How to build a simple sandbox

Kids are fascinated with digging and playing in dirt. Which is why a sandbox is a perfect alternative to the backyard mud pit. Self-contained, free of debris, and easy to dig up with the most plastic of toys, a sandbox can keep kids occupied for hours. And as This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows here, building one is as straightforward as stacking lumber in a square, fastening it together, and filling it with sand—a feat that can be accomplished in an afternoon. In fact, it's so simple it’s practically child’s play—and we can dig that.