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You can build a simple sandbox on your own in a few hours. To do this, just sand four boards and put together a box from them. But it is unlikely that such a play place will provide comfort to the baby, especially in hot weather. Playing in the sun is tiring and sometimes even dangerous. Wouldn't it be better to spend a little more time creating a canopy over the playground? An improved sandbox with a roof can not only provide a comfortable playing environment. The canopy will cover the sand from rain, falling branches and leaves from trees.
Choosing the location of the playground
The roof of the sandbox protects the playground from sunlight, but you still need to try to place it correctly on your site. The photo shows how to position the playing area relative to the cardinal directions. This scheme was not chosen by chance, because the intensity of solar illumination, or more precisely, ultraviolet rays, will depend on it. It is optimal to install a playground on an area located in the direction from north to southeast.In the early morning, ultraviolet rays are more intense, but they themselves are not as dangerous. At this time, the sandbox can be completely exposed to the sun. Towards noon, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation decreases, but the rays become more aggressive and have a bad effect on humans. At this time, a shadow should fall on the playground.
You can hide the sandbox from the scorching sun under the trees, but this also has its limitations. The problem is falling leaves, small branches and bird droppings. You can protect yourself from all this by making a sandbox with a roof and a lid. However, they will not save you from caterpillars, spiders and other pests falling from fruit trees.
Now let's get back to the spiders. Most poisonous representatives with bright colors do not like drought. This means that it is advisable to remove the place for play at least 4 m from the area being watered. And the last thing you need to pay attention to is the abrasive properties of sand. Usually the sandbox is placed closer to the house so that the area with the children is within the line of sight of the parents. Grains of sand stick to the soles of shoes, are carried into the house and scratch the flooring. It is not advisable to place the sandbox close to the path leading to the house. It would be good if these objects were separated by 2 m of lawn. As a last resort, cleaning mats are placed near the playing area.
Types of children's sandboxes
Children's sandboxes vary in shape and size, and it is not possible to divide them into specific groups. But based on the material, three types of children's sandboxes can be distinguished: metal, wood and plastic. As for sandboxes made of sheet steel, they can be called a rarity.Modern playgrounds are equipped with sandboxes made of wood or plastic.
Plastic
You won’t be able to make plastic sandboxes for children yourself. The finished product is purchased at a retail outlet. A high-quality sandbox for children will last for many years without losing its bright color. It does not require special care; you just need to wash it occasionally with water and a disinfectant. There are no burrs or peeling old paint on the plastic. Plastic structures are bright and attract children's attention. Most often they are made in the form of fairy-tale characters, animals, and inhabitants of the deep sea. Take, for example, the Ladybug sandbox. The wide edges are comfortable for little ones to sit on, and the lid is shaped like a torso. Cats or dogs will not be able to get to the covered sand at night. In addition, the lid protects the sand from being blown out by the wind, falling leaves, rain and other unpleasant consequences.
The plastic sandbox with a lid is very light. It can be moved to any place, and if necessary, taken into the house. There are solid products in the form of a basin. This bowl can be used for playing with sand or instead of a pool. Quite interesting collapsible models. This sandbox includes up to eight modules. Using the required number of elements, a frame of the desired size and shape is assembled. Collapsible models come without a bottom or are equipped with a tarpaulin. More expensive products represent a whole gaming complex. In addition to the sand container itself, they are equipped with benches, a table, a roof and other elements. If you choose it wisely, the purchased plastic sandbox will decorate the landscape of your summer cottage.
Wooden
If you want to create a playground for children with your own hands, then a wooden sandbox with a roof is the ideal solution to the problem. Wood is an environmentally friendly natural material. It lends itself well to processing. A sandbox made of wood will cost parents many times less than buying a plastic analogue.
To knock down a sand box you will need only four boards and the same number of stakes. However, you can approach the design of a wooden sandbox from the other side. Firstly, it is easy to install a roof over the sand. It will protect children from rain and scorching sun. You should not build complex structures. It is enough to install one, two or four posts to which the canopy will be attached. The roof is made from different materials, the main thing is that it is light in weight. Waterproof tarpaulins, polycarbonate or transparent slate are good for these purposes. As a last resort, you can stretch regular fabric. Such a canopy will not save you from rain, but it will be excellent protection from the sun and falling leaves.
Secondly, most often you make a wooden sandbox with your own hands with a lid. It can be made in the form of a simple shield or folded into two benches. Children really like the second option. While playing in the sand, kids have the opportunity to relax or have fun with board games.
Choosing sand for backfilling
In most cases, parents do not think about what kind of sand is needed for a children's sandbox, and fill up with what they have.However, there are pitfalls here, which we will now try to figure out.
Purified river or quarry sand is suitable for filling children's sandboxes. In rural areas you can often get it yourself, and for free. If there is such a possibility, then before backfilling the sand is sifted through a fine sieve. When large amounts of dust or clay are observed, it is advisable to wash them out. The procedure for washing sand with water is not very easy, but for the sake of the children, you must decide to take this step.
There is an option to use purchased sand. It is sold packaged in bags. Purchasing sand is justified for urban residents, where there is simply no other place for extraction. Although this option is suitable for consideration by all parents who have decided to buy a plastic sandbox. The fact is that each grain of sand, by its natural origin, has sharp edges. When children play, sharp grains of sand scratch the plastic like sandpaper. Since parents have forked out money for such an expensive gift, then there is no need to skimp on buying filler.
Store-bought sand goes through many stages of processing before being sold. One of them is aimed at smoothing the sharp edges of sand grains. This type of filler is ideal for a children's plastic sandbox. It would be a good idea to ask the seller for a quality certificate, or better yet, inspect the product. High-quality sand has excellent flowability and does not stick to dry hands.
Drawing and production of a wooden box
A children's wooden sandbox usually resembles a simple box filled with sand. To make it, you don’t need complex drawings, but you can sketch a simple sketch. Since our design will have a roof and a lid, all the details must be taken into account in the diagram.The photo shows a drawing of a square-shaped children's sandbox, and we will begin with its manufacture:
- The optimal size of a children's sandbox is 1.5 x 1.5 m. To make it, take an edged board 1.8 m long. 15 cm on each side will go to the mortise connection of the corners. The number of boards on one side of the sandbox depends on their width: 100 mm - 3 pieces, 150 mm - 2 pieces. The optimal board thickness is 20-30 mm.
- Having retreated 15 cm on each side, make a gash on the boards. Next, a square box is assembled from the blanks, inserting the boards into the cut grooves. The method of such assembly is shown in the drawing.
- Four racks are made from timber with a cross-section of 50x50 mm. Their length corresponds to the height of the side, plus 20-30 cm will go into the ground. The racks are fixed on the outer corners of the box between the ends of the crossing boards. To prevent children from being pushed towards the sides while playing, they are reinforced with similar stakes in the center on the outside.
The diagram of a children's sandbox also shows the simplest version of benches. They are stuffed from boards onto the ends of the sides. However, this option is appropriate for a wooden sandbox with a removable lid. When making a transforming lid into benches with a back, there is no need to stuff benches onto the ends of the box.
Making a removable lid
The simplest version of a removable cover is a regular shield. It can be cut from moisture-resistant plywood or other similar material. Alternatively, the shield is knocked down from a board no more than 20 mm thick. It is advisable to cover the top of the wooden lid with film, linoleum or other non-wetting material. Handles must be provided on the shield.
To prevent the shield from constantly being pulled to the side, it can be made of a folding type. The photo shows a rectangular sandbox with two types of such a lid.Moreover, the box itself can be divided into two compartments by a jumper. A hinged lid is installed over an empty compartment reserved for children's toys. A roll-up lid is attached over a box of sand. You can do the opposite. It all depends on the preferences of the owner.
Children respond very well to bright objects. You can attract their attention with multi-colored designs applied with your own hands to the surface of the lid.
Making a transforming lid
The transformable lid for the children's sandbox is convenient not only for use by parents. The two folding halves make comfortable benches with a backrest. During the game, they have the opportunity to relax or simply come up with new entertainment on the bench.
A folding lid for a children's sandbox is made from boards. In length they should protrude 1-2 cm beyond the boundaries of the box. Each half of the lid consists of three parts connected to each other by hinges. The first part is thoroughly fixed to the sides. Only the middle and last parts are connected with loops. Limit bars are nailed on the inside and outside. They will hold the back upright and act as handles.
Making a roof
Since our initial goal was to build a children's sandbox with a roof, it remains to consider options for arranging the last element.
The simplest canopy over a children's playground is a fungus. It is installed on one support, most often in the center of the sandbox. Such a roof will not protect much from the sun, but it will add more bumps to your forehead. An interesting option is a roof that resembles a wigwam.For such a hut-shaped roof, you will have to build a hexagon-shaped box. A stand is installed from each corner. At the top, the supports converge at one point, forming a spire. The idea of building a children's wigwam is interesting, but in terms of protection from the sun and rain it is ineffective, just like fungus.
The roof of a square sandbox mounted on two posts looks good. The supports are fixed in the center of the opposite two sides. The result is a gable roof covering a fairly large space.
A real roofing structure can be called the roof of a children's sandbox mounted on four posts. Each support is attached to the corner of a wooden box. An awning is pulled on top or the frame of a full gable or hipped roof is knocked down.
For a better idea, you can see photos of sandboxes with roofs of different configurations.
The choice of roofing material for the roof depends on the wishes of the parents. The main thing is that it is light in weight. The fungus can be installed from a large umbrella or the frame can be fixed on a stand, and then covered with a soft roof. Polycarbonate or tarpaulin works well for any roof. In extreme cases, a sun canopy can be made from ordinary fabric, but such a roof will quickly leak during rain.
The video shows a children's sandbox with a mushroom roof:
Improving children's sandboxes with a roof
It is not difficult to build a square sandbox with a roof with your own hands. However, it is of less interest to children than an unusual play structure. Let's say the same wooden sandbox can be turned into a ship.The photo shows that the children's design is based on the same square box with a folding lid. The roof is made of two posts of different heights, replacing masts. A sail is stretched from fabric, which, although not very much, covers the playing area from the sun. There are two triangular drawers at the front of the box. They form the bow of the ship, plus they provide additional storage space for toys.
The following photo shows a drawing of a children's sandbox with a gable roof. The design is quite complex and is being done to grow. Inside such a house you can organize a sandbox for your baby. When the child grows up, floors are laid instead of sand. The new play area with a roof will turn into a small gazebo.
Building a children's sandbox with a roof yourself is more difficult than building a square box filled with sand. But when parents plan to have a second child, the playground will be inherited and will delight the kids for many years.
