How to Make Children's Tent

Camping in the front yard or backyard is a great way to encourage confidence, independent thinking and a sense of adventure in your children. While store-bought camping tents can cost well into the hundreds of dollars, you can make your own pup-style children's tent for a fraction of that cost. If you use coated nylon or another waterproof fabric, your creation will do a good job of keeping the rain out. You can also take the tent down and put it away just by removing a few screws. You'll need a helper to finish this project.

Instructions

Making a Children's Tent

1

Measure 1 1/2 yards (about 4 1/2 feet) up the 2"x1" beams, and mark where you end up with a pencil.

2

Separate the marked beams into two pairs, with each pair crossed at the marked place to form a symmetrical "X" where one side is much longer than the other.

3

Place two screws where each pair of beams crosses to keep them from wiggling or changing angles.

4

Make pencil marks on either side of the 6'x1"x1" beam, two inches in from each side.

5

Stand each crossed pair of beams up so that the long legs of the "X" are down with the short legs of the "X" upright. Have your helper hold one crossed pair up while you hold the other.

6

Maneuver the 1"x1" beam on top of the crossed beams so that it sits in the "V" at the top of each crossed pair. Line the pencil marks you made up with the crossed beams so that the top beam sticks out two inches to either side of the crossed pairs, which are actually end posts. Both crossed pairs should be vertical throughout this process.

7

Drill four wood screws down through the top of the 1"x1" beam and into the crossed beams, two at each end.

8

Drape your fabric over the crossbeam of the tent, and, if necessary, weight the edges down with rocks.