How Play Forts Support STEM Development in Children

In a world driven by innovation and technology, developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills early in life is more important than ever. While structured education plays a vital role, some of the most impactful learning experiences happen through unstructured play. One such experience? Building play forts.

Play forts—whether made from couch cushions, blankets, or Kidz Forts—offer a treasure trove of developmental benefits. They might seem like simple childhood fun, but they’re actually powerful tools for fostering STEM thinking. Here's how:

1. Engineering Through Building

When kids construct forts, they engage directly with basic engineering principles. They experiment with materials, stability, and design. Will a broomstick support a blanket roof? Is a triangular structure more stable than a square one? These are real-world engineering challenges—disguised as fun.

Through trial and error, children learn to problem-solve and think critically about structure and function. These experiences build the foundation for later understanding of engineering and architecture concepts.

2. Math in Disguise

Measuring the length of a blanket, calculating how many fort panels are needed, estimating space—it’s all math. Children intuitively use math concepts like symmetry, spatial awareness, and geometry as they plan and build their forts.

By physically manipulating shapes and working within a space, they develop a stronger sense of dimensions, proportions, and even basic arithmetic—all within a meaningful context.

3. Scientific Exploration

Science is all about asking questions, forming hypotheses, and testing them—exactly what happens during fort-building. What materials make the best walls? How can we prevent it from collapsing? Kids test theories, observe outcomes, and refine their designs.

This type of hands-on experimentation builds scientific thinking and encourages curiosity, observation, and perseverance.

4. Technology and Creativity

While play forts don't always include electronic gadgets, they often integrate technology in creative ways. Kids might use flashlights to explore light and shadows, build simple pulley systems to deliver "supplies" into their fort, or incorporate household items to create imaginative tools.

Even without screens, children use technology by understanding and applying tools and systems that solve problems—one of the core definitions of tech in STEM.

5. Collaboration and Communication

Many forts are group projects, requiring teamwork, negotiation, and shared problem-solving. Kids learn to articulate their ideas, listen to others, and work together to achieve a goal—skills critical in any STEM career.

Conclusion: Building Futures, One Blanket at a Time

Encouraging children to build forts doesn’t just keep them busy—it helps shape the way they think, explore, and solve problems. By supporting fort-building play, parents and educators can foster a love of STEM in a natural, joyful way.

So next time the cushions are everywhere and the living room looks like a jungle, remember: you’re not just witnessing a mess—you’re witnessing the early stages of a brilliant engineer or scientist at work.  Or, choose a Kidz Fort to give them the same great experience, without your living room being turned upside down!