How to Make a Low-Cost Play Sandbox
Many children enjoy the sensory experience of playing with sand. Building sand structures with a bucket and shovel can keep kids happily entertained for hours. A sandbox need not be a fancy or elaborate design. Stay frugal and make a low-cost play sandbox that will thrill your kids. Repurpose toys or items you may already have to make an attractive and durable sandbox that your kids can enjoy all summer long.
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Things You'll Need
- Old wading pool
- Tractor tire
- Drill (with 1/2-inch bit) (optional)
- Precision knife (optional)
- Cinder blocks
- Sand
- Sand toys
- Plywood
Instructions
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Use an old wading pool that your kids may have enjoyed in years past. This can be an effective way to repurpose a wading pool that may have a crack or other damage that prevents it from holding water. Even if you must purchase a wading pool, you can probably buy one for less than $20.
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2
Find an old tractor tire from a tire or farm implement company. Call local businesses and ask about getting an old tire. Pick the tire up from the company -- using a pickup truck, if possible -- and transport it to your yard. Use a precision knife to cut around the inside casing edge of the tractor tire to make more space for sand, if you desire. Consider drilling holes every foot along the bottom edge of the tire to ensure proper drainage
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3
Use cinder blocks to build a perimeter for a sandbox. Cinder blocks have the ideal dimensions to create a barrier around a sandbox that children can sit on to play. Place the cinder blocks end-to-end with the holes facing up. Children can use the holes inside the cinder blocks to store some sand toys.
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Choose a location in your yard for the sandbox. Place it beside a swing set to create an area where kids can play in a variety of different ways. Try to place the sandbox in a location where the kids will not be in the direct sun as they play.
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Call a local cement company and inquire about sand. Many cement companies will give sand away for sandboxes if consumers come and fill their own containers. If a cement company will not give sand away, ask if you can have enough to fill your small sandbox for a nominal price.
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Check with your municipal Park and Recreation office to see if any local organizations sponsor spring sandbox filling. Sometimes local Jaycee groups sponsor sandbox fills. Homeowners can visit a local park or a retailer's parking lot with buckets and bins and fill them with sand for a sandbox in return for a nominal donation.
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Purchase a few inexpensive sand toys such as buckets, shovels and trucks for your children to play with in the sandbox.
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Tips & Warnings
Cover the sandbox with a sheet of plywood when your children are not using it. This will keep rain and neighborhood animals out of the sand.
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References
Resources
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