Den making help - Should I buy a den making kit?

[lhargreaves]

My kids love making dens in the house - but as its summer I really want to get them playing outdoors (when the weather cheers up!)... they're up for making a den in the garden but I dont much fancy getting their bed sheets dirty and wet and god knows if we've got enough stuff to do it...

Do you think I should go out and buy some bits (any ideas what??)... or just buy one of those den making kits - I saw one on Amazon -

www.amazon.co.uk/Flibberty-DK-Real-Adventure-Den/dp/B003MDD54A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407855334&sr=8-3&keywords=den+making,

it looks OK, but not sure what should even be in one to make it fun for dd and ds...

Any den making experts that can help?

That looks more like a tent than a den. What's your garden and local area like can they find branches and scrap wood to make their own?
Do you have an old sheet or other bits they could use for a cover, and inside for seats etc. Do they have any old toys that can live out in the den?

In my mind a den is really dependent on what you find so getting a kit would spoil the fun.

just buy a cheapo sheet from tesco basic and some string and then maybe some bamboo poles (cheap from garden centre) they can also use duct tape to keep poles together as well as string. let them work it out for themselves but you can make a wigwam shape easily with those items.

the stuff in the kit can be easily bought from a garden centre too for half the price. but a tarp is always good for waterproofing and tent pegs will keep the edges down in wind.

A tarp is always a hand thing to have, you can drape one over a big cardboard box and you are in den heaven.

Pound shop for a tarpaulin, some tent pegs a washing line and some duct tape. Charity shop for some cushions and a sheet or a blanket for a groundsheet. Probably a tenner, tops, if you haven't got any stuff lying around.

thanks purplemurple1 that's a good point - they do like finding bits from around the house to build it, maybe having parts would ruin the fun...

Our garden is quite small and with a big patio (hoping to change that next summer!) but there is a park nearby, where we could get sticks - are you allowed to do that in a public park? lol

I could get some cheap sheets, and yes plenty of old toys that can happily camp outside for a bit, guess would need pegs and stuff too...

any other cool bits you can think of that would make it fun? - I am rubbish!

Thanks everyone!!! some great ideas - will gather some bits, can probably find some old pillows lying around :D

A tarpaulin is great and cheap if you find the right builders merchant, hardware shop.

Cheapest thin roller mats and bricks instead of pegs if your on the patio.

Old pillows, they will get them wet. Fleece blanketscare great to snuggle up in after a hard day adventuring. Very quick to dry.

Main thing with dens is to decide how your going to suport the roof. Not all gardens have nicely spaced trees. Rigging up a faintly wind resistant tent frame out of canes and found sticks is amazingly difficult and very frustrating.

If you can rig a good central roof rope, the rest they can do, but without it they'll probably fight.