Point to any corner, cushion, pile of pillows, or section of floor: 'That's your headquarters / cave / spaceship / castle. For the next [however long]. You're in charge.' The naming creates a location that didn't exist before. Children without a physical territory wander into parental space because they have nowhere to be. One sentence creates a place that belongs to them.

How to do it

1Point to any corner, cushion pile, or patch of floor. Name it: 'That's your headquarters. It's yours. You're in charge.'
2Give no further instruction. The name does all the work.
3Treat the named space as real. Knock if they ask you to. The rule matters.

Variations

Korb-Tür: If they don't go in, make the offer smaller. 'Just for ten minutes.' Smaller space, shorter commitment often works better.
Ausstieg: After the time is up, ask if they want to keep it or pick a new one for next time.

💡 Parent tip

Ask what the rules of their space are. Children will create passwords and visitor protocols if you treat the space as real. The governance of the place extends the play.

What your child develops

Sense of agency and ownership — a named territory that belongs to them creates genuine investment
Imaginative play — naming a space transforms it into something worth inhabiting and defending
Boundary negotiation — children create elaborate entry rules and protocols if the space is treated as real