We were recently sent a wigwam to review from The Great Little Trading Co. How lucky we are! The Preschooler has been wanting one of these since he first clapped eyes on a similar one at his friend’s house, and so when it arrived he was very excited indeed! We’ve actually had the wigwam for a good few weeks now so we’ve had chance to give it a good testing, and we’ve used it in so many ways that I thought I’d include it in a Ways to Play post. So without further ado: ways to play with a wigwam!
Set up
Set up is ridiculously easy and once it’s up with the poles inserted into the canvas, there’s really no need to dis-assemble it all really. It can be stored standing or lying and gathered in on itself quite easily. To set up, follow the instructions (they’re simple!) : join the rods together, insert them into the canvas as shown and tie securely with the rope provided. To open up the wigwam, move around the tent, pulling the corners out as you go. If you construct the wigwam around the ground sheet, it’s easier to then attach that with the ties after it’s erected. It’s fairly wide once set up but not so tall that it can’t be used indoors too.
Ways to Play
Once the wigwam is up, believe me that is enough for the kids to start playing. Being inside a beautiful tent like this is fun in itself, but I wanted to see what else we could do. The Toddler was first to test it out, so I decided to make a sensory tent for her.
I strung some fairy lights into the inside of the wigwam, added a cushion and the Tuff Spot mirror for some reflection of the lights. I also popped in some of the colour changing LED tealights and our Wonderworld sensory blocks. The Toddler happily played in there for ages, enjoying building with the blocks and exploring the lights and reflections. I also played some soft music for her and to be honest I could’ve got in there with her for a little sleep, it was so relaxing!
Following on from the sensory tent, I knew the wigwam would make a fantastic reading tent too and I wanted to set something up with context. One of the family’s favourite books of all time is Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins, and this is a book that The Preschooler is able to recite fully. So this was our obvious choice for the reading tent!
This was easy to set up: I popped in some blankets and cushions with the fairy lights and that was it. The Toddler settled down to listen to her favourite story with her favourite brother!
Moving on from the reading tent, I wanted to try out some messy play so I decided to do a Hooray for Fish themed play. The Tuff Spot fit perfectly inside the wigwam (hooray!) which made it the perfect messy play den!
For the ocean, I used blue jelly stones resting on a silver tin lid, and I added magnetic fish and rods for a spot of fine motor skill fishing. I also added shells and stones from the beach and some spades and nets too. The book was also in there for inspiration, along with a pirate ship. Outside the tent we had the sand and it was lovely to see the children pop in and out, playing beaches and quoting from the book. I was delighted to see that the wigwam made such a wonderful messy play den!
Once the weather cheered up, we took the wigwam outside. It was a particularly hot day and the children were in a “pleeeeeease play with me!” day, which wasn’t the best kind of mood for a fairly poorly mum. I wanted to see what the kids could do by themselves, so I set up the wigwam in the garden and popped a sign on the front which read “Magic Potion Shop“.
This was a wonderful activity that was just perfect for The Preschooler. He filled our sorting tray with treasures from the garden- leaves, petals, flowers, stones and sand- and used plastic utensils to mix potions and concoctions for a variety of magic spells. The best thing about it all was that the inspiration came from the sign alone- I did not need to direct the play at all, and having the wonder of the dedicated play space inside the wigwam added to the magical element. I loved watching them all play through the little mesh window at the back!
The Big One also enjoyed the magic potion shop, and later that day she asked if she could use the wigwam as a TV den. Well, why not? We turned off the lights, added the fairy lights and all three were happy to view the television from their den! The Toddler spent most of the time spying out the of the window and playing peekaboo, but there’s no denying it made a wonderful change from the sofa!
We have many more ideas for our wigwam yet, so look out for another Ways to Play post soon- we’re thinking garden centre, painting station and baby clinic which should be fun!
The wigwam has withstood all of the above activities really well and is easily stored in the playroom ready to use whenever we feel like it. It washes well and dries fairly well too and in my opinion it is well worth the £68 it is currently selling for. Go grab a bargain now!
This is great fun x
susankmann recently posted..#silentsunday Week 20
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Yes, we’ve had so much fun with it!
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Your very lucky. This looks amazing and something my girls would enjoy 🙂 #TriedTested
Michelle recently posted..Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes
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Yes, we are lucky- we love it!
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Oh I love the suggestions you have made! My youngest would love the sensory tent, and it would make a great reading corner too. I can also imagine it being used regularly as a hide and seek area! Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
Kate @ Family Fever recently posted..Tried & Tested Tuesday
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Yes the sensory tent was a super idea and I often set it up if she is a little testy, it calms her down and she can have a few moments to herself
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These really are lovely wigwams aren’t they. If we had more room I’d definitely have one, love the play possibilities #TriedTested
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One recently posted..Once upon a time
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This really doesn’t take up too much room actually and its great in the garden
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Ok, I keep seeing them in their catalogue – so tempted!!
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One recently posted..Once upon a time
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Well we love ours and I can see it lasting such a long time too
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That looks fantastic! my youngest would love something like that 🙂
Kim Carberry recently posted..Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair – Review!!
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It really is fab!
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I am loving this!! and the fact it was a potion shop is even better!
Jaime Oliver recently posted..#52LittleThings Week 21 – Start A Task Jar
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Haha yes the potion shop was a lovely activity 🙂
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This is totally gorgeous! I am thinking of something similar for my two. We have a playroom that this would be perfect in. The colour is great too as it is quite neutral (I have one of each) I will be defo looking at this company in the future #tried/tested xxx
brummymummyof2 recently posted..Persil Cleans Up Messy Play
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yes I chose the colour as it was neutral but also bright and fun. It hasn’t faded at all and washes really well
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I love that wigwam – it looks fab! Looks like you have had so much fun with it too, I may have to buy one of those! #Triedtested
Denise (mum on a mission for a better life) recently posted..A girly night
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I highly recommend it. We play with it all the time!
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Thats such a cool wigwam and I love how cosey it looks in there. I would be so tempted to take a pillow in with me and have a bit of a rest 🙂
Notmyyearoff recently posted..Joe Browns – Review and Giveaway
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You know what, I might just do that later!
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That looks brilliant! I love that you managed to get the tuff spot in there, too. My two would adore this!
The Reading Residence recently posted..Anna’s Wonderful #PostCircle (Guest Post)
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You know what, as soon as I saw the ground sheet I thought “aha! The tuff spot will fit in there!” So glad I was right!
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Fantastic post! Nana recently made Adam a teepee and I have been looking for different play activities for him to do in it. I am now off to see if the tuff spot will fit inside! Thank you x
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Ooh I hope it fits!
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Oh my gosh I want one of those! My daughter would love it. Love the lights in it 🙂 #TriedTested
Gina Caro recently posted..My Sunday Photo
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The lights really transform it 🙂
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What a great wigwam and I love your ideas on how to play with it. The magic potion shop is fab.
#SharewithMe
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Ah yes, we enjoyed that one. Can’t wait to set up a baby clinic for Bella!
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I love it! I am obsessed with The Great Little Trading company. I have had my eye on one of these forever. What a great post and you came up with so many wonderful things to do with it too! Amazing. The color is really vibrant and I would use it indoors and outdoors too. We have no shade in our back yard so this would be great to let the kids be outside and play without worrying about them burning up. Great post. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. Ways to Play indeed!!!! In style!!! #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted..Share With Me ~ wk 16
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Oh all of their stuff is amazing isn’t it? Love it all!
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We’re absolutely delighted with this amazing review. You’ve found some fresh ways to use this classic toy. We’re huge fans of outdoor play, but also there’s ways to play with a wigwam inside too. You’ve provided lots of inspiration for the summer holidays.
This week we have 20% off this wigwam and others too if anyone is interested.
Thanks for the fab review 🙂
Lisa at GLTC
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THanks Lisa, we had such fun reviewing this wigwam and we have more ideas to share too!
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I love the look of these wigwams and what creative uses for them. This is a great review #sharewithme
Zena’s Suitcase recently posted..6 Things You Didn’t Know About Breastfeeding
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Ah thank you! We had such fun with it 🙂
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My sister in law made my daughter a gorgeous wigwam for her first birthday a few weeks back. We haven’t used it much yet so I have really enjoyed this post and saved it for future reference. I have 5 days off work and I hear the weather is not going to be great. Perhaps the wigwam will be coming out to play. Thanks for sharing so many great ideas.
Claire recently posted..Mash potato sensory play
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We’re using the wigwam as a poorly girl den today- perfect for curling up inside. And yes, great for indoor play too 🙂
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What perfect timing with your post, my tiny man will be two on the 27th and we have brought him this exact teepee! Can’t wait to set it up, I think he will have so much fun in it and his older brother too. And you’ve given us even more ideas, thank you. Looking forward to reading more xx
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Ah that’s fab! So glad my review has helped you- your little man will have a wonderful time with it!
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Perfect for my terrace for my son to play with but not in our budget at the moment =P #ShareWithMe
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted..Obsessions
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Ah thats a shame- but keep an eye out in case they reduce them again 🙂
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What a lovely looking wigwam, I wish we had the space and garden for something like this! x
Danielle Askins recently posted..Social anxiety and me
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Ah we love it and we are lucky enough to be able to play with it inside and out!
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I absolute love GLTC, it’s my favourite shop to buy toys from for Lil G! So much choice and very traditional. My little boys loves his wigwam, have fun! X
Mummy Hargreaves recently posted..A Blissful baby you say?
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We love our wigwam too 🙂
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