Children's sandboxes for summer cottages: overview, description, tips for choosing

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

It is very important for children to have a space where they can play in peace. This place is usually a playground. There, kids can find everything they need for interesting games. One of the main attributes of each playground is the sandbox. Without it, it is simply impossible to imagine this place. So that the child does not get bored during the summer season, you can build a sandbox right on your site. It won't be too difficult. But before starting work, it is worth understanding the types of sandboxes and their features. All this can be found in this article.

Why do we need a sandbox

Kids love to dig and build figurines. In addition to the simple entertainment function, sand games contain other good points. Doctors and child psychologists advise encouraging such fun because it has a positive effect on the child.

Classes in the sandbox help to improve fine motor skills of the hands. They also develop imagination and fantasy, which contributes to the growth of creativity. The small work of the fingers has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and helps to even out the emotional background, to calm the child. Joint games are useful for socialization. They build rapport and provide basic communication skills.

Types of sandboxes: wooden

There are many kinds of designs. The most common material from which sandboxes are made is wood. Thanks to this, such structures are cheap and simple. In addition, materials for a wooden sandbox are sold at any hardware store.

The positive side of such designs is that they are very easy to make. You can even build them yourself. To create a wooden sandbox, you will need standard tools that are found in almost every home.

Very cheap option - plywood. This is an easy-to-handle material. Plywood is readily available, so it is sold at any hardware store. With all these advantages, it also has a negative side. The main disadvantage is that this material is short-lived. A children's sandbox for plywood cottages will not last long. Changes in weather and precipitation can harm her. The structure may not withstand operation and break. Therefore, such a sandbox can be thought of as temporary. Anyway, in the near future it will either have to be repaired or replaced with a new one.

Metal Sandbox

These can be found in kindergartens and public areas. Due to its durability, it serves for a long time. Since the structure is outdoors, it is subject to the influence of snow and rain. To prevent the metal from corroding, it must be painted regularly. Otherwise, the walls may soon become covered with ugly brownrust spots.

Plastic sandbox

Modern materials provide new opportunities. The plastic sandbox is gradually becoming more and more popular. And this is ideal for a private area. The plastic sandbox has many positives that make it so popular. Due to the fact that the material is quite light, it can be removed for the winter. It doesn't take much effort to drag from place to place.

Unusual plastic is used to create such sandboxes. It is not only lightweight, but also durable. This means that children can safely play, and adults do not have to worry that they will break the structure.

Plastic is not affected by the external environment. It is durable and will not lose its appearance over the years. Also with such material you can realize any fantasies. Plastic sandboxes come in a variety of shapes, from regular squares to animal figures.

Closed or open

You can install a cover on some designs of children's sandboxes for summer cottages. So water, any garbage and animals will not get inside. Such a device will really be beneficial for those who want to install a sandbox on their own site. In public areas, an open type is most often installed. Because there will be a lot of trouble with the lid. But there is a way out - to install a children's fungus sandbox. Such a canopy will serve as a shelter from precipitation in bad weather and from the sun in clear weather.

Lids also come in different types. They are divided into 2 types: hard and soft. LatestThe good thing is that they are easy to remove. Such an awning will be removed even by a child. The cover is made of tarpaulin or other sufficiently dense fabric.

A sandbox with a solid lid would also be a good option. Such an addition will also protect against external conditions. If the child is small, then it is unlikely that he will be able to fold such a canopy on his own. But such a sandbox with a lid has its pluses. When closed, it is used as a table or a large bench. For a creative child, such a platform will be the first stage where you can perform songs and poems.

Sandbox care

Young body is more at risk of infection with germs. Therefore, only a clean environment should be formed for children. So that the sandbox does not quickly get dirty, you need to take care of it. There are a few tips to help with this.

Very good if there is a lid. So less debris will fall into the sandbox. To do this, it must be kept closed when there are no children there. The sand must not get wet. To prevent this, it is best to choose a well-lit place. Before each new season, it is worth sifting the contents or importing new ones. If you take care of the sandbox even a little, then it will be clean and tidy. In such a place, the child will be happy to play.

How to choose sand

The main problems do not end with the purchase of the design. We also need to purchase filler for the future sandbox. And there are a few highlights here. There are many varieties of sand. And not everyoneof which is suitable for the playground. Before buying content for the sandbox, you need to figure it all out.

It is not recommended to mine sand yourself. On the banks of a river or lake, you can often stumble upon glass, cigarette butts and various other garbage. All this will certainly end up in a children's sandbox for giving, where it will not only interfere with expressing one's creativity, but also pose a threat to he alth.

The first thing is to take care of environmental friendliness. This means that the sand must be clean. Factories and other industrial enterprises that pollute the environment with their waste may be located near the area of its extraction. It may also be radioactive. That is why companies selling sand for children's playgrounds must have a special certificate. This piece of paper confirms that appropriate samples were taken at the place of extraction and such a product is environmentally friendly.

Another difference between specialized sand and ordinary building sand is the absence of dust. When the wind blows, small particles take off the air and stay there for a long time. Not very good if children breathe it. Certified sand contains no less than 1 millimeter particles, so it does not contain dust. But even construction can be adapted. If the sand is washed well and passed through a fine sieve, it will become less dusty.

Choosing the right place

First of all, you need to choose a part of the site where the playground will be located. If the location is incorrect, thenthe sandbox will always be wet. Therefore, you need to find an open space that is accessible to direct sunlight. So the night dew will dry quickly, and the sand will remain dry and free-flowing.

Building with our own hands

First you need to prepare the base. Usually a children's sandbox is no larger than 1.7 by 1.7 meters. But it is possible to correct these data. In order not to be mistaken, it is best to protect this territory. Now we need to remove a layer of earth about the size of a spade bayonet. And in the center they usually dig a hole 50 centimeters deep and the same width. Then crushed stone is poured there and compacted. This simple trick will help keep the children's sandbox for giving from turning into a swamp after the first rain. If you still make a slope towards the center, then such a structure is definitely not afraid of anything.

After that, you need to make a sand cushion a few centimeters for the base of the sandbox. Then either oilcloth or plywood with holes is placed on it. To rivet the sandbox itself, you will need 4 wooden blocks. They dig into the ground. Next, prepare the boards. They are carefully polished and treated with varnish or an antibacterial substance. On each side, you need to nail the boards to the pegs. This creates a quadrilateral.

But the construction of the sandbox does not end there. In order to be able to sit on it, it is necessary to make the sides comfortable for this. There is nothing complicated here either. Boards are pinned horizontally from above.

If desired, thisthe sandbox can be painted. The child will be happy to participate in this and also draw something. If you make a children's sandbox with lights, then you can play in it even at dusk.