Whether it was a crudely made tent with a sheet thrown over four chairs or something a little more elaborate, we all had one. It was a safe place away from the bogeyman, or a horrid sibling, or a space for you, your book, and a torch. Unlike when I was growing up, there are so many kids play tent options available. It’s just a case of finding the perfect one.
I believe tents also serve an educational purpose. From crawling in and out, to playing with puzzles or blocks inside, chances are children are developing their motor skills and coordination. It also develops speech and narrative skills in a fun way. With a little imagination, a bedroom is turned into a forest, a tent, a cave, offering shelter from all the dinosaurs stomping around outside. At the same time, a playroom is a kingdom, and the tent a castle, keeping the princess safe from a bad-breathed dragon.
Here are my best kids play tent recommendations to educate and entertain.
Best Kids Play Tent Ideas Compared
 | Crazy Forts 69 Pieces | Check price at |
 | Pacific Play Tents 60801 Club House | Check price at |
 | Pop âN Go Baby Playpen | Check price at |
 | Dinosaur Kids Teepee Tent | Check price at |
 | Narmay Play Tent Camouflage Dome Tent | Check price at |
 | Narmay Play Tent Camouflage Pop Up Tunnel Lowest Price | Check price at |
Best Children’s Play Tents Reviewed
1. Best Overall Indoor Tent For Kids: Crazy Forts 69 Pieces
Crazy Forts gives kids the freedom to build their play tents. By connecting the balls with the sticks, they can produce any imaginative tent, fort, or playhouse. Cover the structure with bedsheets, and it’s ready for occupation.
The simplicity of the concept makes it available to everyone. It is easy to transport to friends or grandma, and it doesn’t take up a lot of storage space. Stay current with the theme or hero of the month by adapting the structure or décor, complementing the imaginative dwelling.
I love the way Crazy Forts encourages interaction and teamwork between friends. Fashioning the framework inspires creativity and strengthens problem-solving skills. Included in the package are multi-lingual instructions for creating five basic structures.
2. Best Pop-Up Play Tent House For Friends: Pacific Play Tents 60801 Club House
The clubhouse graphics would motivate any kid to occupy the Pacific Play Tents 60801 Club House. It even has “Private” on top of the entrance to keep out unwelcome guests and siblings. The kid’s play tent is easy to set up by an adult. Irrespective of whether the play tent is stationed indoors on cold and windy days or outside during the summer months, kids will have fun.
Mesh top panels and windows keep the tent ventilated. The tent dimensions are 50 x 40 x 50 inches, which are large enough for three club members. The 190T 70 deniers high-quality Polyester taffeta avoids rips and tears. The Super Poles are safety-coated, so they won’t splinter or shatter.
3. Great Indoor Play Tent For Infants And Toddlers: Pop ‘N Go Baby Playpen
The Pop ‘N Go Baby Playpen is the perfect portable playpen for toddlers; parents can assemble or take down the toddler tent within seconds. With the included compact travel bag, you can easily carry the children’s tent to the beach, camping trips, or to grandma.
Assembling is effortless with pop-and-release technology. The strong reinforced fiberglass frame is lightweight to carry but durable for everyday play. The pop-up play tent for kids is secured with tent stakes; 6 ground stakes and seven sand stakes safely secure the play tent in your backyard or at the beach.
The to-go play tent for toddlers and infants measures 59 x 48 inches. The roomy interior is perfect for twins, siblings, infants, and a grown-up can join the fun. With 50 SPF, the removable UV shade cover functions as a canopy to protect your little one against harmful sun rays, irritating bugs, and wind.
Add a mattress pad (sold separately), and the baby play tent transforms into a travel crib, or use it for naptime when visiting friends; the perfect pack and play tent for parents on the move.
4. Best Kids Play Tent For For Dinosaur Fans: W&O Dinosaur Kids Teepee Tent With Roar Button
Kids love this Dinosaur Kids Teepee Tent with lifelike dinosaur roar sounds. It’s the perfect tent for dinosaur fans and young adventurers. I love the roar button with six different sounds, creating a realistic experience for young imaginations.
The stylish and cozy tent is covered with roaming dinosaurs so that prehistoric enthusiasts will feel at home. If you want to transform your kid’s bedroom or playroom into a dinosaur adventure, I recommend this fun-themed teepee play tent. I like the four large pockets for stuffed animals, snacks, and treasures.
Robust and smooth pine wood poles create the frame, and a plush mat attaches to the tepee walls for stability; this tent won’t collapse on your child. The plush mat is a comfortable tent floor for playing or napping. The tent is child-friendly, with no chemicals added to the bright colors, and the breathable peach skin fabric is 100% allergen-free.
With LED lights draped around the entrance, the eight different light modes transform the tepee tent into an imaginative world, a cozy nook perfect for bedtime stories. The remote control switch is included in the purchase but not the batteries. And for curious kids, the Dino Discovery e-booklet could satisfy their curiosity about these magnanimous creatures.
5. Best Play Tent For Multiple Kids: Kiddey 3 in 1 Kids Pop Up Play Tent With Crawl Tunnel
The 3-in-1 Kids Pop Up Play Tent is an adventure just waiting to happen. It has a ball pit, a tent, a tunnel, and loads of space. The mesh on the sides allows you to see what’s happening inside and is good for ventilation.
Depending on the space available, the components can be used separately or together. It literally pops up, packs away quickly, and comes with a travel bag for storage when not used, which is never!
Perfect for ages 1-10 years, the girls and boys play tent is the best pop-up play tent for sleepovers, indoor jungle gym, or as an outdoor obstacle course. The children’s play tent and tunnel are large enough for siblings and friends to enjoy adventures and imaginative play together. Throw balls through the holes strengthening hand-eye coordination, or use the tent holes as windows when playing house.
6. Great Hanging Pop-Up Play Tent For Outdoors For Playing With Toys: Hanging Play Tent Indoor & Outdoor Swing Tent
This Play Tent is perfect for just hanging around, indoors or out. It’s cozy, comfy, and big enough for three children or 116 pounds weight limit. The hanging play tent is the perfect space to get swept up in a book or to create an entire fairy world. Otherwise, taking a nap in it will do just fine. However, I can’t guarantee that you won’t want one for yourself.
It is the perfect tent for kids who love nature and relaxing outdoors. There is sufficient ventilation with two mesh windows and a roll-up fabric door, and kids can view the outside world while snuggling on the comfortable cushion. In addition, the mesh keeps the bugs out.
It comes with a stand and ground stakes, which makes it ideal for indoors, and you don’t need a tree to set it up outside. I like the stand because, even if you have a tree in the backyard, it doesn’t always have the right branch to hang the tent. In addition, the hanging kid’s tent can spin 360 degrees for swinging fun.
7. Best Little Boys Play Tent: Narmay Play Tent Camouflage Dome Tent For Kids
Atten-shun! The Narmay Play Tent Camouflage Dome Tent is one of the best play tents for boys. Camp out overnight in the backyard or use it as HQ to plan missions for imaginative play.
The tent features two tunnel ports. Combine the dome tent with the Narmay Play Tent Camouflage Pop Up Tunnel, and you have a perfect combo for little ones. Depending on the reconnaissance mission, use the indoor tent and tunnel used together or separately. It’s durable for inside or outside use and folds up and stores easily, so packing away isn’t a problem at all.
The water-resistant fabric and waterproof floor will keep the little soldiers dry, and the silver coating inside protects against UV rays. The large front door and top mesh panels ensure ample ventilation and air circulation.
The steel tent peg reinforces the tent against windy days. Suitable for ages three years and up, the boys tent is large enough to fit an adult with a child. The cotton-padded tunnels are safe and comfortable for crawling and physical activity inspired by imaginative play.
8. Best Kids Tent For Little Astronauts: Space Adventure Roarin’ Rocket Play Tent with Ball Pit
Playtime is turned into space exploration time with the very cool rocket play tent. Perfectly sized for a pair of brave astronauts, there’s no end to the adventures to be had. The round mesh windows allow space travelers to search for aliens and they can gaze at the galaxies from the observation deck in the rocket’s cone. It comes with a Milky Way-themed carry case for easy storage, but chances are your spacemen will be having too much fun to pack it away.
The rigid tear-resistant polyester material is perfect for indoor tent adventures or outdoor exploration and may even protect the little astronauts from asteroids and other harmful space objects. If peeking through the mesh windows doesn’t reveal new planets, toddlers can transform the interior into a ball pit holding over 600 balls.
9. Best Kids Indoor Tent For Girls: FoxPrint Princess Castle Play Tent for Kids
The foldable FoxPrint Princess Castle play tent for kids pops up into a little girl’s dream castle. Decorated with hearts and glow-in-the-dark-stars, the play tent is made for the little princess as a hideaway or to entertain their friends.
With its friendly design, it appeals to the imagination of kids two years and older as their private space, a place for adventures and dreams. The roll-up door and two windows provide enough ventilation. When assembled, the tent dimensions are 41.5 x 41.5 x 54 inches, which are large enough for your princess to have a tea party with friends. When folded it fits in a 17-inch zipper bag and is lightweight for easy transport to grandma.
10. Great Tepee For Kids Room: USA Toyz Happy Hut Teepee Tent For Kids
The portable USA Toyz Happy Hut Teepee Tent, with its tent bag, is ideal for sleepovers at grandma, an indoor playhouse, a reading nook, or storage for favorite toys. It’s easy to store and transport with the included tent bag.
You don’t need tools to set up the tent; click the base together, insert the foldable tent poles, and secure the ties with minimum effort. The instructions manual with illustrations will help if this is your first time assembling a tent for toddlers that’s more than sheets over chairs.
Made in the USA, the polyester fabric is water-resistant and cleans accidental spills easily with a damp cloth and soapy water. Mesh windows and a wide roll flap tie-back door provide ventilation. The Tepee tent is ideal for any adventure in your backyard, camping in the woods, or an imaginative safari.
11. Best Play Tent And Tunnel For Kids: Playz 5-Piece Kids Pop Up Play Tent With Basketball Hoop Playhouse
The Playz 5 Kids Pop Up Play Tent is the best pop-up play tent for kids who love basketball. Any toddler should have hours of fun in the toddler play tent and tunnels; it’s almost like a village or a maze. The adventure play is endless with a tepee tent, a square ten house, tunnels, a basketball hoop, and a ball pool.
Interlink the tents with one another, and pets can join in the fun of crawling through the tunnels from one kid’s play tent to the next one. With the basketball hoop and ball return funnel, toddlers can practice their basketball skills. The closable ball pit tunnel can also be a separate ball pool holding hundreds of balls.
Hours of imaginative play and adventurous games will occur inside the indoor play tents and tunnels. The tepee tent has five mesh net holes for toddlers to peek through, a door for ventilation, and the square house’s roof opening is perfect for a quick escape. The square house’s 4-way access allows for imaginative connections in all directions.
The setup stimulates play and creative interaction. Use it indoors or outside at a picnic or birthday party. Connect all the pieces or set up separately; there are dozens of ways to customize the setup, depending on the event or play activity.
The play tent for kids meets and exceeds USA Toy Safety Guidelines. It is one of the best indoor play tents for toddlers that is as much fun outdoors. The child-friendly design features soft thick fabric, flexible padded structures, and breathable mesh walls for a safe experience. Unique ground anchor loops secure the tents when playing outdoors on a windy day.
12. Best Play Dome Tent For Kids Bedtime Fun: Pacific Play Tents Kids Tree House Bed Tent
The Pacific Play Tents Kids Bed Tent is the ideal solution for getting kids into bed. Use the bed tent on the bed or off the bed. A fitted outer-skirt secures the Tent to a mattress on the bed or floor. It’s a great way to transition a child from the crib to the bed or give a child a camping experience indoors.
Vibrant graphics illustrate various themes like the Tree House, Secret Castle Bed Tent, Rad Racer Bed Tent, and Cottage House bed tent. The kid’s tent fits a full-size bed mattress (dimensions of tent 77 x 54 42 inches), and the 77 x 38 x 35 inches tent fits a twin bed.
Kids can assemble their bed tent under adult supervision. The tent door flaps are secured with Velcro or closed for privacy. The bed material is70 denier 190T polyester taffeta with PU coating, which can be placed on a flat surface without a mattress. The materials are flame retardant and meet CPAI-84 and ASTM F963 safety standards.
Have a kid’s play tent you want to recommend? Leave your tips in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, stickwithjosh.