Building forts is part of growing up. It starts with hiding under blankets and develops into creating complex structures from blankets, chairs, couch cushions and whatever else is around. Unfortunately, blankets, chairs and heavy books limit you to only basic structures. But the folks at The Happy Kid Company in Princeton, MA came up with a product that revolutionizes childhood fort-building.
At first glance the Fortamajig doesn’t look like much more than an 8′ square piece of lightweight, ripstop nylon and while that’s accurate, this is definitely a case of less being more. Arranged around the Fortamajig’s outer edges are 24 adjustable Velcro loops so you can easily attach it to just about anything. An additional 9 Velcro loops on the surface further extend the attachment options. Velcro not long enough to fit your plans? No problem! Just connect one or more of the six additional Velcro straps where you need them. Unlike blankets, the lightweight Fortamajig is easily supported so it can span longer distances without drooping. There’s also a door and a window, both with Velcro to keep them closed if they don’t fit your design. And because it’s made from the same material used to make tents, it’s also durable enough to be used outside. Check out the Fortamajig gallery for examples of both indoor and outdoor forts.
My daughter and I decided to try the Fortamajig out in the dining room. This idea wasn’t met with much enthusiasm from my wife, but when she saw that the Fortamajig was so light (under 2lbs) that it wouldn’t pull down the chairs she gave us her reluctant blessing and we proceeded to create a variety of tunnels, forts and caves. Fortunately, my wife wasn’t around when my daughter decided to climb the fort’s roof, pulling some of the chairs down to the floor. Luckily no toddlers or chairs were harmed and we simply adjusted our design and continued playing. When we were finished, we just disconnected the Velcro, stuffed the Fortamajig back into its bag and put the chairs back under the table.
The Fortamajig is available in two models, a $70 single layer and a $90 reversible dual-layer. Both come in a variety of colors. The Happy Kid Company also sells the $90 Fortamajig Connectables, a set of eight panels with Velcro connectors that can be used on their own or along with the Fortamajig (buying them together will save you $20). Yes, the Fortamajig is more expensive than a blanket, but comparing the two is like comparing a Leatherman Tool to a butter knife. The Fortamajig’s durability and flexible design allow it to do so much more than a blanket and also make it more likely to engage your child’s imagination. That’s definitely worth at least $70.