5 Ideas for building your own indoor camping tents

If you want to help your kids keep boredom at bay and get their creative juices flowing during rainy summer days, setting up an indoor tent provides opportunity for hours and hours of imaginative fun, family bonding and relaxation. There are so many ways you can do this–homemade or not, theme or no theme, individual or group, etc.

Read more ¿Qué más?: 5 Outdoor games to keep your kids busy this summer

So we've narrowed down a few super-fun–and pretty easy–indoor tent ideas for you to use to perk your kids up on a rainy summer day. Check out the slideshow below.

Image via Thinkstock

Store-Bought Tent

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52fortwo.com

If you're a real outdoor camping family, and already own a tent, feel free to just set it up inside. Make it special by adding some twinkle lights and lots of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. Complete the idea by telling campfire stories and making stovetop s'mores. This is an awesome set up for a family movie night as well. If you don't own a tent, read on for some quick and easy DIY options.

Toddler Tent

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lifealittlebrighter.com

This toddler play tent could not be easier to throw up and requires only materials you likely already have at home. Just wedge a baby got horizontally between two walls of a hallway and throw a blanket over it. Allow your toddler to get creative with what she keeps in her tent–toys, lovies, books, flashlights, coloring implements are all acceptable. She may even nap in it!

A-Frame Tent

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ana-white.com

If you're the handy sort and are up for a project you can actually build an a-frame tent for your kids that can stay in the house all year round. Despite requiring a trip to the hardware store and a few very basic tools, this sweet DIY tent is super-easy to construct and could last your kids years.

Lazy Tent

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mommy-labs.com

If your kids are a bit older and you're looking for something you can throw together spur-of-the-moment–think old-fashioned fort. Drape some lightweight blankets, scarves and any other fabric you can find over chairs or sofas, create a floor with a throw rug or some beach towels, toss in lots of cozy pillows and a few flashlights, and tell your kids to use their imaginations.

Hanging Hula Hoop Tent

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hoosierhomemade.com

There are lots of tutorials in the blogosphere for creating hanging tent-like structures (which can be used indoors or out), but most of them require sewing skills. But as the saying goes…ain't nobody got time for that. To make this hula hoop tent just use a large bed sheet, the hula hoop of course, and duct tape to make a super-cool, whimsical nook for kids of any age. Since it opens easily, it's also ideal for picnic-style snacking and makes for easy potty breaks.