Fort Building
Why Building Forts is so Important for Kids
Why Building Forts is so Important for Kids
"Bet you didn’t know that those forts you built as a kid – the ones that were imaginary castles and fortresses against evil monsters – were actually training exercises for a three-dimensional world. “Fort Building” is a creative and developmentally appropriate activity to help children understand the spatial world.
"Bet you didn’t know that those forts you built as a kid – the ones that were imaginary castles and fortresses against evil monsters – were actually training exercises for a three-dimensional world. “Fort Building” is a creative and developmentally appropriate activity to help children understand the spatial world.
The process of building a fort requires problem solving in a three-dimensional environment to construct crawl spaces and hiding spaces using pillows, blankets, couches, tents, and sleeping bags. Crawling through and hiding in small spaces can provide feedback to a child who is in the process of developing an internal body map. The feedback they receive from engaging in these types of activities can provide information to help them know where their body is in space.
The process of building a fort requires problem solving in a three-dimensional environment to construct crawl spaces and hiding spaces using pillows, blankets, couches, tents, and sleeping bags. Crawling through and hiding in small spaces can provide feedback to a child who is in the process of developing an internal body map. The feedback they receive from engaging in these types of activities can provide information to help them know where their body is in space.
In addition to body awareness, fort building can promote imagination, teamwork, creative expression, and problem solving. Carrying objects provides heavy work or stimulation of the proprioceptors (sensory receptors within the body), which can be calming for a child. The accomplishment of a completed structure can provide a nice retreat to hide or read a book for any child. So whether you have a student in a therapy session or your child is calling to you for some “play time,” consider their young growing mind and how a fairy-tale interaction can broaden their development. " Julie Freschi, Paediatric Physical Therapist
In addition to body awareness, fort building can promote imagination, teamwork, creative expression, and problem solving. Carrying objects provides heavy work or stimulation of the proprioceptors (sensory receptors within the body), which can be calming for a child. The accomplishment of a completed structure can provide a nice retreat to hide or read a book for any child. So whether you have a student in a therapy session or your child is calling to you for some “play time,” consider their young growing mind and how a fairy-tale interaction can broaden their development. " Julie Freschi, Paediatric Physical Therapist