Summer and sandboxes go hand in hand in our life. In Oregon it is a sure sign of the season when the cover comes off and stacks of towels are placed by the sliding door to clean off sandy feet. There are many cute and imaginative sandbox ideas on Pinterest and out in the blogsphere but whether you build or buy one there are a few things to keep in mind when you are considering building a sandbox of your own.
1. Style for Imagination
The style and location of your sandbox can help to set the tone for your child’s play. This small abandoned boat with it’s sail that appears to be operable is a charming setting for many adventures or a simple mud pie dinner while docked. If you are using a found object like this boat be sure to purchase a pen that can check for lead paint, available at your local hardware store or online.
Surrounding your sandbox with natural details enhances the experience. Achieve a woodland affect with something as simple as these tree stumps which your child can hop on and practice his balance or use to serve tea. Can’t you just picture Christopher Robin leading his friends around this stump trail?
Place your sandbox at the bottom of a small mound and add a rock edging, the trail makes this site particularly inviting! This option is a little more expensive if you have to buy the stone but it becomes a focal point in your yard. The small mound of dirt will become a mountain with rivers and streams in your child’s eyes.
2. Landscape for Safety
When placing your sandbox think about how your child will get there and how she will play once there. I love the simple detail of the yellow dotted line painted on the edge of this sandbox it transforms the edge from boring brick to a highway of fun. The mulch, however, can give small feet splinters. The pavers help your child navigate the mulch but it is easier for all of you if you don’t have to think about where she is stepping while playing. The sandbox is a place of freedom, make it comfortable as well.
Placing the sandbox on the grass under a shady tree means never having to worry about small feet. But if you don’t want a giant sandbox in the middle of your lawn there are lots of other ways to accomplish a safe play area just be thoughtful about your material choices.
Plans from Woodcraft.com
3. Protect Your Sand
If you have pets or live in an area where there are natural critters who wander through your back yard (and let’s face it – who doesn’t?) you need to think about keeping your sandbox covered and unavailable for use as a litter box. I love this sandbox where the top folds back to make benches, so much better than the heavy cover we had to lift out of place on our first sandbox. As an alternative a heavy duty outdoor netting can be anchored around a built-in sandbox easily and rolled back at play time. I like to use plastic material with openings just a little larger than window mesh – I buy it at my local fabric store. The netting is not heavy and can be rolled back by my children, it also drains water so there is no issue with stagnant water collecting on a tarp.
Sandbox by Sandy
If you want to stay super simple an under the bed storage box with a lid is a great option. This can even be brought inside or into the garage during winter months.
A small sandbox may have limited space but it doesn’t limit imagination. Any place where they can play freely is a world of imagination for your child!
Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning
4. Drain the Rain
I love this sandbox transformation! It is clever and a great way to use a throw away or thrift store find book case. This sandbox is tucked right next to the house and may be covered or located in a part of the world where heavy rains are not an issue. I would just caution you to think about drainage when you build and place your sandbox. Drilling some holes in the bottom of this sandbox may be sufficient. Or perhaps build a simple cover to keep the rain out.
The Homes I Have Made Blog
If you are building an in ground sandbox I use weed blocking cloth to line the bottom and sides. I dig the hole and once it is the correct size add the lining to keep the dirt from mixing with the sand but to also let the sand drain either from natural weather conditions or water play. Hoses and sandboxes do go together for a lot of summer fun!
5. Add the Shade
If you are taking your child outside to play in the summer planning for the sun will enhance your experience and it can add a whimsical touch to your sandbox design. I love this teepee design! It provides shade and an imaginative element. (For other fun teepee ideas read here)
Creative Star Learning Blog
A simple canopy tent top in a fun indoor/outdoor fabric can achieve the same affect in a simpler way. And who doesn’t love a striped canopy!
Alternatively, you can think about shade in a different way. Adding wheels to the bottom of a sandbox that is on a deck or patio allows you to position the sandbox in a shady spot and shift it during the day as needed, or even roll it away for winter time storage. Very clever!
6. Keep Bugs Away
I love a bean teepee! But I have had experiences with my children where they will not go into them until I have gone in to make sure there are no spiders or other bugs. And frankly, in the Pacific Northwest there are always spiders or other bugs and they are impossible to remove completely. I do not want to spray the plants surrounding my child with insecticide right before they head in to play. So perhaps a bean teepee may not be the best choice for covering your sandbox – again, just think about your particular area and what your child might enjoy or be afraid of before making your design decisions.
I did pick up one fun tip on Pinterest, that adding cinnamon to your sand is a natural bug repellant, and reportedly may deter some animal visitors as well. I could not find any hardcore information about how much to use or how proven this is but – hey it’s worth a try. Any natural bug repellant gets a vote from me!
7. Choose the Right Sand
Be sure you only use “play sand” when filling your sand box. Construction sand is less expensive and may look tempting but play sand is sifted and washed to remove dirt, dust and other impurities you probably do not want your child to breath. It is even available in fun colors now – this sand was from Lowe’s. I bought my sand in plain old white because I wanted a natural look and found it to be fairly reasonable at Toys R Us. Our last house took 3,500 lbs of sand so think ahead when you are digging that hole about how much you really want to invest in sand! I will admit to being a bit surprised by how many trips it took to the store to fill up the sandbox!
Have fun creating or enhancing a special play space this summer. Create the sandbox design with input from your child, work together to dig that pit. I simply handed out shovels on the last day of school one year and pointed to an area in the yard, we got very dirty and created many happy memories. It was almost more fun to build the sandbox than to play in it…well not quite but the building was lots of fun too. So grab your helpers and get busy – adventure awaits!