It is very important for children to have a space where they can play calmly. 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 directly on your site. It will not be difficult. But before starting work, you should understand the types of sandboxes and their features. All of this can be found in this article.
Why do we need a sandbox
Children like to dig and build figures. In addition to a simple entertainment function, sand games also contain other good points. Doctors and child psychologists advise encouraging such fun, because they have a positive effect on the child.
Activities in the sandbox help to improve the 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 smooth out the emotional background and calm the baby. Joint games are useful for socialization. They establish communication and provide basic communication skills.
Types of sandboxes: wooden
There are many types of designs. The most common material that sandboxes are made of is wood. Thanks to this, such structures are cheap and simple. In addition, materials for a wooden sandbox are sold in any hardware store.
The positive side of such structures is that they are very simple to manufacture. They can even be built independently. To create a wooden sandbox, you will need standard tools that are in almost every home.
A very cheap option is plywood. It is easy to handle. Plywood is readily available, so it is sold in any hardware store. With all these advantages, it has a negative side. The main disadvantage is that this material is short-lived. The children's sandbox for giving from plywood will not live long. Changing weather and precipitation can harm her. The design may not withstand operation and may break. Therefore, such a sandbox can be thought of as temporary. Anyway, in the near future it will have to either be repaired or replaced with a new one.
Sandbox made of metal
These can be found in kindergartens and public areas. Due to its strength, it serves for a long time. Since the structure stands on the street, it is subject to the influence of snow and rain. So that the metal does not become corroded, it must be painted regularly. Otherwise, the walls may soon become covered with ugly brown spots of rust.
Plastic sandbox
Modern materials provide new opportunities. The plastic sandbox is becoming more and more popular. And this is ideal for a private plot. The plastic sandbox has many positive aspects that make it so popular. Due to the fact that the material is quite light, it can be removed for the winter period. No need to exert 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 worry that they will break the structure.
Plastic is not affected by the 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 many shapes: from ordinary quadrangles to animal shapes.
Closed or open
On some designs of children's sandboxes for giving, you can install a cover. 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. On public sites, most often an open type is installed. Because there will be a lot of trouble with the lid. But there is a way out - to establish a children's sandbox-fungus. Such a canopy will serve as a shelter from precipitation in bad weather and from the sun in clear.
Lids are also of different types. They are divided into 2 types: hard and soft. The latter are good because they are easy to remove. Such a tent will be removed even by a child. The cover is made of tarpaulin or other fairly dense fabric.
A good option would be a sandbox with a lid made of hard material. Such an addition will also protect against external conditions. If the child is small, it is unlikely that he will be able to independently fold such a canopy. But such a sandbox with a lid has its own plus. 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
A young body is more likely to be infected with germs. Therefore, only a clean environment should be formed for children. So that the sandbox does not get dirty quickly, you need to take care of it. There are some tips to help with this.
Very good if there is a cover. So in a sandbox less garbage will get. To do this, it must be kept closed when there are no children there. Sand should 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 a new one. If you look at the sandbox a little, it will be clean and tidy. In such a place, the child will be willing to play.
How to choose sand
The main problems do not end with the purchase of the construction. We also need to purchase a filler for the future sandbox. And here are a few highlights. There are many varieties of sand. And not every one of them is suitable for a playground. Before you buy content for the sandbox, you need to deal with this all.
It is not recommended to independently extract sand. On the banks of a river or lake you can often stumble upon glass, cigarette bulls and other various rubbish. All this will certainly fall into the children's sandbox for summer cottages, where it will not only interfere with being creative, but will also pose a threat to health.
The first step is to take care of environmental friendliness. This means that the sand must be clean. Plants and other industrial enterprises that pollute the environment with their waste may be located near its mining area. It can also be radioactive. That is why companies selling sand for children's playgrounds should 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 sand is the lack of dust. When the wind blows, small particles take off the air and stay there long enough. It is not very good if children breathe this. In certified sand, the particles are not less than 1 millimeter, so it does not contain dust. But even the construction can be adapted. If the sand is washed well and passed through a fine sieve, then it will become less dusty.
Choosing the right place
First of all, you need to choose the part of the site where the playground will be located. If you assign a place incorrectly, the 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 loose.
Do it yourself
First you need to prepare the foundation. Usually a children's sandbox no larger than 1.7 by 1.7 meters in size. But it is possible to correct this data. In order not to be mistaken, it is best to protect this territory. Now you need to remove the layer of earth from the bayonet of a shovel. And in the center they usually dig a hole with a depth of 50 centimeters and the same width. Then crushed stone is poured there and rammed. This simple technique will help to keep the children's sandbox for giving from turning into a swamp after the first rain. If you still make a bias towards the center, then then such a building is definitely not afraid of anything.
After that, you need to make a sand pillow 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 need 4 wooden blocks. They dig into the ground. Next, the boards are prepared. They are carefully sanded and treated with varnish or antibacterial. On each side, you need to nail boards to the pegs. So it turns out a quadrangle.
But the construction of the sandbox does not end there. To be able to sit on it, it is necessary to make the sides comfortable for this. There is nothing complicated here either. From above horizontally pinned boards.
If desired, such a 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 backlight, then you can play it even at dusk.