every cushion from the couch, stacking them up and pulling plaids over chairs and coffee tables to build a tent. She and her friends will gather every spare blanket or pillow they can find and crawl underneath tables and chairs covered with sheets and blankets. Here in their self build hideaways they will play: pretending to be a family, a princess on a secret mission to save all the unicorns of the world or just play with their tablets, watch YouTube videos, read and relax. Why do kids love building tents so much?

Tent building develops their fantasy

Building a tent encourages children to slowly but surely discover the world around them, to become more independent and to create their own world separate from the family. Tent building affects self-confidence, independence, problem-solving skills and the development of fantasy. But cooperation and negotiation are also discussed when children build a tent together. And what about the spatial insight you need to make a tent stable and spacious enough? This is what essayist and teacher David Sobel says in 'Children's special places' in Kiind magazine. The outdoor furniture of Mini Beee stimulates your children to play outside. They are on the move and, with a little luck, in the middle of nature in your garden.

Sobel also states that a tent literally and figuratively shields children from the outside world. It is a safe place where they rule, dream freely, fantasize and reverie. Which in turn is essential for autonomy, and it works like mindfulness.

A feeling of freedom.

“Kids all need a safe space. This is similar to having their bedroom, play area or their part of the garden or terrace”. A place just for  them, states Maureen Healy from Growinghappykids.com. "Playing in a tent provides kids with a feeling of freedom and that it is OK to have a life separate from their parents. Just like adults, kids need a break from the daily stress and having their place to escape to is essential. This makes playing in a tent so appealing. According to Healy it is important for children to learn to calm and relax for their happiness.

Learn to work together!

Social skills learned while tent building are invaluable and will stay with children through more difficult encounters later on in life when they have to work with schoolmates or co-workers as adults. "Children learn to work together, putting together a plan, often negotiating different ideas for how the tent might look, then taking on different roles and physically building the tent. There is an opportunity for learning leadership skills, such as by managing different opinions and ideas, reconciling differences of opinion, or relegating tasks," explains Dr. Michael Mintz, PsyD at Children's National Hospital in Washington DC.

Mini Beee

Because kids learn through play, the actions of building a tent helps them to learn and grow. Tent-building provides children with the chance to create their space their world, a world in which they are in charge. That is why we built our furniture at Mini Beee to provide kids with their space to relax, play and create their own safe world.