Sandbox probs

[BrooklynM]

So my DCKs love to play in the sandbox but I hate the mess, the occasional "I ate sand", etc. They are pretty good with not throwing the sand, but when they are playing with it, it gets everywhere. Today, 2 year old DCB poops in his diaper, when I go to change him it was a sandy poopy horrible mess. I constantly have sand tracked into the house, etc.

Do you guys have sandboxes? Why or why not? Any suggestions for me? I actually wanted to buy a nice larger sandbox or do away with it all together.

Thank you for your input!

[AmyKidsCo]

I have a sandbox and consider it well worth the mess. The children learn how to brush themselves off and empty their shoes before coming in, but I vacuum every morning so it's not a big issue anyway. The sandbox is their #1 favorite thing outside - some days ALL they do is play in it!

[SignMeUp]

I have a large sandbox. When we go inside, first the children brush themselves off (I brush off the little ones): hands, body, legs. Then they take shoes off on the steps into the entry area, and clap them together over the railing, into the sandbox.
We never wear our sandy shoes into the house, ever. It helps a lot.

Sand in the diaper is a special problem :: Is there any way to have a portable changing area so that you can deal with it outside? I have a deck bin that holds sand and water toys, tissues & wipes & garbage, etc. When I have an infant or toddler I keep a few diapering supplies and a portable mat in there too.

[Blackcat31]

I have a sandbox and consider it well worth the mess. The children learn how to brush themselves off and empty their shoes before coming in, but I vacuum every morning so it's not a big issue anyway. The sandbox is their #1 favorite thing outside - some days ALL they do is play in it!

Same here. There are just certain rules to playing in the sandbox that I teach the kids from the get go.

Brush off, no throwing sand (or eating) and keep the sand in the sandbox.

The sandbox is also one of those things that when the kids play in it, there are no second chances. The FIRST time you break one of the above rules, you lose the right to play in the sandbox until the next day.

Does NOT take the kids long to figure out acceptable sandbox behaviors.

[BrooklynM]

I have a large sandbox. When we go inside, first the children brush themselves off (I brush off the little ones): hands, body, legs. Then they take shoes off on the steps into the entry area, and clap them together over the railing, into the sandbox.
We never wear our sandy shoes into the house, ever. It helps a lot.

Sand in the diaper is a special problem :: Is there any way to have a portable changing area so that you can deal with it outside? I have a deck bin that holds sand and water toys, tissues & wipes & garbage, etc. When I have an infant or toddler I keep a few diapering supplies and a portable mat in there too.

I really don't know why I didn't think of changing him outside! I feel like an idiot! Haha! That would solve a multitude of problems! I vacuum everyday but I use a big shop vac that is huge. Maybe I need to get a smaller one. Thank you! I'm totally going to change diapers outside after the sandbox now!

[Play Care]

I have a sand table, not a box for this very reason.

Sand is a very controlled activity here - with my wild group there is no other way

[BrooklynM]

Same here. There are just certain rules to playing in the sandbox that I teach the kids from the get go.

Brush off, no throwing sand (or eating) and keep the sand in the sandbox.

The sandbox is also one of those things that when the kids play in it, there are no second chances. The FIRST time you break one of the above rules, you lose the right to play in the sandbox until the next day.

Does NOT take the kids long to figure out acceptable sandbox behaviors.

I've been banning them as well but I just thought about it and my real problem comes with a part timer who is only here 2 days a week. Every day he is here within 5-10 minutes of playing in the sand he is banned. I have repeatedly reminded him of the rules. Maybe one day he will get it

[SignMeUp]

I really don't know why I didn't think of changing him outside! I feel like an idiot! Haha! That would solve a multitude of problems! I vacuum everyday but I use a big shop vac that is huge. Maybe I need to get a smaller one. Thank you! I'm totally going to change diapers outside after the sandbox now!

Hey, maybe you'll toss me an idea next time
For a lightweight vacuum, this one from Walmart has pretty good suction:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eureka-Quick-UP-Bagless-Stick-Vacuum-with-Motorized-Brush-Roll-169H-Red/12174201

When both of my vacuums died the same week, I ordered this one to fill the gap till I could take them for repair (and six months later I fixed them both myself ) It worked so well that I lost my motivation ::

I had to buy an $.89 bottle of school glue to go over the "free shipping" threshold. I kinda chuckled when they were shipped separately ::

It looks like the price went down, and the "free shipping" threshold went up. But if they don't have it at a store, I think you can order it to pick up at a store, for no ship charge.

[jenboo]

I turned an old Walmart bookshelf into a small sandbox. I don't let them climb in it... It eliminates the majority of the mess!

[MarinaVanessa]

Next week I'm having the concrete in my back yard redone and we're pulling out the sandbox. I still haven't decided yet what I'm doing about the sandbox. Right now it's in an area where there is no concrete but we're taking the sandbox out to put concrete there too.

The mess is annoyingly frustrating but the kids play in every day and it really is absolutely educational. I almost want to have a sand table instead but I probably won't. If I don't I want to do something like this. And what I mean by "I" is "my husband".

[TwinKristi]

We got rid of ours... We had the small turtle one with a cover and it was just a nightmare. Mine are all under 3 and the almost 3 is a little delayed so more like almost 2. It was chaos. I moved it outside our play area and my DS plays just a fine with it but we're moving and I will probably sell it. It's just not daycare friendly for me. LOL I love the water table during the summer but may sell that too because it's a PITA!!!

[e.j.]

Same here. There are just certain rules to playing in the sandbox that I teach the kids from the get go.

Brush off, no throwing sand (or eating) and keep the sand in the sandbox.

The sandbox is also one of those things that when the kids play in it, there are no second chances. The FIRST time you break one of the above rules, you lose the right to play in the sandbox until the next day.

Does NOT take the kids long to figure out acceptable sandbox behaviors.

I'm the same way - strict rules that come with a loss of sandbox privileges if they're broken. It's amazing how fast even the youngest of kids can figure out how to avoid being banned from the sandbox.

My kids take their shoes off before they get into the sandbox. When it's time to get out, they shake the sand off as much as possible and then sit at a nearby picnic table to put their shoes back on. I also end sandbox play about 15 minutes before we go inside. That way, more sand has a chance to shake off as they run around the yard. I still get some sand tracked into the entry area but then they take their shoes off again so most of it stays there instead of being tracked through the rest of the house. My sandbox and water tables are very popular with the kids here and they play so well together when they're using them.

[Naptime yet?]

MV, that's the sandbox I want! For two years I've been saying I was going to build a sandbox and it hasn't come to fruition. I love sandboxes, no matter the mess!

Is it cruel to suggest hosing the toddler's bum off? Or using some really wet rags to give him a good wipe down before you take him inside?

Of maybe limit sandbox time to late afternoons, before pick-ups....

[Meyou]

I have a turtle sandbox that I didn't use for 3 years because of sand issues. This spring DH built a frame for it and we raised it off the ground about 12" so the top edge stands about 18" high. It's AMAZING!!! There is lots of room for everyone to play standing around it, most of the sand is still there 3 months later and there is practically no mess other than hands and arms. Best idea I ever had. Seriously.

[KiddieCahoots]

We have the sand and water table now, and I love it!
A long time ago I had a large on the ground sand box, before using a cover.....kitty surprises were pretty gross.

Today we accidently spilled red popsicle juice in the sand, hope we don't get ants

MV, that sand box is the most beautiful sand box I think I've ever seen. Think I have to add that to my wish list.