The question of which sand is ideal for the sandbox has triggered many a dispute. Hardware stores offer simple play sand. However, there are many other types of sand that are suitable for a sandpit. However, you often have to dig deep into your pocket for this.

Sandbox sand is fine and free of pollutants

Which sand for the sandbox - an important question!

Good play sand must have a number of important properties:

  • dimensionally stable
  • no sharp, pointed grains of sand
  • free from pollutants and impurities
  • dust and clay free
  • water permeable

Most sand offers are provided with various seals of approval. This is to ensure that the play sand meets all requirements. Parents should not only rely on the seals, but always check the sand themselves.

Why is form stability so important?

Small children want to build castles in the sandbox, bake sand cakes and experiment with shapes. Very loose, loose sand does not retain its shape. As a result, the little ones quickly lose interest in playing in the sandpit.

In order for the sand to remain dimensionally stable, the grains must have a size of 0.06 to 0.20 mm.

For older children who want to build real sand castles, the grain size should be larger and the individual grains of sand should not be too rounded. Castles made of such sand last for many days.

Do not use sharp-edged sand

The skin of young children is very sensitive. Very sharp-grained sand is therefore not suitable for them, as they can injure themselves. Sandboxes for small children should therefore be filled with play sand, which tends to be round-grained.

It goes without saying that the sand for the sandbox has to be clean and free from all kinds of chemicals. After all, the child's health should not suffer when it plays in the sand and sometimes puts it in its mouth.

It is also important that the sand does not create dust. If the child breathes in sand dust for a long time, the respiratory tract can be damaged. Play sand is therefore washed well beforehand in order to remove not only dust but also clay. Loamy sand gets stuck in clothing and is difficult to shake off. It also leaves stains.

Building sand from the hardware store

Many parents throw up their hands over their heads when normal construction sand from the hardware store is recommended for the sandpit. Building sand offers the same requirements as play sand and is also cheaper.

The only requirement for using construction sand is that it must be washed so that it does not contain any toxic or harmful components.

The advantage of building sand is also that most hardware stores deliver it quite cheaply, while expensive play sand often involves immense transport costs.

tips

How much sand you need for the sandbox is not so easy for laypeople to calculate. Online calculators can help by entering the size of the sandpit and the desired filling level. The fill level should be between 50 and 70 percent of the height of the sandbox.

Category:

Garden design