Kids' Play Tents

Children can have endless hours of fun and laughter with play tents, providing them not only recreation and entertainment but also a real feel of the camping experience. Kids' play tents also stimulate kids' creativity and ingenuity, where they can pretend to have their own headquarters like real soldiers, or play as if they are on a jamboree. The possibilities are just limitless.

Because these toys are made of lightweight material, they can be easily assembled and pitched especially for indoor use but may also be brought outside so long as extra care is taken. It may be best to consider that while these structures resemble the tents used by professional campers, they are made more for recreation and play.

Before scouring for play tents in the nearest hardware or DIY shop, it may be best to know the various types, sizes, functions, features and other considerations so that you will be guided on what model to buy in accordance with your specifications. Here are some important things to know about kids' play tents.

Different Types:

• Bed Tents - These are built to accommodate a real-sized bed, including the mattress. These models are usually the bigger, bulkier types of play tents.
• Homemade tents - These are referred to as the original play tents as these can be pitched over tables, chairs and other smaller pieces of furniture.
• Mini camp tents - These are miniatures of real camp tents, hence, the term "mini".
• Tee-pee tents - These are the sort of tents that look like an inverted ice cream cone, characteristic of Native American tents.
• Tent and tunnel sets - These tents have built-in crawl-through tunnels. You can even attach two or more tents together for greater fun.

Sizes:

The average height of a kids' play tent is 4 feet and its average width is four feet. Because these structures are especially made for indoor utilization, they can be pitched in the garage, in the living area, on the porch or some other indoor area. For tunnel tents, greater space is required while for homemade tents, availability of building "materials "will determine their size.

Functions:

The possibilities of how play tents can be enjoyed can only be determined by how far and wide children stretch their imagination and initiative. A play tent can serve as a clubhouse, a hideout, a headquarter, a fort, a scouting camp or practically anything they can fancy. Whatever they use it for, they are guaranteed of fun, enjoyment and satisfaction. One caution though: kids' play tents must not be used for real camp-outs as they are not weatherproof.

Features:

Because these tents are miniatures, most of the time they do not come with a zipper or a screen mesh intended for security and good ventilation. Also, most play tents can be closed using ties, which are easier to use for smaller children. The more recent models do not require tent pegs as they are built by shock-cord poles or pegs.

Considerations:

• Space is a critical indicator when pitching tents indoors. See to it that you have sufficient space in order to maximize the learning experience of your children as they explore the amazing wonders of play with the use of tents.
• Be careful when children bring pets inside the tent. Animals may feel threatened by the tight environment, which might trigger them to be aggressive and eventually attack kids.
• Use these tents outdoors only when the weather is fine. Likewise, it is also important not to pitch tents on concrete grounds.

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