Dad - can we make a den?

Every child under 10 knows, the real purpose of a couch is to be turned into a make-believe bus, aircraft, ship, submarine or spacecraft. You can add extra cushions for comfort, and extra credibility by spreading blankets or some spare old curtains on the floor to represent the sea, etc, if you want. Take things a step further by working with them to build a few extras - a periscope (some stiff cardboard, glue and a couple of small mirrors) or an instrument panel, computer made out of old cardboard boxes so they can make-believe they’re in Apollo 13 or Thunderbirds. They may be stuck inside on a miserable autumn weekend day, but in their minds they are a thousand and one other places.