More Forts. Less Fortnite.
AmericanMom Team |
In today’s world, where screens often dominate our children’s lives, there’s something incredibly refreshing—and downright wholesome—about a viral TikTok account of boys who chose to pick up hammers, nails, and their imaginations instead of their gaming consoles. This account, showcasing kids building a fort next to a river made from scrap wood, bricks, and old pallets, has captured the attention of millions. It’s sparking a much-needed conversation about the power of outdoor play, independence, and creativity in a tech-driven age. This is our official call for a little more forts and a little less Fortnite.
Re-Living Childhood
What began as a simple concept—boys building forts on TikTok—has turned into a viral sensation. The account has amassed millions of views, shining a spotlight on the joy of childhood creativity, teamwork, and the satisfaction of building something with your own hands. It’s even sparked a wave of nostalgic comments from Gen-Xers “reliving their childhood.” While Fortnite may have been the virtual escape for many, the #FortBuilding hashtag is quickly gaining momentum.
The contrast between the virtual world of Fortnite and the tangible reality of constructing your own hideaway couldn’t be starker—and that’s exactly why it’s sparking conversations. In an age where the virtual world often takes center stage, the simple act of these boys building a backyard fort has become a refreshing reminder of what childhood is all about.
These kids working together to create something from scratch, tinkering, and building is the very definition of childhood. They’re learning how to plan, solve problems, make decisions on the fly, and tap into their imagination—all while physically creating something they can be proud of. They are making something real, which is probably the most important part of this whole thing.
The digital world has stolen realness from us—especially kids. It’s wrenched the hammer out of their hands and replaced with a controller that directs a fake hand to hold a fake hammer. They don’t know the weight, the pressure, the power. They don’t understand the dedication needed to build something that stands and works and serves.
But not the fort builders. They know.
Beyond the skill-building aspects, the fort building phenomenon also offers a much-needed mental health break. In a world where children are constantly bombarded by screen time and information overload, creating a physical space gives them an escape into a peaceful, slower, tangible world. It’s a chance to disconnect from the bombardment and blue light and reconnect with their surroundings, sunshine, nature, dirt, and the simple joys of hands-on play.
A Return to Simpler Times
The image of fort-building evokes nostalgia for many adults. It reminds us of childhood days spent draping sheets over chairs, exploring the woods behind our house, digging holes in our yard, playing capture the flag, flashlight tag, and creating imaginary worlds in our living rooms. Before screens became the center of our entertainment, kids spent hours exploring the expansive world around them—the one they could touch with their own hands, the one they could add to with their own experiments and inventions. This new trend is a throwback to that simpler, more creative form of play—and it’s striking a chord with a new generation.
Fort-building presents a healthy, creative alternative to video games by fostering physical activity, imagination, patience, endurance, focus, and a useful set of skills they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. These fort building boys have an outlet that is both fun and fulfilling.
The message is clear: More forts, less Fortnite. This isn’t about eliminating video games or digital entertainment entirely. It’s about balance. By encouraging more outdoor play, hands-on activities, and creativity, we can help our children develop a broader range of skills and experiences that aren’t dependent on technology.
Watching these boys build their fort makes you long for a return to outdoor, imaginative play that fosters creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving in ways technology just can’t match. So, next time your child is glued to a tablet or gaming controller, why not suggest a break? A few blankets might spark their next big adventure—maybe even the next viral fort!
Let’s put down the Fortnite controller and bring back the forts. Because, after all, children won’t remember their best day of video games, they’ll remember the feeling of doing something worthwhile and wild with their friends.
