Super Simple DIY Reading Tent

I made this tent a while back to use in our backyard for a fairy party but it’s been reused so many times I thought it would be fun to share here. It’s easy to make and it’s great to encourage kids to read. I don’t know if you’re like us but we have to complete a weekly reading log for school and sometimes getting that half an hour in daily can be tricky. So we set up the tent and made a rule that it was for quiet reading time only. The next thing we knew, one, two, three kids were quietly reading the afternoon away!

It’s the easiest sewing project ever. All you do is sew two sheets together. I added trim to make it pretty but you could skip that step. If you know how to sew you probably already know how to make this and you don’t need a tutorial. But if you don’t have a sewing machine I think you could still create this with just one sheet or using no-sew hemming tape or even staples.

Supplies you’ll need:

• two sheets, any size for the tent and one more sheet for the bottom that will not be attached.  The bigger the sheet, the bigger the tent. (You’ll only need one sheet if you’re skipping the sewing part.)
• rope or a clothes line
• trim (optional)
• clothes pins (you may not need)
• pillows and a sheet for the ground
• some big clean rocks (river rocks work best)

A quick note about sheets: I love collecting old sheets. One of these is a hand-me-down from my mom and the other something I picked up from an estate sale. I’ve found that there is always a use for old sheets. When I see them available at inexpensive prices, I snatch them up. Especially when they are old and have groovy flowers on them from the 70s.

To create this tent, just sew two sides of your sheet that are the same length together with one long seam. Then, if you have it, add trim to the remaining sides. Hang your rope between two trees or whatever you have handy. In the past for an indoor tent, I’ve used chairs and a ceiling hook. A fence post and ladder or anything tall could work too. Hang your sheet over the rope with the seam on the rope so you have a natural fold on rope. If your rope is sloping and the sheet wants to ride down, just use a clothes pin to hold it in place.  Pull the sides of the tent open and keep them there with pillows on the inside and heavy rocks on the outside. Then add a sheet for a floor covering, some more cozy pillows and books to read!

Then let the quiet reading time take over!

More Ideas for Summer Reading Fun:

• Summer Reading Recommendations for Teens and Tweens
• Stock Your Local Little Free Library 
• 5 Ways to Make Summer Reading More Fun