Welcome to build a den day! If you’re following along with our stay-at-home, screen-free activities, get ready for some construction.
Build a den day
Will you build a den with us today?
These little forts and cubbies and hangouts offer children a little kingdom of their own, for cosy games and imaginative play.
They’re super simple to make, and can give you a whole day of simple play.
The best places to build a den
You can build a den anywhere: under a table, on a bed, behind the sofa, in a box….
Scout out your home with your child and find a suitable spot.
You’ll want somewhere where you can set up camp and stay for a while – so either agree to hand over the kitchen table for the day, or find a spot that’s a little more out of the way of every day life, that you can dedicate to den building for a while.
The best materials to use for den building
You don’t need anything complicated to build a den. The picture above is of the den my girls built at our allotment, made of three garden canes, an old sheet and a few clothes pegs ~ and they played in it all day.
To get the most out of the den building, do provide some great loose parts the children can use for their construction, but stand back and let them lead the way in the actual building.
There’s as much fun, adventure, and learning to be had from the putting together of the structure as there is from playing in it once it’s built.
Some great den building materials you could offer include:
:: a table
:: some chairs
:: a bed
:: a box
:: some crates
:: planks of wood
:: big beanbags and cushions
:: a tent
:: branches
:: a tree!
:: bedsheets and fabric
:: cardboard
:: towels
:: tablecloths
:: blankets
:: clothes pegs
:: string
:: ribbon
:: masking tape
How to add more play to your den
Adding in a few extra props once your den is built can provide great sparks for imagination and more play. Encourage your children to bring items from elsewhere in the house and use them in their structure.
Items they might like to use include:
:: torches
:: sleeping bags
:: pillows
:: teddies
:: books
:: paper
:: pencils
:: clipboards
:: sketchpads
:: a ‘campfire’
:: stove
:: pots and pans
:: teacups and plates
:: a picnic
:: a costume to match whatever character they would like to be
Free Forest School and Garden Classroom resources!
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Seasons School is NurtureStore's year-round program of living and learning with nature. Our activities and resources focus on hands-on, nature-based learning that connects children with the natural environment.
If you're looking for nature study lessons, arts and craft projects, campfire recipes, foraging ideas, outdoor math and literacy activities, outdoor games, and ways to explore forests, gardens, and outdoor spaces - think of NurtureStore as your forest fairy godmother!
Whether you're in a forest school or outdoor classroom, running a school gardening club, bringing nature lessons into your class, home educating with nature, or wanting to connect with the great outdoors at the weekend, you will love the Seasons School ideas.
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I’m LOVING your materials so much. I’ve taught for many years (Preschool – 3rd grade). Now with the pandemic, I’ve been hired to help turn a preschool into an outdoor school and create & teach a new kindergarten class. I’ll be using your Forest School book to frame our outdoor learning environment. Instead of searching the internet for ideas, I’ve got a collection of them right here!
Thank you NurturStore!
How wonderful to be starting an outdoor school, Jan. Good luck!