How to Make Your Own Sandbox With PVC Pipe

Playing in the sand is both fun and beneficial for children and adults alike. The tactile input from sand is relaxing, and the opportunity to create a miniature world can sometimes prompt a shy or troubled child to communicate his feelings without feeling threatened. In fact, sand therapy is a recognized form of psychological counseling and is particularly useful for anger management. Sand play is also used to increase touch-tolerance through sensory integration. Using PVC, you can make a shallow sandbox small enough to sit on a coffee or patio table.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Four PVC connectors with a 90-degree elbow and a three-inch diameter
• Four PVC pipes, two-feet long with a three-inch diameter
• Tarp measuring three-feet square
• Carpenter's pencil
• Twine
• PVC cement
• Two bags of play sand

1. Insert a PVC pipe into one side of a PVC connector. Use a carpenter's pencil to draw a line on the pipe and over the end of the connector. According to Brooks Owen of PVC Workshop (Reference 2), this line serves as an easy alignment guide. Then remove the pipe from the connector, swab a light amount of PVC cement onto both the connector and the pipe, insert the pipe back into the fitting, twist slightly and then line up the yellow markings.
   
   Do this to all the PVC pipes.

2. Apply PVC cement to the inside of the right side of two of the PVC connectors.

3. Slide a PVC pipe into the sides of the PVC connectors you applied cement to, align the markings and then allow the PVC cement to dry overnight.

4. Apply PVC cement to the inside of the left tube of two of the PVC connectors. Slide the connectors onto the left end of each of the two pipes from step 3.

5. Wrap one side of the tarp around one of the pipes between the PVC connectors. Insert twine through the tarp's grommets to attach the tarp to each pipe.

6. Apply PVC cement to the remaining openings in the PVC connectors. Slide the remaining PVC pipes into the PVC connectors to form a square. Allow the cement to dry overnight.

7. Wrap the sides of the tarp over the two remaining sides of the square, and then secure it with twine.

8. Fill the newly constructed sandbox with play sand.

Tips & Warnings

• If having sand inside your home doesn't appeal to you, use dried beans, gravel or rice instead. Outdoor sand alternatives include pea gravel.
• Use only river sand in the sandbox or an alternative that does not create fine dust.

References

• HaleHrambod.com: Jungian Sandplay Therapy
• PVCWorkshop.com: How to Measure, Cut and Glue PVC Pipe
• Non-ToxicKids.net: Safer Play Sand

Resources

• SafeSand.com: Playsand Information
• HardwareandTools.com: 1/2 Slip PVC 90 Degree Elbow 30705 by Genova Products