Review: The Original Fortamajig and Fortamajig Connectables by The Happy Kid Co.

Holiday Gift Idea alert!

Remember building forts as a kid? We used them as places for tea parties and houses and I don't even know what else. The problem with the fort building materials of my youth is that they were blankets which take up a lot of space, require folding at the end of play, and they aren't always big enough to create exactly the fort you need. Never fear children of the 21st century because The Happy Kid Company has come to the rescue of fort builders everywhere!

Click on Read More below to learn about the Original Fortamajig and the Fortmajig Connectables.

The concept behind the Fortamajig and the Fortamajig Connectables is so basic, but yet so ingenious. I'll start with the Fortamajig which is simply an 8'x8' square of durable nylon. Now, I say simply, but don't be fooled by the simplicity. This is a "toy" that your 3 year old will enjoy as much as your 10 year old. How often can you say that? The Fortamajig comes with a built-in window and door which as you know, immediately makes it way cooler than any old blanket draped over a couple of chairs! The best part about this toy is the open-ended play that it will encourage. Your kids can build a fort, a school, a restaurant, a kitchen, the list goes on and on. Nadia at three, is still not quite able to assemble the fort herself, but it's very easy to do. All you need is chairs or a tree or a doorknob, anything you can attach the stretchy velcro loops of the Fortamajig too. We don't have a backyard here in the city, and have spent most of the fall on the go with classes and visits to the park, but I foresee the Fortamajig becoming a very popular toy over the next couple of months as I search for ways to maintain my sanity this winter. How much more fun will a game of Hisss be when we play it under our fort? How much more will Nadia and I enjoy our "tea" if we can invite the dinosaurs over for a party in the privacy of her fort?

So, while the Original Fortamajig is an outstanding toy all on its own, the addition of the Connectables makes it the ultimate toy! You can use the Connectables to expand the size of the Fortamajig, or make a tunnel to the front door, or make a series of tunnels with a secret door in the back. Again, the possibilities are endless. Each Fortamajig Connectables pack comes with 6 multi-colored 33” squares and 2 58” long rectangles with extra loops for expandability. The best part is that they all stuff into this nice little nylon bag which hangs up on a hanger in our
closet, taking up virtually no space. You don't have to use them along with the Original Fortamajig, either. They are a great toy and perfectly functional in creating play spaces all on their own. They are also great for small spaces where the 8' x 8' Fortamajig might be too big. Since we are dreaming of a nice big house with a beautiful backyard sometime in our near future, I can't wait to build a little tent for camping out in, or a shady place to curl up with the kids and read books in the summertime. This is a toy I can foresee talking about 10 years from now. It's use being limited only by my children's imaginations...

Read the review below, based on a 4-star scale:

Functionality **** - You might be saying to yourself, can't we just use blankets to build a fort? Yes, you can, but think back to how frustrated you would get when you'd accidentally forget and stand up under your fort and pull the whole thing off the chair that was supporting it. Or, how one blanket was never enough which means you needed some way to keep the blankets together. You couldn't have a real door, let alone a window. To make a tunnel you'd have to crawl underneath chairs which means that if you weren't careful enough you'd hit your head. I know you remember. With both the Original Fortamajig and the Connectables, you still need chairs or doorknobs, or some other way to support the pieces, but once the sides of the play area have been secured, they stay put thanks to the super strong and stretchy velcro. Kudos to The Happy Kid Company for also making the the two products compatible, but also able to be used independently. My three-year old is not ready to assemble the play area she designs per say, but she has no problem directing us which works, too. Both toys are easy to store, easy to tote and machine washable!

Durability of Materials **** - Made from ripstop nylon, the fabric is going to stand up to hard play, including being drug around the backyard. The velcro is strong and appears to be securely fastened for lots and lots of readjustments over the years!

Style **** - The Fortamajig Connectables only come in one "style." You get 8 panels in a rainbow of colors. The Original Fortamajig comes in 3 solid colors (we have the purple,) but also in three different reversible colors. I like the fuchsia and lime myself. They are bright and fun and ready to spark all kinds of imaginative play.

Price *** - This is not an inexpensive "toy"; however, if you divide the cost across the number of years of play that it will see, I think you might be better able to justify the upfront cost. The Original Fortamajig is available for $69.95 for the single colors, $89.95 for the reversible. The Connectables are $89.95, BUT you can get both the Original and the Connectables for $140 which saves you $20 on the set. Think about all the ways you can use this, including as a backyard tent for your older kids, and I think you'll better be able to make sense of spending this much on a toy. I know I've been contemplating doll houses for Nadia, and with all the accessories I know I would have spent well over $150 for a toy that she may or may not play with, and definitely won't be interested in when she's 12 or 13, but will she want to put up a tent in the backyard and have a sleepover when she's 12? Maybe. Will her little brother spend more time playing with the Fortamajig than a doll house? We try not to encourage our children in one way or another, and if Isaac wants to play with a doll house, more power to him, but I'm not buying a doll house because I'm expecting it to be a toy that will be passed down from sister to brother like the Fortamajig will be. Whew. Did I do enough convincing? You can buy both products directly from The Happy Kid Company here.

Overall Rating almost **** - There's not much more I can say about the Fortamajig. If you are looking for a toy that will stand the test of time, encourage creative and open-ended play, and hold up to years of use, than the Fortamajig needs to go on your Christmas list right now. I'm feeling a little guilty because I don't have any pictures of Nadia playing in her fort, but since we are usually engaged in a tea party or "sleeping" when the fort is out, I don't even think about taking pictures until it's too late. There are lots of pictures and videos on The Happy Kid Company website. Go take a look for yourself. I can't imagine that you will be disappointed in all the Fortamagig and the Connectables will offer your children through years and years of play!