Sandboxes

[PitterPatter]

Just gathering ideas here. I know some of u have sandboxes, I was wondering what sizes and types u have and where they are placed? I just have a small covered one for now but thought about getting a larger because if the kids sit in it to play it doesn't leave much space. I have to have it covered so I can't build one. I'm not that great of a handy man anyway. Now I have it sitting on the patio in full sun. I thought about moving it to the grass and shaded area.

There are 2 reasons I think I should move it. 1 being if the kids should fall back out of it or stumble they would fall on cement. Also I am forever sweeping the sand off the patio that is spilled out daily. If I had it in grass they kids would have a softer landing place if they fell and no more sweeping sand. If u feel like sharing I would love to hear about your sandboxes.

[SunflowerMama]

I'm thinking of getting this off CL. I would put it in the corner of my yard along 2 fences.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/bab/2353231454.html

[Meyou]

I have one that is round and about 4' across, shaped like a turtle with a cover on it. I love the domed cover because all the sandtoys fit right inside. It's in a corner of the yard that gets some sun but not too much. I used to have the not much room to play problem too but I made a samdbox rule that fixed it. We play in the sand with out knees outside the sandbox and our hands inside the sandbox or Knees Out Hands In when I'm reminding them. They have lots of room to play without two toddlers sitting in the way.

[KEG123]

http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Play-S.../dp/B00349RMUK

That is the one I'm ordering.

[SilverSabre25]

I have a stupid red Crab-shaped one that's almost too small for one preschooler to enjoy, let alone two or three kids at once. Next year (or, if I ever fill my empty spots, this year) I'm moving a raised garden bed that's VERY large and will be filling it with sand. I found a place locally that sells 1 ton of sand (about 1 cubic yard) for $50 which seems to be a very good deal--and it's white play sand too!

You can build one even if you need it to be covered--you can build a cover to go with it or buy a tarp and use the tarp to cover it.

[SunflowerMama]

Originally Posted by SilverSabre25

I have a stupid red Crab-shaped one that's almost too small for one preschooler to enjoy, let alone two or three kids at once.

What are the dimensions of your crab sandbox? I have a tiny yard so even though I would love to dig up a large area for a big sandpit it would take away half my gras space and DH isn't too keen on that idea.

I saw the tire sandbox (posted pic earlier in the thread) and thought it would be a cute addition but it's only 45'' of playspace so unless they were play from the outside maybe only one or maybe two kids could play inside it comfortably.

I just don't know if I get it if I'll regret how small it is.

[kidkair]

My husband built me a 6' by 6' sandbox last year in raised garden bed fashion. It's awesome because 6 kids and I can use it with no problem of having the kids inside the box. I had a turtle for a little bit but the kids constantly dumped sand on to the grass and I didn't want to be loosing sand that quickly and putting the kids inside the turtle was too hard too since they were toddlers and had a hard time taking turns. I also tried using a kiddie pool filled with sand but the edge broke after a month of being in the hot sand and I had to drill holes in the bottom to let water out since I had no cover for it. I have a tarp over my large box and my husband is going to fashion a dome frame to put the tarp over so the water doesn't pool on the top. We have one side of the sand box against the fence so I take the tarp off three sides and secure it over the fence for convenience. During the summer we'll put up a canopy to help give it some shade and protection from rain. Last year we played in the sandbox on rainy days when we could use tarps attached to the sandbox and canopy to block the rain.

[MG&Lsmom]

Originally Posted by kidkair

My husband built me a 6' by 6' sandbox last year in raised garden bed fashion. It's awesome because 6 kids and I can use it with no problem of having the kids inside the box. I had a turtle for a little bit but the kids constantly dumped sand on to the grass and I didn't want to be loosing sand that quickly and putting the kids inside the turtle was too hard too since they were toddlers and had a hard time taking turns. I also tried using a kiddie pool filled with sand but the edge broke after a month of being in the hot sand and I had to drill holes in the bottom to let water out since I had no cover for it. I have a tarp over my large box and my husband is going to fashion a dome frame to put the tarp over so the water doesn't pool on the top. We have one side of the sand box against the fence so I take the tarp off three sides and secure it over the fence for convenience. During the summer we'll put up a canopy to help give it some shade and protection from rain. Last year we played in the sandbox on rainy days when we could use tarps attached to the sandbox and canopy to block the rain.

This is exactly what we have in our backyard for our own kids. I can't license my backyard because of a storm drain in the middle of the yard. Rather than move the whole thing, I bought a super cheap water table off CL and filled it with sand. Takes about 2 50lb bags. They also don't sit in the sand so there's less being tracked in the house. I can have 4 children around it. The top was missing so I commandeered a rubbermaid tote top from our attic. It doesn't fit perfectly, but it does the job.

[morgan24]

I made the mistake of making a huge area of sand and had nothing but problems with it, couldn't cover it and I never knew that their were cats around until they started using it as a litter box. I had to remove the beach sand I paid extra for. We ended up making a raised sandbox out of landscaping timbers and then making a frame with screen to keep the cats out. It's works good.

[Blackcat31]

Sheesh, my kiddos must be in heaven because we have a 14 foot x 14 foot raised sandbox made from landscape timbers. Enough space to let everyone play at one time comfortably. It is in the sun until lunch time and then shaded after lunch; transition made by Mother Nature. My brother works at the city golf course so we get free washed sand. Lucky enough to not have neighborhood cats too.....

[PitterPatter]

Originally Posted by KEG123

http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Play-S.../dp/B00349RMUK

That is the one I'm ordering.

Oh now that is darling!!! Love to have that! Pretty penny though. I have to be careful what I spend with summer coming I will need more cash. Maybe next yr I will get that and just keep this 1 until then.

Thanks for sharing everyone!

[PitterPatter]

Originally Posted by KEG123

http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Play-S.../dp/B00349RMUK

That is the one I'm ordering.

That is cute! I have seen flowers in those but not sand. Nifty idea!