Winter is one of the most scenic times of year: beautiful snowfall and trees covered in sparkling ice. Every year, more and more American families are taking part in outdoor activities, even in the middle of the winter months. Right now, there are more than 10 million children across the United States who participate in formalized winter sports through local leagues and their schools. Keep the participation levels high at home by making your own backyard ice rink.
More than two-thirds of all respondents to a recent survey indicated that they would play sports even if nobody kept score: they play in order to be with their friends and to have fun. Making backyard rinks can be a great family activity. All you need to start is a 40 foot by 100 foot tarpaulin that you can get at your local hardware store. Next, you’ll need 36 four inch PVC pipes and four PVC corners: you’re building a rectangle out of the pipes and you’ll need to make sure the corners match the pipes in diameter.
Next, gather your family together and get them excited about your winter project. Hot chocolate is the quintessential winter beverage, but why wait until you’re done building your back yard ice rink? Toast some marshmallows and get everyone warmed up before you go outside. Make sure that everyone has hats and warm winter gloves, and put all of the PVC pipes somewhere that you can get to them easily. You’ll want to make sure that your yard is big enough for a backyard ice rink. If you have a smaller yard, just adjust the size of your rink accordingly.
Making backyard rinks is the perfect project for fathers to do with their children. Recent reports indicate that in the last four decades, the time that fathers spend with their children has more than tripled. Backyard rinks are a great surprise for children to show their parents, but they do need adult supervision while they make them. After you’ve secured the PVC pipes, clear your backyard of snow, rocks, and ice. Now you have a level surface to make your backyard ice rink.
Backyard ice rink liners should last you three or more years. Assemble your PVC pipes into a rectangle, and then lay down your tarp underneath. Take your garden hose and fill your rink with about 50 gallons of water at a time. You may need to use a hose from your kitchen sink to fill up your water containers: outdoor pipes typically freeze in the winter. Once you have your ice rink laid down, let it settle overnight and then have fun! Make sure you pull up the tarp before spring in order to save your lawn. The pipes are reusable for three to five years and the tarp will last as long as you store it correctly during the summer months and keep it in a cool, dry place. Make sure PVC pipes are stored vertically so they do not get moldy.
Backyard rinks are a great way to keep kids engaged in sports during the winter months. You could also make them an ice slide down the side of a hill or even an igloo. Teaching children to make things with their hands is actually recognized as an essential part of their growth and development. The sense of accomplishment that comes along with creating ice sculptures, snowmen, or backyard rinks will stay with your children as they grow. As long as you’re up for some adventure, your kids will be too. Make sure you take photos and have a great time enjoying the outdoors. Children love to play and they learn from playing. With a backyard ice rink to skate on, they will have many hours of wonderful, instructional fun. After all, who’s keeping score?
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