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Like the sand pit, the table should be long enough to present an independent play area at each end but be narrow enough that children ranged along opposing sides can reach in and play together. Again, observe a pair of kids playing dolls or cars on the rug and measure the distance from the belt of one to the other. I've found that a 2' x 4' table is fine for small kids, 2 1/2 x 6' good for older ones. Do not be tempted to make it so big the children are tempted to climb in, splash around, and bust it up.

If small kids have (even forbidden) access to a hose, they will eventually fill the water table to brimming. And despite being told not to, they will eventually go wading in it. A small child could conceivably slip, fall ...and a toddler can drown in even an inch of water. Unless you will have an adult in constant attendance, don't give them the chance to come to grief. If your youngest is under age 3, build a table with a low rim or drill drain holes all around so water can never get more than an inch deep. If the youngest is over age 6, water can be up to 4" deep. However, the table isn't meant to be a pool, but a miniworld with shallow, playoceans and rivers. I think that a box with 3" sides containing an inch or so of gravel and drain-hole drilled to give a maximum standing-water depth of 2" is best. The kids can have fun and you needn't worry. You can block up one end a couple of inches to give a shallow and deep end and enough slope to make little rivers through the gravel or sand when the hose is left on in a trickle. Kids can use wood blocks to dam the stream in 3"-deep pools to give a most satisfying, little waterfall.

BUILD A 2 1/2'-WIDE x 5'-LONG x 4"—DEEP WATER TABLE

You will need:

Tools

Electric circular saw with plywood-cutting blade; Electric drill/screw driver with Phillips-head drive bit and 1/16" drill bit; Long, measuring steel and pencil, or chalk and string snap line; Hammer and nail set; Caulking gun with 1 tube of outdoor-grade construction cement for wood, and 1 tube of (waterproof) adhesive, clear acrylic caulk; Sanding block or electric sander and sandpaper; Staple gun and 3/8" stainless steel staples (for sheet-good waterproofing).

Materials

One 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2"-thick outdoor-glued plywood (smooth-one-side); Four 2' x 3' x 8' clear fir or spruce wall studs (straight in all dimensions); Fifty 1 1/2" long, #8 stainless-steel Phillips-head drywall screws; Twenty 1" long, #8 stainless-steel Phillips-head drywall screws; Twenty 3" galvanized finish nails; Twenty 1" galvanized finish nails; Paint or clear finish; 20' marine rubber bumper stock (or 4 or 5 old bicycle tires).

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