Teepee Building

I am very excited to be here today at Rainy Day Mum. I cannot wait to share a fun outdoor play idea with all of you.

My girls and I have had big plans to build a teepee this summer. In fact, this idea started way back in the spring when we were trimming our backyard tree. As the branches we were removing came crashing to the ground I realized that they would be perfect for making a teepee. So, I placed them inside our garage and saved them for the perfect summer day. That day finally arrived. As the girls sat and looked at me with their "what are we going to do today" faces, a lightbulb went off...teepee.

First, we pulled out the branches. I guess I thought I kept more than I actually had. There was a feeling of disappointment when I only had 2 BRANCHES. That would never work. Luckily, I had a scrap piece of trim in the back corner of the garage that would work as our third "branch". We propped the branches together. They nestled in nicely.

We used a roll of plastic wrapped wire to secure the joint. We also could have used rope, string or ribbon. Once the branches were secured we poked the branches into the grass, so they would not topple over easily.

Then, it was time to select the material we would use to cover our teepee. The girls selected a red fleece blanket. We wrapped it around the structure, leaving an opening for the "door". The blanket fit perfectly.

The finishing touches were a soft blanket to line the "floor" of the teepee, pillows and books. Lots of books. A perfect outdoor space for reading and napping. Oh yeah, and my youngest daughter tied a grape tomato over the doorway and said the teepee was a "tomato teepee".

The teepee has made a lovely addition to our backyard for free playing. The best part is that at the end of the day all we need to do is bring in the blankets, the structure can remain standing in our backyard. I'm keeping my eyes open for a real branch to replace our piece of trim. It truly is wonderful to have a magical little spot where my girls can hang out together. The tee-pee can be anything and anywhere. I cannot wait to see how the use of the teepee will change as the seasons change. I think it will make a fabulous structure to build a snow fort around.