# About Play Tents
They are easy to set up by adults and don't have to be staked down. Their lightweight construction (usually of thin nylon) is best suited for indoor play, but they can be taken outside if carefully used.
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Types
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Mini camp tent: These look just like the real thing, scaled down for the pre-school set.
Tee-pee tents: These look like a small version of the sort used by Native Americans out on the plains.
Bed tents: This type is sized to fit over a full-sized bed, with the mattress inside the tent for security.
Tent and tunnel sets: These are play tents with crawl-though tunnels. Attach two tents together for more fun.
Homemade tents: This is the original play tent, made with sheets over a table or chairs.
Size
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Play tents are made for small children and are generally about 4 feet square and 4 feet tall. These tents are made for indoor use and can set up in a living room or other indoor play area. Tents with tunnels will require more room. Homemade tents can be any size, depending on your building "material' and imagination.
Function
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Play tents are creative toys for young children. It helps them use their imagination as they play pretend with the tent. It can be a fort, a secret hideout, a rocket ship or just a tent for camping in the pretend outdoors. Children can have the fun of a clubhouse on a rainy day in a play tent pitched indoors.
They can also be used for practice camping in the back yard. Play tents are not weather tight, so they are not recommended for sleeping in during real camp-outs.
Features
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Many play tents are smaller, more colorful, indoor versions of real tents. They generally don't have zippers or screen mesh for safety and better ventilation. Play tents are usually closed with Velcro or ties, which are easier to manipulate than zippers for small children. Modern play tents set up with shock-cord tent poles and do not require rope or tent pegs.
Considerations
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Make sure you have enough empty space in a room before setting up a play tent indoors.
Use caution when allowing children to play with pets in a play tent. The animal could feel trapped and become aggressive.
Play tents are made for indoor use, but with care could be used outside. Don't use them outside on a windy day, or any empty tent could blow away. Do not set them up on concrete.
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