Best Kids Tents

Kids are not always easily entertained. Old toys become yesterday’s news, or the winter keeps us all indoors- and boredom sets in. But with a bit of creativity, your children can be occupied for hours on end, enjoying themselves- without breaking your budget or staring at the TV. How you may wonder? Kids tents.

Easy to set up and small enough to fit in a child’s bedroom, a play tent would delight most kiddos. You can even place it outdoors, in the yard, if your little adventurer wants their ‘castle’ to be outside. It is a little nook of their own, a personal space that they can outfit to their own liking. Choose between adventurous, magical, colorful, or pink and princess-like styles according to your kid’s preferences. But before you do, here are a few details that are good to know.

Best Kids Tents

Features to Look for in Kids Tents

Even though the concept is fairly straightforward, there are still some features that can dictate the practicality and the quality of the tent and make your purchase long-lasting and fun for your kids throughout their childhood. Keep in mind the following features and make certain that your kid’s tent will withstand the wear and tear that only a child can put it through.

— Durability

This is perhaps the most important feature from the parent’s side of things. Kids can be quite rough and tough on their toys – and a tent is no exception. If you consider outdoor use, in particular, you will need to ensure that the materials are waterproof and withstand the elements (e.g. UV rays). And even if used indoors, tents should be durable, both to make sure they’re safe for your child to play with and to ensure that your purchase doesn’t last a couple of days before it’s fit for scraps. Look for heavy-duty polyester fabrics and flexible frames in case you are looking for the sturdiest options available. For indoor use alone, you can rely on thick and natural cotton canvas covers and wood poles to get the job done, too.

— Special features

A plain old tent won’t keep a kid occupied for too long, not to mention that it won’t catch their eye in the first place. But if you look for kids tents with some special details and features, you can rest assured that it will be a big hit with our youngsters – for quite a while. For kiddos that daydream about space and planets, there are rocket-shaped tents with added fins and colorful images on the outside. Some come with added projector flashlights that can make the whole tent a special little place for the boys and girls alike. On the other hand, if castles and princes are what occupy your darling kid’s mind, you can make them feel like proper princesses with swirling pink designs and flowing mesh curtains. Or choose a tent with glowing LED star lights and make it a special and magical place for your child to read in, play fun games, or share with a sibling. There are so many choices out there, so it won’t be difficult finding something special to match your kid’s own interests and preferences.

— Size

If you want to ensure that the tent will be spacious enough for your kid to play in but still a cozy nook, you have to be careful about the dimensions when making your purchase. Tents and playhouses come in a variety of dimensions and designs – and some can be surprisingly large….or small. Consider your own free space beforehand. If you live in a tiny house or lack free space in general, a really small tent will be the only adequate solution. But in the case of a lot of room, a lot of kids, and a lot of space in your front yard, feel free to choose a larger dimension tent: not only will it be a great solution for outdoor playtime, but you can also consider it for your next backyard “camping” trip, making it that more special for the kids.

— Style

Kids tents shouldn’t be dull and minimalistic, so don’t be afraid to go wild with vivacious options before you. The more colorful, more vibrant, more flashy- the better, at least in your children’s eyes. Kids love a whirlwind of colors and images and cartoon characters – and, frankly, who doesn’t? For instance, for little adventurers, you can opt for designs with swirling space designs, rocket ships, and galaxies, or perhaps a tent with an exciting camouflage pattern. If your kid loves a certain TV show or a cartoon, you can’t go wrong with a tent that comes with prints of their heroes and favorite characters on it- Paw Patrol, Disney characters, and so many others are availably splayed on tent sides.

— Outdoor vs indoor use

It’s important to take into consideration where the kids tent will be placed. In case you’re planning on using kids tents indoors, almost anything goes in terms of materials, as the harshest damage to the tent will be done by your little angel and not by rain, wind, and other elements. However, for outdoor kids tents, the rules are somewhat different. These can be a great solution for those summer days when sitting in the house simply is the least favorable option for an energetic child. Set it up in the backyard, front lawn, or the porch. Make a special treat for your kids and allow an overnight stay in the tent (with supervision, of course). Make it a magical evening for them. But to do so, make sure that the tent you’ve picked out is suited for outdoor use: this means high-quality, weather-proof materials that won’t be worse for the wear after a few days in the yard.

You may want to read: Best Camping Tent

Bottom Line

Entertaining your kids has never been easier! Colorful, magical, cartoon-inspired kids tents can be a perfect solution for every parent. You can put it in the kids’ room or place it in your yard for some summer fun – either way your children will love it. The varieties and the number of unique designs make them versatile and perfect for boys and girls alike. 

Kids tents are an affordable, simple, and very efficient solution for the whole family- parents get peace of mind and some time for themselves, whereas the children can enjoy a world of fun and develop their creativity through play or simply have a nook of their own for reading and playing even in cramped rooms.