This is a simple DIY project on building a balance beam to keep your kids busy during long holidays! It's easy to build, lasts a long time and can be transformed into a garden bench once the kids are grown.

Materials needed:

Two 3' pieces of 4" x 6" pressure-treated pine lumber for the legs (make sure the lumber is rated for ground contact)
One 8' piece of 4" x 6" pressure-treated pine lumber for the beam
Six 12" galvanized nails
Posthole digger
Tape measure
Level
Drill
220-grit sandpaper
Optional: wood sealer or stain

1. First, sand the beam smooth to remove splinters. Treat it and the legs with wood sealer or stain, if desired.

2. Then, lay the beam on the ground to determine where to dig holes for the legs. Make a mark on the ground 6" from both ends. You'll nail the top piece to the legs 6" in to avoid splitting the ends of the beam.

3. Using a posthole digger, dig two 18"-deep holes. Set the legs in the holes, and use a level to make sure they're perpendicular to the ground.

4. Fill in around the legs with soil, and tamp tightly. Place the long beam on the legs so there is a 6" overhang at the ends. Drill pilot holes, and use three nails on each end in a triangular pattern. Don't put more than one nail in the same line of grain to avoid splitting the wood.

5. The finished beam will be 18" off the ground. To cushion falls, lay down a thick layer of mulch underneath and around the balance beam.

6. Below the balance beam, make sure to add a thick layer of mulch, saw dust, or pine needles.

7. Even though you've used pressure-treated lumber, you should further protect the wood. First sand it to remove the splinters and then, working in a well-ventilated area, treat the beam by painting it with stain. Brush on a thick layer, painting with the grain. Don't forget to seal the ends. To turn the beam over and stain the other side, prop it on some bricks. Store the two-inch plants until the next spring, when you should re-plant them in a shallow hole, with most of the rhizome above the ground.