Sandbox For Mulitple

[daycare]

Hi guys,
I was wondering what kind of sandbox if any you have for your DCK.

Currently we have 3 sand turttles, but we have a little issue with a stray cat that keeps coming around and knocking off the lids to do their business in....talk about one big mess to clean up. We are also growing in numbers and am finding that we need something bigger.

there are 5 to 6 kids daily....

I looked online for some, but found that they are also rather small or really expensive.

we live in really warm weather, currently 65, so wanting something that offers a shade of some kind...

[AnythingsPossible]

I just took landscaping timbers and made a 6x6 square 2 timbers high and put sand in it. I cover it with a tarp when not in use, though a cat could probably get into that easily. It works very well as far as space is concerned, I usually have 4 to 5 playing in there at a time. We have a dog that loves to chase cats so they aren't a big problem in our yard!

[daycare]

I just took landscaping timbers and made a 6x6 square 2 timbers high and put sand in it. I cover it with a tarp when not in use, though a cat could probably get into that easily. It works very well as far as space is concerned, I usually have 4 to 5 playing in there at a time. We have a dog that loves to chase cats so they aren't a big problem in our yard!

sorry I am a little dumb when it comes to building anything.... what are timbers???

[heyhun77]

Mine is 16x20 and is just green-treated 2x8's so I could fill it 6 inches deep and have space for the sand to move and get piled close to the sides. I have a mesh cover for the whole sandbox that I had custom made by a tarp company so I could keep any stray animals out of it when we aren't using it.

For shade if you don't have mature trees to provide free shade you can attach nylon or some kind of material to make a shade. There are some you can buy from supply catalogs but they are mighty expensive. I just use pices of nylon that I sew the edges so they don't frey and then attach them on poles or to the garage.

[AnythingsPossible]

sorry I am a little dumb when it comes to building anything.... what are timbers???

These;

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202084993/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[daycare]

These;
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

lmao boy I feel dumb....hahahha.
It looks like my son and I are going to try to make one this weekend.
Going to try your idea....thanks so much for the help...

[countrymom]

I would put something heavy on the lids at night. I one several too, dh is not impressed that I have to buy sand every year, but what can I do when they all love it. Last year we put a pool in, and dh didn't read the instructions on how much sand is needed for above ground pool and got triple the amount. Lets say all the kids including mine had the best summer ever in the sand pile.

[daycare]

I would put something heavy on the lids at night. I one several too, dh is not impressed that I have to buy sand every year, but what can I do when they all love it. Last year we put a pool in, and dh didn't read the instructions on how much sand is needed for above ground pool and got triple the amount. Lets say all the kids including mine had the best summer ever in the sand pile.

know what you mean about the sand... we go through at least a bag or two a month... the kids could play in it all day if I let them.

makes me miss living across the street from the beach... jk

[Abigail]

Our neighbors years ago built a sandbox for their twin girls. It was about 4-6 inches deep of sand and probably 6 by 6 feet total. This was for just the twins and their friends (me) on occasion. They used 2x4s on the corners going up and connected them as if they were making a roof on a house and put on a blue weather-resistant tarp for shade. Only half the sandbox actually got shade since it was only placed directly above the sandbox, but it worked and was affordable.

[lil angels]

I use pea gravel in my sand box then it doesn't get tracked in as easily. Or you can pick it up and I don't think a cat will do it's business in it either. If is gets wet it won't make mad pies. It is a bit dusty though.

[AnythingsPossible]

I would put something heavy on the lids at night. I one several too, dh is not impressed that I have to buy sand every year, but what can I do when they all love it. Last year we put a pool in, and dh didn't read the instructions on how much sand is needed for above ground pool and got triple the amount. Lets say all the kids including mine had the best summer ever in the sand pile.

Our local rock quarry will give you a load of washed sand for free if you tell them it is for a sandbox. You might look into it and see if anyone offers the same type of thing in your area.

[momofsix]

I would put something heavy on the lids at night. I one several too, dh is not impressed that I have to buy sand every year, but what can I do when they all love it. Last year we put a pool in, and dh didn't read the instructions on how much sand is needed for above ground pool and got triple the amount. Lets say all the kids including mine had the best summer ever in the sand pile.

Too funny...last year we got RID of our pool, and the 24ft round circle of sand in the middle of the yard was the favorite place for everyone all summer! No one even played in the "real" sandbox!