Building a New Sandbox!

[BrooklynM]

Ok, so I made a post a few weeks ago about how frustrated I was at the kids throwing sand out of the sandbox and making a mess. I've stuck to my guns and as soon as they break the rules, they no longer can play in the sandbox. So, I feel like I have it more in control.

So, a good friend of mine is a general contractor and he is going to build me one (my husband is NOT handy at all), so I was wondering if anyone has made one that can share any pictures? He suggested maybe 4x6 and he would make seats in the corners and a lid for it. It has to have a bottom because it has to go on my patio which is cement.

Any pictures or suggestions? I don't have a lot of space for it. I think maximum would be 5x6.

[MissAnn]

Mine has a ledge where the kids can sit or they sit inside. The ledge helps to keep the sand inside too. If they throw sand....they lose the privilege of sans.

[AmyKidsCo]

Mine is made with 2x10 sunk into the ground and 4x4 outside to form a ledge. DH put that black landscaping fabric on the bottom too, so the sand and dirt wouldn't mix.

[rosieteddy]

Years ago I made exactly what you describe.The seats on the corners are not great.About 15 years ago I designed a new sandbox .I just took 12 ft long boards layed them downn on plain ground -no bottom.I used angle brackets to fasten them together.Instead of the usual seats on corners (I always found the children would sit inside and put sand buckets or toys on them-hence the sand fell out of box)I made a long bench in the middle.I used a verticle long board and angle brackets for a flat seat all the way across the sand box,This is a seat shelf road whatever the kids want ,It does keep the sand in.I did not put a lip arond the edge and its easier for littles to get in and out.Make it big .you won't be sorry.

[MissAnn]

How do I post a picture?

[SilverSabre25]

we had a dirt digging area this summer and while it's a great idea; I'm over it. I'm going to redesign it as a sandbox this fall/next spring. It'll have two trees in the middle of it though. That might be inconvenient but oh well! I am going to Build a sand/mud kitchen at one end (to block the fence)

[grateday]

I just found out

Many types of sand used in outdoor sand boxes contains something in them that when the dust kicks up, the crystals can deposit in the lungs of children and cause harm if exposed to it frequently. Most sand is crushed quartz that is washed and sold as play sand. Damage to the lungs from this sand can show up years and years later when they are adults. My advice is to ditch the sand box because of all of the maintenance that has to be done and being compliant. There are other more expensive sand that are safe, but spending 22 dollars a bag and replacing it frequently to keep up with regulations is financially not feasible for some providers.

I found out about this from a parent complaining about sand and dust and my own inquisitive nature to find out if sand was really safe. I am angry that sand is sold as play sand and there are no warnings on the bags that are bought. I am frustrated that I had to look up the MSDS label from the manufacturer website. There you will see something about it being damaging if inhaled.

Consumer Product safety commission has looked into the issue in the past and found that it does not cause immediate danger so they are choosing to ignore it for now. I know of some autistic kids who love sand and would play in it all day and I can see the dust flying around as they play with it and they are sitting in it so they are in even closer contact with the dust as they pour it back and forth.

There are safer ways for sensory play to occur.

we had a dirt digging area this summer and while it's a great idea; I'm over it. I'm going to redesign it as a sandbox this fall/next spring. It'll have two trees in the middle of it though. That might be inconvenient but oh well! I am going to Build a sand/mud kitchen at one end (to block the fence)

[daycare]

mine is huge 20x15..... but I also have 14 kids..

We did the basic garden box, did not make any seats. the last one we had had the seats that often got argued over, walked on and fallen off of.

We love it...we have a nice cover I built from a tarp, PCV pipe, zip ties and weights. It rolls up to open and pulls out to close....