Sandbox games are a classic children's activity. Cultivating children's sensory experience, play sand stimulates imagination and creativity. Parents can build a DIY sandbox in the backyard to create a special place for children to have fun and grow up, and the process is not complicated.
The benefits of sandbox games for children
1.Promote sensory development
When children play in the sandbox, they can feel the fine and soft texture of the sand by touching it. This tactile stimulation can develop their tactile perception. The varied shapes of sand can enhance their cognition of space and shape. When playing with sand, different sounds are produced, such as rustling sounds, which can help children develop auditory perception.
2.Stimulate creativity and imagination
When children play in the sandbox, they can create freely and build castles, spaceships and other shapes, which can fully stimulate their creativity and imagination.
3.Exercise physical coordination
Children dig, stack, and shape in the sandbox, which helps improve hand flexibility and control. When filling containers and building objects with sand, children need to observe with their eyes, which can effectively exercise hand-eye coordination.
4.Cultivate social skills
When multiple children play together in the sandbox, they often work together on projects that improve their social and communication skills. They also learn analytical and problem-solving techniques.
How to create a sandbox
Step 1: Determine size and location
Considering the number of people playing in the sandbox, it is generally recommended that the sandbox be 6-10 feet long, 6-8 feet wide, and 1.3-1.6 feet deep. If older children play with their parents, they prefer to build complex shapes. For example, an 8-foot × 6-foot rectangular sandbox can accommodate 3-5 children to build a large castle together.
The depth of the sandbox is critical, and the sand is generally 80% full. There can be space on top for children to play, and there is a lid.
It is best to find a place that can be exposed to the sun every day. Put it in the yard area near the living room window so that parents can see their children in the house.
Step2：Clean up the sandbox location
When building a sandbox, we need to clean the weeds and grass, leaves, twigs, pebbles, etc. in the sandbox. Use a shovel to make the bottom flat and free of foreign matter. Use a damp cloth to wipe the edges and side panels of the sandbox to remove dust and stains. Keep the sandbox clean and beautiful.
Step3：Choosing the right wood
When making a sandbox, the wood you use is also important. Cedar is often used because it is durable and weather-resistant. This will allow your sandbox to last for many years, but it is more expensive. You can also use pine, which is a common and affordable wood that is easy to obtain. Make sure the wood has been properly treated, such as drying and sanding, to ensure the quality and safety of the sandbox.
Step4：Making the Box Frame
When making a sandbox frame, the size of the board is critical.
For example, if you want to make a square sandbox with a side length of 5 feet (60 inches), use a board that is 1 inch thick and 6 inches wide. Each board is cut into 60 inches in length, for a total of 4 boards.
Put them together end to end, and fix the corners with screws or nails to build a sandbox frame that is both sturdy and allows children to play happily. The thickness is 1-1.5 inches.
Step5：Plastic covered bottom
Covering the bottom of the sandbox with plastic film can prevent dirt, small insects, etc. from invading the sand from the bottom of the sandbox. It can also inhibit the germination and growth of weed seeds. After covering with plastic, the bottom of the sandbox can be kept clean for a long time. Prolong the life of the sandbox.
Step6：Filling play sand
First, you need to know the volume of your sandbox. Multiply the length of the sandbox by the width, then multiply that number by the height of the sandbox. For example, the dimensions are 5 feet x 5 feet x 0.5 feet, so the volume is 12.5 cubic feet.
Play sand is usually sold in 50-pound bags, which contain about ½ cubic foot of sand. To calculate the exact number of bags you need, multiply the volume by 2.
For example, to get 12.5 cubic feet of sand, you need to buy about 25 bags of play sand.
Now that you know how to DIY a sandbox, let's try it out. Provide a fun, safe and educational play environment for children. There are more sandbox ideas, bring your children to do it together.
