How to Build a Box Fort

Guest Post by: “C4”

This is a kid’s guide for kids on how to build a box fort. Written by a kid, edited by Mom.

Get instructions for building a simple box fort, learn how to expand the fort, decorate the fort, ideas for what to do in your fort, plus a few helpful cautions.

I build box forts so I can have a secret place to go with my friends and play around and play spy on people. I launch my little robot from the fort. I have my own personal sleeping bag in my personal living room which is really nice. And I can store tons of stuff in it and my parents don’t make me clean it up off the floor. Because they don’t have any idea what’s going on in the box fort.

Here’s how you make a box fort.

The first step is to gather materials

• Big Boxes, Medium Boxes, Small Boxes. Only use Small Boxes if you have a lot of them or to fill in a gap. There are many good boxes with varying sizes at Walmart (from small to big). You can use boxes that appliances came in (if your parents get a new washing machine, dryer, fridge, or freezer).
• Scissors. Preferably adult scissors. If you are a kid who is not allowed to use adult scissors or say under 6 years old then you can have an adult do it for you. Or purchase a Makedo kit with a plastic saw, screws, and screwdriver. Note that Makedo screws (they call them “scrus”) are very helpful when trying to put together pieces of cardboard.
• Tape or Makedo screws. Use packaging tape. Gorilla Packaging tape is in my opinion the best. Scotch works okay.
• Most importantly you need a plan to build it, blueprints (in your head or on paper), and inspiration! You need an idea about how you’re going to build it and how it’s going to be used.

The second step is to know what you’re going to build

You need to know what you’re going to build, how your going to build it, and blueprints in your head for what it’s going to look like.

Third Step – Build Your Basic Fort

With three boxes you can make a basic 1-person fort.

You’ll need two large boxes and one medium box (reminder, we use packing boxes from Walmart).

Nestle the two large boxes together.

Cut a hole in the far left one on the side for a door. In the other box cut a hole in the top to attach the medium box to make your tower.

Here’s how the medium box gets attached. Take the medium box and turn it so the two holes are on the top and bottom. Pack the top to close it and tape it closed. Take the open part on the bottom and put it over the whole in the large box. Now you have a tower!

Then, cut a small hole on the front of the tower. Not a big hole. Just big enough for you to see out of. Now you have a peek hole.

Expand Your Box Fort

• Door needs to have some type of cardboard lock, such as a clip – to clip the door together or a piece of cardboard that goes into two holes. Because you don’t want the door to fly open periodically. You need a door to actually latch closed.
• You could add a living room.
• Add a Cargo Hold.
• Add a Smuggler’s Hold. Find out what a Smuggler’s Hold is by watching the movie National Treasure, or get books about pirates from the library.
• Add a Satellite dish.

Put Stuff Inside Your Box Fort

• Depends on the type of box fort.
• If it’s a top secret spying base put in binoculars, a magnifying glass, or something you use to spy on someone.
• If you’re making a cozy place to hang out put in some stuffed animals, maybe blankets, pillows, books, curtains.

Things You Can Do in Your Box Fort

• You can just lay down on some pillows or blankets and chill/relax
• Peek through your peekhole and observe the area with binoculars
• Pretend you’re an army soldier and go out of the fort with your nerf gun
• Read
• Expand your box fort
• Listen to music
• Play video games
• Do a puzzle in an area of the fort that is flat

Decorate Your Box Fort

• Draw on it, in it, or around it with markers
• Tape puff balls and feathers to the door
• Tape or glue posters inside or outside
• Search online for ideas. Try typing “decorate a box fort” into your search engine. Remember to have an adult helper so you stay safe online!
• Use colored tape
• Throw blankets over the box fort
• Add flashlights that hang from the ceiling as a lighting system
• We’d love to hear YOUR ideas – please share by sending us a message or tag us on social media #beehivebooksandart

Cautions!

• Edges of flaps can be sharp – and can give you a paper cut
• Don’t use a box that slid across an old warehouse floor in China or at Amazon
• Don’t operate scissors or knives wihtout an adult helper
• Watch out for staples in large boxes!