9141a

Reading is a really big thing in our home, and I’m always trying to find ways of encouraging my kids to do it! After seeing all the cute tepees on different websites, I thought I would create a simple one of my own, a fun retreat from the normal reading spots, a place they can relax on some pillows and a blanket and dive into a good book—encouraging them to use their imaginations!

The one I made is really simple—nothing to it. It sets up best on the grass, but would work really well on a rug or carpet too!

Supplies:

  • 5 large wooden dowels (found in a home improvement store in the section that has baseboards) measuring 1 inch x 47 inches, or something close to that.
  • Paint of your color choice (optional)
  • Twine
  • Canvas material, 41 inches wide x 83 inches long (almost 2 1/2 yards of the standard bolt canvas)
  • Bunting (optional)
  • Hot glue gun

Directions:

  1. Paint your dowels the color of your choice. Let them dry. Then take two at a time, and crisscross them to the height and width you want your tent. Temporarily glue them together using a hot glue gun.
  2. Next, take the twine and begin to wrap it around and between the dowels where they cross. Do this quite a few times until you feel that they are pretty secure, but can open and close a little bit. Repeat this with two more of your dowels.
  3. Cut sixteen 8-inch pieces of twine. These are going to tie your canvas to the rods. Fold the canvas in half widthwise. On the front and on the back of the tent, begin gluing the twine pieces about 6 inches apart, 4 on each side, leaving the middle open.
  4. Now grab someone to help you, take your “X”s and hold them up. Put the fifth rod down the middle of them.
  5. Throw your canvas over the top of the middle rod until both sides meet the ground evenly. Tie all your twine pieces to the rods to hold it in place.
  6. Now decorate with bunting if you like.

Super easy and really cute!

9141b