All activities
Crafts4–6 years45 minutes
Build a blanket den that actually stays up
The engineering behind a den that survives more than four minutes. Involves pegs, and a surprising amount of geometry.
What to do
- 1
Choose the anchor: a sofa back and two chairs makes a stronger frame than four chairs alone.
- 2
Drape the largest sheet first and peg it to the chair backs rather than tucking it — tucking always slips.
- 3
Add a second, smaller blanket over the join in the middle. That join is where every den collapses.
- 4
Put cushions down before anybody gets in, not after.
- 5
Leave one side open. A den with no opening gets hot and stops being fun quickly.
