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How to Set Up a Thomas the Train Set on a Futon

Thomas the Tank Engine encounters flooded tracks, rock slides and stranded train cars during his imaginative adventures on the Island of Sodor. He and his railway friends face an even more daunting task of moving cargo or transporting islanders when they have to travel over the terrain of a frumpy futon. While a futon successfully serves its purpose of providing a cushy place to sit or sleep, it fails as a sturdy, level surface that's needed for Thomas' tracks to stay aligned. Help your child transform your futon into Thomas the Train's magical island by creating a level surface on which to play.

Things You'll Need

Thomas the Train set
Sturdy cardboard sheets or cutting boards
Tape

Instructions

- 1
  Move your futon away from the wall. Lift the back of the futon and pull it forward until it clicks. Lower the back portion ̵1; now that it's released from the sofa position ̵1; into a reclined, bed position.
- 2
  Detach the surface covering of the futon, if applicable, from the hook-and-loop fasteners. Remove the thin mattress pad from your futon ̵1; if this is the type of furniture piece that you have ̵1; to expose the frame.
- 3
  Lay down flat, sturdy pieces of cardboard from flattened moving boxes or other similar boxes. Otherwise, use plastic or wooden cutting boards.
- 4
  Cover as much of the reclined futon as possible with the cardboard or cutting boards to provide your child with a large playing surface. Ensure that the pieces of cardboard or cutting boards line up flush against each other to limit gaps in the playing surface.
- 5
  Assemble Thomas' train tracks over the covered futon. Avoid placing the seams where the tracks fit together over areas where the cardboard and cutting boards touch. This minimizes the tracks coming apart in case the cardboard or cutting boards move slightly during play.

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