The construction of a full-fledged children's playground begins with the sandbox, consisting of many elements (slides, swings, houses), which will be added as the child grows older.
According to parents, the sandbox is a place for games where you can keep your child occupied for a long time. Psychologists say that the sandbox for children plays an important role: hand motor skills develop, creative abilities are formed, and perseverance and patience are demonstrated.
Do-it-yourself children's sandbox for the garden
Before you figure out how to build a children's sandbox in the country, you need to familiarize yourself with what types and types there are and choose the appropriate option for specific conditions.
Types of children's sandboxes for the garden
Sandboxes for children come in two varieties:
By design feature:
- open sandbox (easy-to-make design);
- closed sandbox. Popular among users because it allows you to protect the sand from: debris, rain, wind, animals. In addition, a children's sandbox with a lid protects the sand from weathering, allows you to store toys under the lid (children's equipment: beads, scoops, shovels, rakes, etc.), and can also serve as an additional play area (if it is transformed into a table and chairs ).
According to the material of manufacture:
- plastic, metal, wood
Each of the materials has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Plastic sandbox
It does not overheat in the sun, has a compact size, is lightweight, easy to move, transport, and can be hidden in an outbuilding or garage when you are away. Disadvantages include instability to ultraviolet radiation and high cost.
Metal sandbox
Provides long-term use, but is not safe for children, and is also susceptible to corrosion and labor-intensive to manufacture.
Wooden sandbox
The best option, since wood is environmentally friendly, safe and affordable.
Therefore, let's look at how to build a children's sandbox out of wood - an independent technology using available materials (means). Let's start with the open one, since this is the most easily implemented option for beginners without construction experience. Manufacturing will take only a few hours, and if you have a competent drawing, the lid can be attached to it at any time.
How to make a sandbox with your own hands - step-by-step instructions
Choosing a location for the sandbox
Playground
First of all, it is necessary to take into account that the children's sandbox (photo) should be located in front of adults so that they can control their offspring at any time. It should be visible from a window or at least from the yard.
You must adhere to the following rules:
- the structure should be located away from trees and bushes so that falling leaves do not fall into the sandbox and clog it; plus, in the shade, moisture after rain will dry out much more slowly
- You should especially beware of old trees : even with small gusts of wind, broken branches can injure children; for the same reason, dry branches of trees and shrubs located nearby should be periodically cut off
- It is not worth setting up a sandbox, especially an open one, in the hot scorching sun; it is better to install it in partial shade or make a canopy for it in the form of a bright umbrella; strong shading is not required, otherwise in cool weather the child will catch a cold
- you should not place it in a lowland where water constantly accumulates - it is better to choose a site on a small hill for such a structure
- exhaust gases are very harmful to health, so do not place the sandbox near a garage or car entrance
- there should be no drafts at its location ; it is better to choose an area closed from the prevailing winds by a fence or building
Modeling Easter cakes and building sand castles develops a child's imagination and spatial thinking, as well as hand motor skills. If you do not have the opportunity to make a sandbox in the yard, purchase a small inflatable or plastic structure and install it directly in the house on a table. Replace the sand in it with a special silicone compound. It won't cause much trouble when cleaning.
How and where to install a children's sandbox correctly
To ensure that the sandbox lasts a long time and does not pose a threat to children, you need to follow several recommendations when making and installing it:
- do not use metal elements;
- do not leave boards unsanded;
- provide shade;
- place in a clearly visible place;
- ensure the absence of thorny bushes, honey plants and allergens;
- use high-quality wood and other building elements;
- provide reliable fastening;
- lack of electrical wiring, hoses, pipes, etc.
Sandbox care
A young body is more susceptible to infection by microbes. Therefore, only a clean environment should be created for children. To ensure that the sandbox does not quickly become dirty, it needs to be looked after. There are several tips to help with this.
It is very good if there is a lid. This way, less garbage will end up in the sandbox. To do this, you need to keep it closed when there are no children there. The sand should not get wet. To prevent this from happening, it is best to choose a well-lit place. Before each new season, it is worth sifting through the contents or bringing in new ones. If you take care of the sandbox at least a little, it will be clean and tidy. In such a place the child will willingly play.
DIY sandbox photo
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Design of the future sandbox
When looking at photos of finished projects on the Internet, you should definitely consider:
- interests of your child;
- possible number of children playing in the sandbox at the same time;
- your capabilities.
A sandbox for a boy with his own hands can be made in the form of a boat, a car, or a spaceship. A young traveler will definitely like this design. Plus, they are simple and easy to make.
Make a sandbox with or without a bottom
A simple sandbox model involves digging a hole a little deeper (20-25 cm). This option also has significant disadvantages. First of all, the sand will quickly become dirty and lose its original appearance. The second significant disadvantage is the monolithic nature of the structure, which is unacceptable for dacha conditions, as well as if it is necessary to move the children's corner. An alternative would be to construct the bottom from a piece of linoleum or several layers of thick film.
Which awning would be best?
For small structures, it will be easier and cheaper to purchase a beach umbrella, but for complex structures like a boat, as well as large sandboxes, it would be more advisable to make a stationary protection. This could be a wooden cover, stretched thick fabric, or the use of traditional roofing materials. A similar element can also be used in the overall design; for example, a stylized house with tiles will look more than appropriate.
Do I need a protective case?
Such a design element is a prerequisite for maintaining hygiene in children's games. To prevent the sand from becoming contaminated by branches, leaves, debris blown in by the wind, and also from playing the role of a toilet for all the neighborhood cats, you should definitely consider protecting the sand. You can make a cover for the sandbox yourself. To do this, it is enough to take dense fabric around the perimeter of the structure, and also provide methods for its fastening.
The fabric can be replaced with dense polyethylene, a piece of linoleum, and other flexible building materials.
The popular option, when the roof of the sandbox is lowered onto the sand, serving as a protective cover, is fraught with additional difficulties. In addition to the design features, it is necessary to provide a sufficiently reliable fixation, because children while playing can accidentally tip the roof over on themselves.
How to paint a children's sandbox
The selected color scheme will fit perfectly into the design of your building and will become an additional decor of the site. It is advisable to use combinations of bright shades, and choose paint that is as fade-resistant and safe for use as possible.
A do-it-yourself sandbox for children is an opportunity to quickly and easily organize leisure time for children. If there is enough space on your site to build a play area, you should definitely please the kids.
How to choose sand
The main problems do not end with the purchase of the structure. We also need to purchase filler for the future sandbox. And there are several main points here. There are many types of sand. And not every one of them is suitable for a playground. Before purchasing content for the sandbox, you need to figure this all out.
It is not recommended to extract sand yourself. On the banks of a river or lake, you can often stumble upon glass, cigarette butts and other various debris. All this will certainly end up in the children's sandbox for the dacha, where it will not only interfere with the expression of one's creativity, 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. Near the area of its production there may be factories and other industrial enterprises that pollute the environment with their waste. 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 mining site and that the product is environmentally friendly.
Another difference between specialized sand and ordinary construction sand is the absence of dust. When the wind blows, small particles fly into the air and stay there for a long time. It's not very good if children breathe it in. Certified sand has particles no smaller than 1 millimeter, so it does not contain dust. But even a construction one can be adapted. If you rinse the sand well and pass it through a fine sieve, it will become less dusty.
