Picking up niece in 45 minutes... Need ideas for building in indoor fort

[Hav0k99]

I built one for her last year but it like took me 3 hours with sheets, beach towels and blankets. I used kitched chairs and living room furniture. Can someone give me some ideas of other furniture or items to use? When I was 14 and baby sitting an 8 year old, his father had a torn parachute and we made giant forts out of that.

 

[FleshLight]

Buy ice blocks from Ralph's

 

[dawnbug]

We liked to use side tables as doors to our forts. They're nice and sturdy and good for crawling under.

 

[KillyKillall]

We used to use chairs with sheets over/around them and then used pillows from the couch as walls as well.

 

[John P]

I used to have the ultimate indoor fort building supplies when I was a kid - GIANT TINKER TOYS!! Anybody else remember those, probably vintage 1977 or so?

I haven't seen them in ages, kids probaly whacked each other over the head with them and the manufacturer got sued or something like that.

Hollow core indoor type doors works very nicely - my kids used a door I had taken down to repair the hinges for a while as their fort roof. It's not so heavy it'll hurt much if it collapses.

 

[TheNinja]

I've always used the same thing you mentioned. Kitchen chairs, living room furniture, sheets, towels, clothespins.

 

[speg]

Giant tinker toys? I remember Tinker Toys, as they were quite awesome. However I was unaware there was a giant version.

 

[spaceghost21]

I always took the cushions off the couches and chairs and used those.

 

[Bryophyte]

You could use a big farking tarp if you wanted something big.

 

[John P]

Giant tinker toys? I remember Tinker Toys, as they were quite awesome. However I was unaware there was a giant version.

I see a set available on ebay, do a search there to see pics.

I'm actually tempted so watch this auction, my kids would love these......

 

[Bryophyte]

PS, you're an awesome uncle.

 

[Greenman]

Cardboard boxes and duct tape.

 

[Bryophyte]

For future reference, you can get PVC pipe (like water pipe) and an assortment of various connectors (Ts, Ls, etc) and use them to make structures. Cut the pipes to different lengths, assemble something and throw sheets over them.

 

[John P]

For future reference, you can get PVC pipe (like water pipe) and an assortment of various connectors (Ts, Ls, etc) and use them to make structures. Cut the pipes to different lengths, assemble something and throw sheets over them.

That's basically what giant tinker toys are, except they are the more pliable (softer) type plastic in different colors. The cogs look just like original tinker toy cogs, but more like 8" across.

 

[skyking]

get some humongus refrigerator and washer/dryer boxes. Pull all the nasty staples, and build something cool.

 

[MovingTarget]

refrigerator/washer/dryer boxes, duct tape or pvc + sheets FTW

Cinder blocks/duplos?

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Hav0k99
I built one for her last year but it like took me 3 hours with sheets, beach towels and blankets. I used kitched chairs and living room furniture. Can someone give me some ideas of other furniture or items to use? When I was 14 and baby sitting an 8 year old, his father had a torn parachute and we made giant forts out of that.

My grandfather worked here and consequently had old parachutes around. They make GREAT indoor forts and stuff.

(Flash back to MY childhood)

 

[Hav0k99]

thanks guys for the awesome ideas. I'm stoked!! my wife took her to the see Cars while I build