I loved being able to build a camp when I was little and have always actively encouraged my own children as well as my minded children to do the same. I have a selection of blankets and duvet covers that they can use but I also have fun creating magical spaces for them. Last year I made G a lovely tent that she can use on the patio, it has seen many a picnic lunch.
It forms lovely tent shape and is easily put up, as I attached a loop to the top of the tent that can easily be looped over a branch etc.
I made this one out of large duvet, a hula hoop and some apron tape, so the hoop gives it it's lovley round shape but it is easy to untie, either to put away or wash.
So this year I was given some white sheets, so after some thought, I decided that I would use some fabric scraps and applique some squares and circles to the sheet to brighten it up. I then attached two ties to either end, so it could be hooked over our fence posts and then it can be weighted down with a couple of wood blocks I have. I did think about putting in some loops so it could be fixed with tent pegs but then decided a) my garden is rather solid and not the easiest to get tent pegs fully into and b) if the tent pegs weren't in fully then they could cause some injuries.
Now tents to me have always meant fun, somewhere for children to have adventure, to pretend they are of on holiday or wherever else their imagination takes them, as I have seen tents become a dragons cave and the children have gone to rescue a princess trapped their, or a quiet place to sit when the sun is too hot and of course a great place to have a picnic. Since reading a couple of articles by
Elizabeth Jarman about creating communication friendly spaces, I have thought about how I could implement some of these ideas and this was the inspiration for the above tent. Somewhere shady and quiet that the children, if they want to can sit or lie down, talk and relax, or they could watch everyone else play and feel part of everything going on but not having to physically join in. In other words a safe relaxing space for who ever wants to use and of course if they so decide a place to camp etc. So camp building is not only a great way for children's imaginative play to develop and therefore also help develop their social, emotional, communication and language skills, it can also be used to create a safe place for them to relax in if they need to. A child who is happy and relaxed is in a lot better position to learn and achieve their full potential.
