Wouldn’t it be great if your kids had access to a water supply at the sandbox or in the mud kitchen? They can! I’m going to show you how you can add a source of running water to your backyard play space in minutes. It’s a simple solution that’s fast, easy and cheap. In fact, it may not cost you a dime.
If your kids love water-play activities as much as the hooligans do, you’re going to love this idea! It’s one of the coolest things to add to your outdoor play space to make it a more exciting and engaging place for your kids to play.
The quest to add running water to our backyard play space:
Now, to be honest, what I really wanted was a water pump like Teacher Tom’s. I mean, what kid wouldn’t love to pump his own water from an antique hand pump.
For a while, I kept my eyes open at auction sales and flea markets hoping to come across an old in my price-range, but they’re a little hard to come by I guess because I never managed to find one.
That’s ok though, because, resourceful thinker that I am, I realized there was an easy, inexpensive way to provide the hooligans with their very own backyard water source.
In fact, I had it set up in just a few minutes, and it didn’t cost me a thing!
Some of you may have to fork out a few bucks for this contraption, but trust me, it will be worth every penny!
There’s a good chance that for many of you, installing running water in your mud-kitchen will require nothing more than a quick trip to your storage room!
The 20 dollar (or less) item that transformed our outdoor play yard
Ta-daaaa! It’s the water jug that we use for camping!
Is that brilliant or what?
If you’re not a camper and you don’t happen to have one of these tucked away at home, don’t worry. You can pick them up in the outdoor section of most hardware stores or big box stores.
Also, check out second-hand stores and thrift shops! Our local consignment shop has a shelf full of camping jugs in all shapes and sizes.
Or you can use my affiliate link and get one on Amazon.
Perfect for water play, the mud kitchen, or washing hands
A portable water jug with a spigot is perfect for water play in the backyard! It’s easy to fill with the garden hose, it holds a LOT of water, and you can easily move it to wherever you’re playing in the backyard.
Who knew the humble camping water-jug had so many uses?
Sometimes I set our camping jug up beside our sandbox, because hey, wet sand is WAY more fun than the dry stuff.
And we have to have running water when we’re getting messy making mud pies in our mobile mud kitchen.
Running water is a must when we’re making garden soup or working in our pretend play perfume factory.
It comes in handy for filling the tea pot at our backyard tea parties…
and when we’re playing “coffee shop”.
Or playing at our homemade water wall.
The kids love having complete control over that simple, little tap.
It makes it so easy for a child to wash his or her own hands when they get sandy or muddy.
The kids love gathering around the water spigot to fill their containers.
Cranking the handle is a bit tricky. It requires strength and co-ordination to turn the tap off and on, but they work together and help each other to make it happen.
To conserve spills and wasted water, simply place a large bowl or container underneath the spigot of the water carrier. Your kids can use it for play or for watering the flowers.
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
Jenny
I got out our camping water carrier today and my daughter was very pleased, I couldn’t believe how quick she emptied it though! Mainly on the floor “watering the plants” (grass)!
Pixie
My mother works as a vet nurse. Vet clinics that do surgeries can go through barrels of distilled water once a week or less. As a consequence I was able to source an easy half dozen or more -clean- 20L water barrels for water play all year ’round. As the toddlers and babies would often struggle with the tap I could set it on the tiniest trickle which would minimise water waste and create this beautiful calm aesthetic.
The first time I put a water barrel out in the sandpit there was a cluster of about 8 preschoolers and toddlers around it, carefully filling containers and waiting turns with -zero- conflict. When our director had the barrels put away after a parent complaint about water play over winter (this made me rather angry as it was a poorly informed and weak choice) my mud pie kitchen went from having most children spending 20minutes + (often up to an hour) in that playspace with water, to having maybe 3 children spend 10 minutes in it without water.
So check at vet clinics and hospitals and dental surgeries. They’re bound to have clean barrels they’d otherwise just throw. And that’s absolutely free.
happyhooligans
Well, that is just a brilliant suggestion, Pixie! Thank you! One of my best friends is married to a vet. I’m going to check with him!
Marcy
What are your thoughts about using a laundry detergent bottle with a push button spigot that has been thoroughly cleaned out? We have access to water on our playground, but our hose does not stay out all the time. This would be a great way to give sandy hands a rinse.
happyhooligans
I think it’s a super idea as long as it’s well washed – maybe give it a rinse with some hot vinegar water after you’re sure all the soap is gone. It will help to get rid of any residue.
Viviana
I have always used well washed laundry bottles full of water in stock for emergencies. But never thought of useing them as a water play resource! This coud be a good combo with water table 🙂
Trisha
I’m glad I have others to be “resourceful thinkers” for me. It never even dawned on me to do this. This is great…thanks!
Melissa
I used a Costco laundry detergent bottle that was empty for our backyard play water. Its alao great for refilling squirt guns which are always empty and usually need mom to refill frequently. The perk of the soap container is it has a push button instead of a lever! Great post!
happyhooligans
Brilliant!
Line
that’s a great idea. however, in my classroom, I use an empty laundry detergent container (you know the large one with the spout) with a basin underneath. it’s great for washing hands and paint brushes, etc. the only thing is they can’s drink that water.
happyhooligans
Love your idea!
Cathy
Oh, this is TOTALLY going to happen! I have two camping jugs in the garage! Thank you for the suggestion!!!
Jackie Currie
Yay! I’m so glad you came across this post!