Would you like to build a simple sandbox for children yourself and provide your little ones with a play area for fun with such a DIY project for the whole family? Below you will find a guide and some practical advice on how to adapt the play area to the garden space.
Every parent knows how important play is for child development, but can you build a sandbox for children yourself? Although this requires some craftsmanship, it would be possible to create one of the most popular playgrounds for toddlers yourself using simple steps. This means your little ones can not only spend entertaining time outside, but also give free rein to their imagination. Would you consider a DIY project like this for the available space in your garden area? Below you will find instructions and useful advice to help you give your children even more summer fun.
What should you consider before you build a sandpit for children yourself?
Children enjoy playing with sand and love building castles, making molds with it and simply digging in it. Ready-made sandboxes sold in children's stores are also nice, but they are rather small and made of plastic. If you have more than two children or have children visiting often, it would make more sense to give them a little moreSpace to play in the gardento provide. The assembly might seem difficult at first glance, but a sandpit with a lid or simple digging boxes consist only of wooden boards. You may have to do a bit of digging, but you can also leave the garden soil as a natural base for the sand.
By adding a sandpit with a cover, you can protect the playground from severe weather and other influencing factors. As a natural material, wood is also well suited for such constructions and can be easily assembled in various garden areas. However, before you integrate a sandpit into your garden, you should carefully consider which location on your property is best suited for it. It is best not to place the playground directly on the walls of the house or behind themShrubs and privacy screens, so you can monitor your little ones while they play.
What does a sandbox look like and what are the most common designs?
A sandbox is usually a shallow sand pit in a wooden box where children can dig and play with sandbox toys. Since sandpits are intended for outdoor areas such as parks or playgrounds, such structures can easily be set up in garden areas if there is enough space. You can also build a sandbox for children yourself by either building it above the garden floor as a structure or by burying it in the ground. The most important thing is to clearly define the perimeter that will separate the sandbox from the rest of your garden so that this area does not become untidy. You can find numerous variants beyond the professional models, built to suit all patios or gardens in different styles. Here are the most common of them:
- An above-ground sandpit with a frame, for example, is a type of sandpit that can be built in any shape. The most practical option is to opt for a square or rectangular sandbox with a framed wooden rim.
- If it is a so-called digging box, you dig it directly into the ground and surround it with wooden boards or larger stones. Most people use impregnated wood or river stones. With this variant, you can also choose any shape depending on the layout of your garden.
- For prefabricated sandboxes, you usually use a kit that is usually made of plastic. However, such models are smaller, but are equipped with fun elements and motifs for children.
- You can also build a higher table yourself as a sandpit for children. This is similar to the sandbox, but is kept compact and is raised above the ground. This way the little ones can stand next to the sand table and play with it without having to climb in.
Consider size and safety when building a sandbox
Before construction, try to level the garden floor and clear at least 3 x 3 meters of area. This should also be permeable, but you must not flood the sandbox and mow the lawn underneath first. For example, do you also have a shady tree under which you can build your own sandpit for children? Then you should also take into account that without a sandbox cover, tree branches, leaves or tree fruits will fall into it and will require more frequent cleaning and protection. This also poses a certain risk of injury, which is why a sandpit with a roof would be a better option. However, you can also opt for a thematic shape by choosing shells or other motifs for your sandbox. For example, a popular option for a sandbox is to construct a ship as an interesting element.
Although the size of such a playground can vary, you should expect at least 2 x 2 meters of internal space for several children. A square format like this is usually suitable for small children aged 2 to 5 years. In addition, when you build a sandbox in your own garden, you can also involve your little ones in the DIY project and have family fun. Toddlers can learn a lot when they participate. Many types of wood are suitable for the structure, and you can realize the project cheaply if you use recycled building materials in an environmentally friendly way. Here are a few more factors you can consider when choosing sand.
Choose suitable materials for building a sandbox
You can choose sustainable options such as using PET bottles, old plastic skirting boards or other recycled materials. As for using old tires, this would also be a cheap and versatile option. However, due to the irregular shape of the sandstone, it will not be possible to arrange regular benches with backs that turn into a cover. Wooden floorboards made of oak or larch last longer, but are more expensive, and hardwood is also more difficult to work with. Make sure all parts are treated with antiseptic to extend the life of the wooden structure.
In addition, you will need a piece of moisture-resistant but porous material if you are building a children's sandbox yourself. Landscape fabric or geotextiles are suitable for this purpose. The material separates the soil from the sand, preventing them from mixing, and the porous structure allows moisture to seep into the soil. The material also acts as a weed blocker and prevents earthworms from crawling out of the ground. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of the filler. The ideal option is the sand sold in the store. It went through several stages of cleaning and processing, up to and including grinding the sharp corners of the sand grains. This filler is ideal for plastic sandboxes as it will not scratch the sides of the box. A high-quality sand is characterized by excellent flowability, has a uniform color and does not stick to dry palms.
What kind of sand to choose to build a sandbox for children yourself?
- Use a suitable type of sand that is not particularly sticky when building a sandbox for children. Fortunately, there is also play sand made specifically for this purpose. This is usually pre-washed and sifted so that children can play with it without any safety concerns. In order to be able to build an approximately 10 cm deep sandpit for children yourself, you will need around 500 liters of it. To keep the project affordable, consider purchasing the play sand in bulk, as it is usually more expensive in individual bags.
- You can also save on costs by opting for crushed sand. This is similar to play sand, but can be dirtier and coarser. However, you can rinse it with a garden hose and let it dry in the sun.
- Today there is still kinetic sand that can be combined and makes cleaning easier. This is suitable for playing on a sand table and is a popular variant among children.
- Another option is to use rubber mulch instead of sand. This is a soft and springy material that is usually cheaper than sand in bags.
At which location will the ideas for a sandpit in the garden be realized?
It is very important to think about the cleanliness of the play area before deciding where to install your sandbox. Therefore, it would make sense to consider where the sand will go after your children play with it. Place it far enough away from your home to prevent sand from flowing into it. Even a cover or even a sandpit with a roof does not guarantee that the area will always be clean and tidy. Therefore, you should place a playground in the yard or garden in a clearly visible but not very windy place. Otherwise, the sand will constantly fly around and pose a danger to children and adults.
You can also equip a sandpit with a hinged lid or seats and ideally position it so that part of it remains in the sun. The other half should then be in the shade, although you can use a shed or other options such as trellises or hedges. If you place a sandbox with a cover in a sunny location, you may be able to surround it with shade elements. A sandbox covered in this way would keep the sand inside and would be more likely to remain protected during rains or storms. Without further ado, here are some easy-to-follow steps that you could follow to accomplish such a DIY project yourself.
This is how you can build a permanent sandbox for children step by step
This is an example variant that you can use as a guide if you want to consider such a project.
- Begin the project by first measuring the selected garden area. The best way to do this is to use a tape measure to measure the dimensions of the future sandbox.
- Then mark the boundaries either with a rope tied to stakes fixed in the ground or with chalk.
- Now you can start cutting the pieces of wood for the frame of your sand pit. For this example, you will need 12 pieces of 10 x 10 cm thick wooden boards, which you will cut to the length you measured for your sandbox minus 10 cm, as the frame parts of the sandbox need to fit together on the sides. Of course, you can also have these made by a carpenter. Just make sure all sides are well sanded and have no sharp spots.
- After you've cut the wooden boards, you can use the first four pieces to define the perimeter of your sandbox.
- If you are building a permanent children's sandbox yourself, you can dig up the garden soil into which it will fit. The depth depends on the amount of sand and the size of the sandbox you want. The layer does not need to be too deep and you can, for example, add a layer of sand about 3 cm thick to level out the soil surface if it is uneven.
- Next, you can lay the first frame by positioning the pieces of wood, making sure each side is straight.
- Then cut each corner squarely and use framing squares at the corners of your future sandbox. This way you ensure that each part fits together with the other.
- Then continue by adding the second frame. If the first side is well aligned, the second layer should fit over the first, overlapping the corners by changing the direction at the side fit.
- Now you can attach the two sides by screwing the first and second frames together with deck screws at 60 cm intervals around the frame.
- The next step is to line the sandbox with the woven fabric. You can also use fleece or plastic sheeting to cover the base. Try to cover all corners and edges and make sure that all sides of the box are well protected.
- First, you can lay the top frame by positioning the last four pieces of wood over the existing frame structure and the tarpaulin. You should overlap the corners again and screw the third frame into the second to secure the fabric or plastic tarp on both sides. You can simply cut off the excess material from the outer edge of the frame.
- The last step when building a sandbox for children is to fill the interior. Use your chosen filling material and prepare the sandbox for your little ones.
- For added appeal and even more fun, you can paint the sandbox with your children and make it more colorful as you wish.
Tips for cleaning and maintaining the sandpit
- Make sure the sand used for play is well washed and sifted. A quality sandstone is dust-free and is extracted from the deepest layers of sand. However, even high-quality play sand requires regular cleaning and care, as dirt can quickly accumulate outside.
- Also make sure that no leaves, sharp objects or other potential hazards end up in the sandpit.
- If you have pets such as dogs or cats, or wild animals visit your garden, you should also prevent them from using the sandpit as a toilet. This can not only cause bad smells, but can also pose health risks. Animals secrete parasites that accumulate in the sand and can penetrate the human body. These include roundworms in dogs and cats.
- In addition to removing leaves and debris with a rake every week, try to completely change the sand once every year or two to prevent any potential health risks.
Hopefully now you have been able to learn more about this great idea and will try to create a sandbox with your own hands. There are no fixed guidelines when it comes to design and shape, although you should also roof or cover the playground. This way you protect your little ones from twigs and bugs that might fall from trees. After construction, check the structure for any defects to ensure the safety of your children. If you find sharp edges, you can sand them down and then impregnate the areas again with a disinfectant. For an improved aesthetic look and to protect the wood from moisture, you can paint the structure with oil or acrylic paint. Preferably using light colors will also make the sandbox more appealing to children.
