Tent Kid
Play Tents for Kids
Can you remember how much fun it was when you were little and keen to explore and hide away from the grown-ups? Chances are that you had a special place to hide and play with your friends or on Your Own, away from prying eyes. Maybe it was a fort made of boxes, or a castle made from sheets. Or maybe you were a lucky child and were the proud owner of a Play Tent! Why not do the same for your kids and look into buying them a special place for them to play.
Play tents come in many shapes and sizes, and are often themed. Play tents for girls are sometimes known as Wendy Houses or play houses, as they look like miniature houses. For example, see the amazing Rose Petal Cottage play houses. What little girl wouldn’t love to spend hours of imaginative play in such a pretty little cottage! For boys, how about an Indian style wigwam tent? Or perhaps a car mechanic’s workshop, or even a sheriff’s office?
Play tents can be for indoor or outdoor use. The outdoor types are usually a little bit more expensive, but can be put up in the garden and left there to play in all year round. They are usually wooden or metal, and always water resistant. You can even get plastic ones which are suitable for outdoor use, although they shouldn’t be left outside all the time, as these may have a shorter life span than the hardier materials. The big difference between outdoor and indoor play tents is that outdoor kinds will usually have a floor to play on. Indoor tents tend to be without a bottom or base, and are often made of fabric or plastic, and therefore much less weatherproof. However, they are easy to put together, and easy to dismantle, making tidying up after playtime quick and easy.
Some play tents come with extras, such as tunnels and platforms, with retailers often referring to them as Play Tunnels. These are great for younger children who just love crawling through the tunnels from one side to the other. Often you can buy additional parts so as to join two or three tents together, creating a giant playground for your little ones to explore. They will be a little pricier, but lots more fun. You can even purchase tents that are specially made to fit over a single bed, to make their den that little bit more comfortable.
Play tents are a great way for kids to pass an afternoon in the garden, or a rainy Sunday. You could even take it to the beach with you! They’re so easy to store, and take up very little room once dismantled. Giving the children a little place of their own to hide away will fuel their imaginations, and hours of fun will be had playing make-believe. They will also get a bit of exercise, and can do their rough and tumble in a safe environment.
Before you buy your tent, think about what your child will be using it for. It is just for in the playroom or is it for outdoors? Secondly, think about how much space you have, as this will also effect which one you buy. After you’ve considered this, think of the kids: maybe they’ll want a ladybird tent, a fold-out house, a camouflaged army-style tent, or a space-age dome. Have fun choosing!
About the Author
Lucy Bell is a member of the Play Tents team, bringing you a great choice of play tents for kids at http://www.playtents.org.uk/
Does anyone have a tent for your cat?
Last weekend I went to the Pet Expo here in Columbus Ohio. Among various toys and other things actually has a small tent for my cat! I think it's adorable (looks like an elephant and is actually a tent for children), and put it in my living room. Here is a picture of the same store I bought: The http://cgi.ebay.com/Elephant-Tent-Playhouse-Indoor-Outdoor-Play-House-Hut_W0QQitemZ130090150035QQcategoryZ11744QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The back has a nice big hole, two feet in front decompress entries kitten size, and the fins on the sides of the ear revealed two windows rolled detection. I put blankets and toys inside, and my cat loves it! He is his own fort. It is safe and is set to any place with only two poles store inside. Does anyone else out there tried this or something similar with their cat or kitten?
Yes! My cat likes it .. Well … Ama destroy … And privacy was something of a curtain to his litterbox. She loves it. (It takes all the tentpoles and leaves them in the closet)
