How to cover the sandbox. Children's sandbox in the garden: building a cool place for children to relax

Little children love to play in the sand. To provide them with this opportunity, caring adults install sandboxes at home and in the country. Of course, there are ready-made ones for sale, but their price is not at all childish. The best way out is a sandbox made by yourself. When making it, you will certainly try to take into account all the characteristics and preferences of your child.

What can you make a sandbox out of?

The most popular material for building a children's sandbox is wood. It can be edged boards, small diameter logs, timber, block house. This is basically what they make from. To make the work go faster, you can buy polished materials. They are more expensive, but have a smooth surface. If you need to save money, take ordinary materials, then manually or using a grinder you will bring everything to perfect condition.

You can use plywood (moisture resistant) or OSB (OSB). Not everyone likes them, due to the presence of glue and harmful fumes (formaldehyde). But in air these emissions are not dangerous, and you can also use material with emission class E0 or E1. It guarantees safety - children's furniture is made from this material. It is convenient to work with plywood and OSB: cut out the parts of the required shape, twist them together, process the ends and you can paint them.

At the dacha, you can use improvised material. For example, plastic bottles. Just so that they stick, they are attached to the board: the lids are nailed at a certain pitch, bottles are screwed into them. Having received one “sidewall”, take a piece of thick wire equal to twice the length of the sidewall + 20 cm, pierce the bottles with the wire, retreating about 5-7 cm from the bottom, turn the wire upward and pierce it in the opposite direction from above. The ends are twisted, trying to hide the “tails”.

This is how it will be necessary to “stitch” the bottles with wire

This twist is obtained only on one side - on the other there is simply a bent wire. When you install the sides, place them so that the “tails” are covered by the bottle. The finished sides of the sandbox made from bottles are installed in a shallow ditch, the board and the tapering bottom of the bottles are sprinkled with soil, and compacted well. You can throw a sheet of plywood at the bottom, and pour sand on top.

The second most popular “waste” material for country houses. They also make sandboxes. It is necessary to cut off the side panel on one side old tire. You will get quite high sides. Then there are two ways:

In any case, the cuts will have to be secured. Some tires have plastic cord (reinforcing fiber), some have metal. The plastic one can be sanded, but the metal one will have to be covered somehow.

To make a sandbox, you can use fallen tree trunks cut into pieces. They make a very interesting and quite reliable fence. Before digging in, the wood needs to be treated so that it lasts longer. There are modern impregnations with a simultaneous tinting effect. Comfortable. The treated stumps need to be dried, and while they are drying, dig a ditch around the perimeter of the future sandbox. Its depth is at least 20-25 cm. There is no need to do less - the children will walk and jump on the stumps, so they must hold up well. Insert the logs into the ditch, level them, fill the gaps with soil and compact them well.

You can also make a fence for a traditional sandbox from logs. Place a base on the ground: a piece of linoleum, for example, with several holes in it to drain water after rain. Place logs on the base, making a rectangle/square out of them. You can fasten them long nails, but more reliable with studs - steel rods with threads at both ends. Under them, you will need to drill a hole diagonally at the junction of the logs. Diameter - slightly larger diameter hairpins. Drill out the edges of the hole so that you can recess the nuts and washers. Insert a rod into the hole, put washers on both ends, and tighten everything with nuts.

You can make benches on top - one or two boards and benches for kids are ready. Of course, they rarely sit on them. More often they build their sand castles on them.

How to make a sandbox: step-by-step instructions

First, let's look at general principles manufacturing sandboxes of any design. With some modifications they are repeated every time.

Step one. Selecting a location . The location must be chosen so that part of the sandbox is in the shade, part in the sun. If this is not possible, we put it in a sunny place and make a canopy over it. Please make sure that there are no large trees or bushes nearby. They, of course, provide good shade, but leaves fall off them, and the sand will have to be sifted often.

Do not place the sandbox in strong sun, nor should it be in a corner where there is no air movement at all. But it also has no place in a draft. Another important point: if you plan to let your baby out to play in the yard on his own, the place for playing should be clearly visible from the window of the room where you spend most of the time.

Step two. Marking . If the sandbox is rectangular, use pegs and threads stretched between them. We drove the pegs, measuring the required dimensions ( standard size children's sandbox for children from 2 to 5 years old - 1.7 m * 1.7 m). Twine, rope, and cord were pulled between them. We checked the diagonals; for the angles to be right, they must be equal.

If the sandbox has rounded corners or sides, you can draw an arc using sand poured into a bag. A small hole is cut in the corner of the bag and in this way the required shape is “drawn”.

Step 3. We are digging a pit. We remove the sod and take it to the side, remove some soil, cleaning out the roots as we go, removing stones. The depth of the pit is 20-30 cm.

Let's get started earthworks- digging a pit

In the middle of the sandbox, make a small square of greater depth: with a side of about 60 cm and a depth of another 30-40 cm (the total depth of this hole will be 60-70 cm). Pour crushed stone into the hole. This will be the “water drainage system”. If you form a small slope from the edges to it, the sand will dry quickly after rains.

Step 4. Laying the base.

Add a little sand (5-6 cm) to the bottom of the resulting pit, leveling it well. Now you need to lay the foundation. Most the best option— . This non-woven material, very tear resistant. It will not allow grass to sprout and will not allow sand to mix with the soil. If you bring it to the edges of the pit, it will also “hold” the earth, preventing it from flowing inside when it rains.

If geotextiles are not found, you can lay a piece of plywood or linoleum. You just need to cut a few holes in them (1.5-2 cm in diameter) for water to drain.

DIY sandbox: step-by-step photo reports

No matter how simple the design may seem, when it comes to implementation, questions arise. To make there fewer of them, we publish several models homemade sandboxes With step by step photos, capturing the main nodes.

Simple design

The simplest thing you can do is knock down a rectangle or square from the boards. For a sandbox, the normal side of a square is 1.7 m. So you will need 4 or 8, 12 boards of this length. Make the sizes larger or smaller - the choice is yours. The number of rows of boards depends on their width and how tall you want it to be.

If, as described earlier, you dug a pit 25 cm deep, then poured in 5 cm of sand, you get a 20 cm deepening. If you want the sides to protrude 10 cm from the ground (for 2-year-old children this is convenient, for older ones it can be from 20 cm and above), the total height is 30 cm. If the board is 10 cm wide, you will need 3 tiers (boards, respectively 3 rows * 4 pcs = 12 pcs).

You will also need a block with a cross section of 40*40 mm. It will need to be cut into pieces equal to the height of the sides of the sandbox. In our case it is 30 cm. You will need 4 pieces. The total length of the required timber is 1.2 m. All lumber is sanded well, then impregnated with protective impregnations, otherwise the wood will quickly lose its appearance.

We take two boards and fold them at an angle of 90°. We place a block at the joint, nail both boards or screw in self-tapping screws - two for each fastening. We attach the next board to one of the ends, place the block and repeat the operation. This is how we assemble the first row. It will look like in the photo on the left.

The second and third rows are assembled in a similar way. For each connection we place two hardware (nails or self-tapping screws). Just make sure that the heads do not protrude and the points do not stick out.

After the required height has been collected, we can consider that the sandbox is made with our own hands. But, as always, now I want to add something to make it more convenient for the children. They usually like to make Easter cakes, and they need a platform for them. You can nail small triangles made of plywood or also assembled from cut boards in the corners. Another option is to nail two longitudinal boards. They fit perfectly on the bars in the corners. We hammer nails into them.

Adding comfort

Continuing the theme of “improving” sandboxes. Carrying toys home that are stained with sand every time is not very pleasant. The problem can be solved simply: fence off the part for toys. Convenient for both you and the child. An additional wall is installed, which is also attached to the existing ones using bars.

Separate the compartment for toys - put an additional wall

And so that there is no temptation to pour sand there, you can come up with a lid. You can sit on it, or you can build Easter cakes.

A couple of boards, a little imagination and an ordinary box turns into a car. The boys will definitely like this one.

Transformable sandbox with folding lid

Construction begins in exactly the same way as described earlier: a box of boards is assembled. The trick is in the design of the lid. You will also need boards for the lid and hinges - four regular door ones and four with one long shelf.

In our example, there were 6 boards on each side of the lid. They were attached in pairs. First, two boards were nailed to the finished box on one side and the other.

A short shelf of a loop, similar to a barn one, was screwed to them. Two boards were also attached to the long shelf. It is important that the second one is attached at least half the width, otherwise it can be twisted.

Screw onto regular ones door hinges next board. The shelves are on the other side. Then it turns out that the second part of the lid tilts in the other direction. The second board is attached to the fixed one using an auxiliary block. It is stuffed on both sides at a distance of about 15 cm from the edge.

To prevent the folded lid from pressing on the hinges, an additional piece of board is stuffed onto the first two boards. It serves as a support; when loaded, the board does not bend.

Based on operating experience, we can say that children almost never play under the seats: it’s uncomfortable. To use this area more efficiently, it can be fenced off as a compartment for toys. Another advantage of this solution is that less sand is required.

IN in this example The docks are painted with an impregnation, which at the same time gives color to the wood. If desired, you can use regular opaque paint. Only take it for wood, for outdoor use. Otherwise, after a couple of rains, it will bubble or crack. Using paint, you can paint the sandbox in more “girlish” colors, although impregnations can also be different color, but they just give a tint.

Sandbox boat

For boys you can make a sandbox-boat or ship. The main “body” is built as usual, all other superstructures are attached to it.

In this version, it was decided to make the sandbox low. A triangle was attached to the downed hull - the bow of the future ship. It is significantly higher than the main part. To ensure that the boards hold tightly, two boards are driven into the ground 60 cm deep on each side. The boards were nailed to them. In the corners they are also fastened, but only to each other - with nails (they were hit diagonally).

Since the height difference turned out to be significant, a staircase was made from the “deck” to the bow. The top is covered with boards and the masts are reinforced.

There are only Finishing work and equipment. After some time, it was decided to build an extension at the stern - a place to hide from the sun, and put a toy box there. They installed poles made of timber and covered them with plywood cut to size. IN final version the ship looked like this.

Another boat was built using approximately the same technology.

Awnings

It is not always possible to place a sandbox in partial shade. More often they place it in the sun, and then provide shading - some kind of canopy or umbrella. There are many interesting designs of such canopies that are quick and easy to make.

Perhaps the easiest to implement is this canopy: two posts are attached in the middle, with a crossbar between them. A thick tan is thrown over the crossbar and attached to the driven loops.

This canopy isn't much more complicated. Four racks are required. They are connected at the top by strips - they make the top trim. The awning is sewn to size and stretched. You can fasten it either with buttons or with decorative nails. The main thing is to have the opportunity to remove it in the fall.

Making such a roof is a little more difficult. Triangles are attached to the upper trim of the racks - rafter system. They are connected at the top by a longitudinal beam, which is correctly called a “ridge,” and supports are placed in the middle. Under soft tiles, which is used in this case, plywood or OSB is nailed, and roofing material is already laid on top.

Pay attention also to the decor of the sandbox itself: birch logs are driven/dug in around the perimeter, which are covered from the inside with boards: so that the peeling bark does not fall into the sand. Quite an interesting solution.

Another simple sun canopy for the sandbox. The two triangles are connected by thin strips. They are attached to the racks, but it is advisable to make the racks more solid. For small children, this section is enough, but for older children - from 4 years old - something more solid is required - at least 60 * 60 cm. To save money, you can sew two boards - nail them on both sides. Pulling the awning will not be difficult.

How to make a sandbox with a “fungus” with a small wooden canopy - watch the video

Lids

The second attribute necessary for sandboxes is lids. Not only do leaves fall into the sand and all sorts of garbage gets into the sand, but animals also love to be there...being there. You can prevent attacks on the purity of the sand by using a lid. In the simplest version, it is a shield made of boards or cut out of plywood, to which handles are attached.

Cover made of boards

To avoid having to remove and install the panels every time, you can attach hinges, and to prevent the doors from hanging, weld handles on which they can rest. When the lid is folded back, you get two small play areas. Children can sit on them or build their own sand castles. Therefore, it is more convenient to make such covers from plywood: there are no cracks and they are lighter in weight.

There are even more interesting design— away. This type of cover is definitely made from plywood. Nail the top bar so that there is a gap left. A sheet of plywood is inserted into it. And so that the opposite end does not dangle, legs are nailed - small pieces of timber.

The same principle is implemented differently in the version in the photo below. It is already for those who are good at carpentry.

Blueprints

To build a sandbox with your own hands quickly and easily, all that remains is to provide you with a few drawings. You can build on them and take them as a basis. Adjustments can and should be made.

Sandbox with roof - photo and drawing

A children's sandbox is a useful element in the country house. While the parents are busy with the garden, the child has fun making Easter cakes and building castles. Even an amateur craftsman can make a sandbox at the dacha with his own hands.

Types of sandboxes

By type of material: wood and plastic

Photo example of a classic wooden sandbox for children

Sometimes other materials are used to make a sandbox, for example, natural stone or brick. A significant disadvantage of this design is the high probability of injury.

By type of placement: recessed and raised structures

The first option is deepened into the ground to strengthen the foundation. In this case, be sure to make a drainage (15 cm) from pebbles and stones. This is necessary to ensure that moisture does not accumulate in the structure after rain. The drainage layer is covered with agrofibre or dense polyethylene, in which holes are made every 10 cm. Such a foundation will serve as an obstacle to the penetration of various insects from the ground and the germination of grass.

Raised structures require low sides (380-400 mm), which will allow the baby to climb into the sandbox himself. Half of the sides are filled with sand.

Sandbox planning and placement: basic requirements

When planning a sandbox, a key principle to consider is the safety of the structure. However, other points are also important:

• Sandbox location. Choose a place so that the child is always within sight of adults. The opposite is best kitchen windows. Do not build a structure next to trees. Firstly, there will always be garbage in it (dry branches, leaves, bird droppings); secondly, because of the shade, the sand will take a long time to dry after rain. If the place you choose is located in the sun, then you should include the installation of a canopy in the project.
• Sand quality. It is best to purchase white river sand at a hardware store. Ordinary construction sand can ruin a baby's clothes and hands. In addition, it should be sifted to remove foreign materials: stone, glass, construction waste.
• Type, form of construction. Of course, the safest design is one that does not have sharp corners. However, even if the structure is rectangular in shape, you can round the corners or decorate them soft material, for example, foam rubber. The structure with a canopy must be firmly strengthened so that the wind or a child does not knock it over.

Marking

The location has been selected - you can mark the future sandbox. Wooden stakes and lacing are used for this. You should designate a square or rectangle, which will soon be transformed into a sand entertainment area.

The size of the sandbox depends on the number of children playing in it at the same time. If there are 1-2 children, then the side of the square will be from 2 to 3 meters. This territory is quite enough for the free movement of children.

When the construction site has already been marked, soil excavation can begin. It is important to do this so that the sand does not mix with the soil. Don’t go too deep: 15 cm is enough.

Preparing the base

In place of the selected soil, a sand cushion is poured with a layer of no more than 5 cm. It must be thoroughly compacted with a roller or a manual wooden tamper.

The sand cushion is covered with geotextiles so that the sand itself does not mix with the cushion and soil. Thus, the sand will always be clean, without soil impurities. Interestingly, it can be placed nearby, which is suitable for both small children and older children.

Construction of sides

To build the sides you will need four bars measuring 45*5*5, four boards measuring 150*30*2.5 and the same number of boards for horizontal sides. They need to be placed on top along the perimeter of the structure. Boards and beams should be thoroughly sanded and coated with drying oil or other antiseptic solution (for example, bitumen) in 2-3 layers. This is required to protect the wood from rotting.

The bars are deepened by 15-20 cm, boards are nailed to them, then horizontal seat covers are attached. Here children will relax or exhibit their “works”.

Filling

River or quartz sand is poured up to half the height of the sides. If you use regular construction sand (which is not recommended), sift it and clear it of stones and other debris. IN quartz sand substances that repel various bugs are often already added.

At the time of buying river sand Please note the quality certificate. The sand must be dust-free so that after moistening it does not turn into dirt and is well shaped. If you cannot find such sand, be sure to wash any material you purchase.

Protection

It is important that the wood is smooth, without knots or chips, so you need to sand it with a special attachment on an electric drill. The wood must be carefully processed. It is better to fasten the frame of the structure not with nails, so that children do not get hurt by them. The most important thing is to remember that this structure is being built for children, so everything needs to be done competently and thoroughly.

Additional items

A homemade sandbox can be equipped with additional functional elements.

Lid

The lid will serve as an excellent protection for the playing material - sand - from debris and various insects getting into it. Thus, pets will not have access to the sandbox with a lid. Possible options are:

• simple, which can be removed and put back in place at any time;
• awning cover, which is stretched over the structure;
• hinged lid, made of two shields. Wooden shields must be equipped with handles and special hinges. When extended, they can serve as benches with backs;
• -transformer, which turns into a shelf or bench. It is convenient, practical, but will require a little more physical effort.

Canopy

Sun protection can be provided in the sandbox.

A canopy in a children's sandbox is needed to protect the child from the scorching rays of the sun and sudden precipitation. A wooden canopy can be made in the form of an umbrella, a mushroom or a roof. To do this, install a leg - a beam 100*100 mm wide and 3 m long. A cap, umbrella or fungus is mounted on it. Often a table is installed nearby, which serves as a “working” surface for the child’s sand creations.

The canopy can be made not only from boards, but also from plastic, polyethylene, straw or reed. But still, wooden canopies are the most reliable and safe.

House

The design with a house and a slide is suitable for older children.

Sandbox with a house - full-fledged. The house can be located next to the sandbox or above it. In the second case, you will need a ladder along which the children will climb to it. On the other hand, it is necessary to provide a slide along which you can go down straight into the sand. Of course, such constructions with a house are intended for older children. They will be unsafe for small babies.

Benches

The role of benches can be played by the sides of the sandbox or a sliding lid that transforms into benches with backs. The last option is convenient and multifunctional.

Design

A children's sandbox can be built in the shape of a sailboat

Everything that your imagination suggests can be brought into reality, armed with bright colors and brushes. You can draw on the walls, sides and lid of the sandbox not only flowers and trees, but also numbers, letters and geometric figures. It will not only be colorful, but also educational for children. will change a lot.

The sandbox itself can be made in the form of a sailboat or boat, spaceship or a flying saucer, turtle or any cartoon character. An interesting, truly boyish sandbox will be a structure made of wooden posts in the form of a labyrinth.

Video

Watch a video on how to make a wooden sandbox with a roof from scrap materials:

So, building a sandbox at the dacha with your own hands is not an easy task, but an interesting one. You can choose any design model, take into account your child’s wishes, and most importantly, you can involve him in the activity. Working on the project and design of the sandbox will help bring the family together. Such a common cause will be remembered by everyone for a long time.

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 busy. long time. Psychologists say that the sandbox for children plays important role: hand motor skills develop, formation Creative skills, persistence and patience are shown.

Before you figure out how to build a children's sandbox in the country, you need to familiarize yourself with what types, types there are and choose suitable option for specific conditions.

Types of children's sandboxes for the garden

Sandboxes for children come in two varieties:

1. 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 ).

2. 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 - 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

Stage 1 – Drawing of a wooden sandbox

Despite the fact that the design is simple, a detailed diagram of the sandbox allows you to rationally calculate the amount of material and choose the right place for installation.

Often, a wooden sandbox is a square of a given height that protects the sand from spreading.

Sandbox drawings (for a simple design) are given below.

The design can be more complex: including chairs, benches, tables, a lid, a roof, a slide, etc. or a sandbox made in the form of a car (car), a boat-ship, a house-castle.

The diagram below gives an idea of ​​what a sandbox in the form of a machine (sandbox-machine) consists of.

Anyway, functional purpose The basic design is the same - a fence protecting the sand.

Advice. When planning the construction of a sandbox, you should consider how many children it will be designed for.

Stage 2 – Material for the sandbox

The table lists building materials with dimensions and quantities for making a simple sandbox with dimensions 1500x1500 mm, height 300 mm.

Material prepared for the website www.site

1. the length of the beam depends on the height of the sandbox, which in turn is determined by the age of the child. The height of the sandbox should be such that the child can step over it. Optimal height– 300 mm (150 mm remains for digging and fixing the structure).


2. The thickness of the boards must be at least 30 mm. This will ensure sufficient structural strength and protect the wood from cracking.


3. plywood is indispensable in the manufacture of complex structures, such as, for example, a sandbox in the shape of a ship. Round and oval shaped products are made from it.


4. It is better to treat the boards before installation. This way, there will be no unprotected parts of the lumber left.

Tool: saw, Sander, drill, drill bits, screwdriver, pencil, tape measure, level, pegs and rope, paint brushes.

Stage 3 – Marking the space for the sandbox

a location for installation is selected. The outer perimeter of the structure is marked with stakes and rope;

Inside the outlined square, soil is selected to a depth of 300-400 mm. You can do without this and pour sand on top of the ground, but it will quickly become unusable because it will mix with the ground during the game. In addition, ants and other insects can live in it;

drainage is arranged - a tightly compacted cushion of crushed stone/gravel and sand. The cushion will allow water to flow freely into the ground and the sand to dry out faster. Additionally, users recommend laying geotextile; it does not interfere with water flow, but protects the sand below from insects or moles.

Advice. When using polyethylene, you need to drill holes in it for water drainage.

Many users complain that puddles appear around the sandbox after rain. This can be eliminated by arranging a cushion and, behind the perimeter of the sandbox, drainage laid at a depth of 400-500 mm. around the sandbox will allow water to quickly drain down.

Stage 4 – Making a children's sandbox with your own hands

Brief construction technology:

• At the corners marked with a rope, stakes are driven in - the support of the future sandbox;

• one board coated with an antiseptic is installed on each side;

• then the second row of boards is nailed;

• to arrange the seats, treated boards (2 on opposite sides, 4 on each side) or plywood corners are installed horizontally on the top of the structure - the most budget option.

Advice. It is important to ensure that the screw heads are securely recessed into the wood and do not cause injury.

The second option is how to make a sandbox out of wood

The method involves a slightly different order of work, namely: first making a sandbox, then preparing the installation site and further installing the sandbox. This option is convenient when the work is carried out together, because The design, although lightweight, is quite cumbersome and it is inconvenient to install it in this order alone.

Step-by-step instructions for making a sandbox with your own hands (master class) are shown in the photo.

Stage 5 – Making a lid for the sandbox

Since a children's sandbox with a lid for a summer house is a more attractive option, let's look at how to make a lid for a sandbox.

The most simple option There will be a removable cover, which is a shield knocked together from boards, but its significant drawback is the need to remove the cover before the game.

Therefore, it is more expedient to make a design with two doors that transform (open and fold) into seats. The photo below shows two options for constructing a lid for a sandbox - a folding one and one that transforms into a seat. Please note that the two outer boards on both sides are stationary. They are securely fixed, this will allow a child and even an adult to sit on the lid without fear of breaking it.

Sandbox option with awning (soft cover, rollable)

Stage 6 – Installation of a roof for the sandbox

Considering that children want to play in the sand at any time of the day, care must be taken to protect them from direct sun rays. To do this, you need to install a canopy over the sandbox. This can be a beach umbrella or a stationary roof made in the form of a fungus/canopy.

Stage 7 – Sand for the children's sandbox

How to choose sand for a sandbox?

It should be noted that GOST (18322-78 (ST SEV 5151-85) and GOST R 52301-2004) regulate the requirements for the maintenance of playground equipment, but do not contain recommendations regarding sand, except that certificates must be provided when selling sand.

However, users have determined what sand is needed for the sandbox and have the following requirements for it:

• absence of foreign impurities/objects;

• good flowability;

• dustlessness. Small particles of sand (fractions less than 0.1 mm) can get into the child’s lungs. To eliminate them, sand is usually washed and dried or sifted through a very fine sieve;

• formability (fits well into beads);

• humidity. The sand must be dry;

• hygiene. The sand should not contain living creatures (bugs, spiders, worms, etc.).

Which sand is best for a sandbox

When choosing sand, it is better to give preference to:

• river, not quarry. It is purer in itself;

• sifted, not containing foreign objects;

• quartz sand - perfect option. It's clean and molds well.

Ready-made sand for children's sandboxes can be bought in the store. The presence of a quality certificate guarantees its purity and absence of impurities.

How much sand do you need in a sandbox?

In order to fill a sandbox measuring 1500x1500 mm. you need to prepare about 0.5 cubic meters. sand.

The average price per bag (25 kg) of sand for a children's sandbox is shown in the table.

DIY children's wooden sandbox - video

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.

Conclusion

A wooden sandbox with a lid or an open one is an opportunity not only to please your child, but also to show your creativity. A sandbox in the form of a table, car, hexagonal or round will not only delight the child, but will also allow you to decorate your summer cottage with an extraordinary, creative design.

Summer has come, the children have grown up and the question arose about building or buying a children's sandbox. A market analysis of children's sandboxes was quickly carried out. As a result, the following picture emerged: there are either plastic or wooden children's sandboxes.

For a more or less reasonable price, you can purchase a sandbox that is somewhat reminiscent of a plastic basin. The remaining models, for which there was at least some desire to purchase, were very “surprised” by the cost. Ultimately, the opinion was formed that to purchase at affordable price something normal will not work out. And it was decided to make a sandbox with our own hands, and a wooden one at that.

How to make a sandbox. Problems and questions

Since I had never made children’s sandboxes before, a number of questions and additional requirements arose at the project development stage. I will list the main ones.

1. What size should a children's sandbox be?
2. How tall should a children's sandbox be?
3. What thickness of boards is needed to build a sandbox?
4. Do you need a sandbox lid?
5. If necessary, what should it be?
6. How to organize a place where you can “bake Easter cakes” (table, bench, etc.)?
7. Where to install the sandbox?
8. How to sift sand? And is it necessary to sift it at all?
9. How many boards are needed? And which ones?

Having scoured the Internet, I didn’t find any answers, mostly vague recommendations on the topic of how to make a sandbox with your own hands. Naturally, this did not satisfy me and I had to invent something. Unfortunately, I never made any drawings, but I will try to briefly describe my train of thought and the answers to the questions posed above.

Children's sandbox dimensions

Having slightly compared the size of the child, the prospects for his growth and the appearance of company (including a brother or sister) in the future, I came to the conclusion that a sufficient size and shape of a children's sandbox is a square of approximately 1 m to 1.5 m. This size, on the one hand, will allow 2-3 children to be directly in the sandbox at the same time, on the other hand, it can be installed anywhere without any problems.

Then I began to think about leaving as few scraps of boards as possible during construction. Not far from the dacha there is a base of sawn materials and the standard size of their boards is 0.12x6 m. The solution came naturally, the dimensions of the children's sandbox should be 1.2x1.2 m. Let me explain, from a board 6 meters long, 5 boards of 1.2 meters each are obtained, i.e. half the sandbox and no scraps.

Sandbox height

And so we decided on the size of the children's sandbox, now the height. What height should a children's sandbox have?

• The height should be sufficient so that so much sand can fit in the sandbox that the child cannot reach the ground.
• The child should easily climb in and out without the help of adults.

Based on these two criteria, it was decided that the height of the sandbox should be no more than two boards, i.e. 24 cm. Such a sandbox is suitable for both a one and a half year old and a three year old child. Moreover, the sand (in depth) in a children's sandbox should be about 10-12 cm, that is, about half the sandbox.

Thickness of boards for children's sandbox

The thickness of the side walls was chosen to be 32 mm. For two reasons. Firstly, boards of the specified thickness will provide sufficient strength and rigidity. Secondly, the likelihood of cracking of the boards when assembling the sandbox is significantly reduced, i.e. more convenient installation.

Sandbox cover

Do you need a sandbox lid? I thought for a long time and decided that it was still needed. It is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, the sand in a closed sandbox will remain dry, which is important for the child’s health. Secondly, the lid on the sandbox will protect against the entry of any foreign objects: leaves, apples falling from a tree, and of course from birds, cats and cats. I think it's clear what I meant about cats.

But making a cover for the sandbox in the form of a lid - I didn’t like this idea. This cover will be lying around all the time, you will have to take it off and put it on, in general, it will be inconvenient. After looking at pictures on the Internet, I found several options for making a sandbox with a lid.

• The lid transforms into a shelf on which you can build Easter cakes.
• The lid transforms into a bench on which you can not only build Easter cakes, but also sit.

I really liked the idea, and it was decided to build a children's sandbox with a lid that transforms into a bench. And you can sit (not only for a child) and the surface for “baking” Easter cakes is good.

I decided to make the lid for the sandbox from a 20 mm board. So it will turn out to be quite strong on one side, and light on the other.

Children's sandboxes for the dacha - photo