A blanket fort is a construction commonly made using blankets, bed sheets, pillows, and sofa cushions.[1] It is also known as a couch fort, pillow fort, sheet fort or den.
Parenting books frequently suggest building blanket forts as an activity for parents to participate in play with their children. A blanket fort is made by grabbing blankets around the house and setting them up in a room-like manner.[2] Furniture such as a dining table, a bunk bed, chairs, or an overturned couch can form the foundation for a blanket fort. Clothespins, binder clips, and safety pins may be used to connect blankets and sheets.[3] [4]
As a staple of early childhood entertainment, blanket forts are commonly referenced in children's books, such as Corduroy's Sleepover, If You Give a Pig a Party, and Bob Odenkirk's Zilot & Other Important Rhymes.[5]
In the third season of the television series Community, the episodes "Digital Exploration of Interior Design" and "Pillows and Blankets" focus on the idea of building the biggest blanket fort.
According to Guinness World Records, the largest blanket fort ever was and was built by Cub Scouts Pack 502, Scouts BSA Troop 502B, and Scouts BSA Troop 502G in May 2023 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The record was attempted "to empower the scouts towards meaningful service and to engage, raise awareness, and respond to needs within their community."[6]