How to Build a Sturdy Cardboard Fort

Learn how to turn empty boxes into your very own secret hideout with this step-by-step guide. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your boxes. Open the top and bottom flaps of your boxes. If you want a taller fort, keep the flaps on one side of a box to use as a roof, or fold them back to create open doorways between boxes.
2. Connect the rooms. Line up your boxes on the floor. Use strips of tape to join them together securely. Make sure the tape is on the inside and outside seams so the fort doesn't wiggle when you crawl inside.
3. Add a roof. Lay a flat piece of cardboard across the top of your boxes. Ask a grown-up to help you tape it down so it stays put. If you don't have extra cardboard, you can drape a lightweight sheet over the top instead.
4. Make it cozy. Bring in a soft blanket or a pile of pillows to make the floor comfortable. Add your flashlight or string lights so you can see inside your new hideout.