Summer may be over, but in some regions, it's definitely still warm enough to play outside.
And who loves playing outside more than kids? I've loved so many DIY tutorials that teach us how to create memorable experiences for children, using only a few power tools — and an imaginative mind.
One of my absolute favorites is this adorable outdoor playset made by these crafty parents. There are endless ideas to explore, and there is absolutely the right DIY project for everyone out there.
Instructables user theerikjohnson wanted to make something for his baby son that would incorporate water in some way. His son "loves water in the sink and the bathtub," but Johnson wanted to go further than building an ordinary kiddie pool.
He wanted to make something with spouts and sprayers, and wanted to find a way to contain the water well, so as not to have the unit be attached to a garden hose.
In the end, all the tools he used were from the home improvement store, and he only took about two hours to put it all together.
Scroll further to take a look at the end product, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
To start off, Johnson gathered a statuary pump from his garden pond, a 3/4" x 5' plastic water pipe, a small water plug, two small insert fittings, and a vinyl tube.
For the base of the table, he used a big plastic storage bin.
To assemble everything later, he prepared a hand saw, a power drill, drill bits, and a utility knife.
First, he drilled drainage holes on the lid of the bin, so that water from the fountain would not pool on top.
Next, he cut off 2-inch sections of the pipe, assembled the inserts into the plumbing structure, and lay it on the plastic lid. He found that soaking the pipe in hot water for a few seconds right before putting them on the inserts helped tremendously.
He cut up the remaining bits of the pipe and fitted them with inserts to make the four vertical fountain spouts.
Next, he drilled a hole on one side of the bin, just below the rim. This would allow the pump's power cord to pass through. Then, a vertical cut was made through the hole.
The power cord could be easily lodged through the cut, to reach the pump placed inside the bin. Johnson then used the small vinyl tube to attach the plumbing assembly to the top of the pump.
Then came the hardest part. Each of the fountain spouts had to be passed through the holes in the lid, and then attached to the plumbing assembly. Throughout the process, the lid had to be kept partially on.
Lastly, he drilled small holes in the plug inserts, and along the bottom of the horizontal fountain pipes. Drilling small holes allowed him more room for error to effectively test the water pressure.
To finish up, he filled the reservoir with enough water to fully replenish the pump.
Many crafters have been inspired by Johnson's creation. User Mollerina's son, pictured here, absolutely loved the fountain.
User earvedson made something similar, but replaced the container with a clear bin, and plastic tubes for soft ones.
We certainly love this straightforward DIY tutorial. To view the steps in detail, click here.
Please SHARE with family and friends who would love to make something like this for their kids!
