Content
- 1 What role does a plastic sandbox play in child development?
- 2 Plastic sandbox playpen for a small child
- 3 Why plastic is considered the best sandbox material
- 4 Choosing the best plastic play option for the kid
- 5 Choosing high quality sand
- 6 Stationary plastic playgrounds
- 7 Arrangement of a playground in the country
- 8 Children's dismountable model Nova
- 9 DIY plastic sandbox
- 10 Outcomes
With the onset of summer, the kids went outside to play. The older children have their own activities, but the kids run straight to the playgrounds, where one of their favorite entertainments is the sandbox. But then the time comes to leave for the country, and the parents begin to puzzle over what their child will do there. It is very expensive and difficult to build a full-fledged playground in the yard, but putting a plastic sandbox will be just right.
What role does a plastic sandbox play in child development?
Children's plastic sandboxes will lure children for the whole day, and parents will have free time to work in the garden. Moreover, children of different ages love to play with sand. Sculpting is not only fun. While playing with sand, children develop hand motor skills, and even thinking. The child learns to design castles, labyrinths, build simple figures.
As a rule, playing in a plastic sandbox does not happen alone. Neighborhood children will definitely come to visit. Young representatives of a small company will have common interests. Toddlers will learn to be friends. The first disputes will arise over the shoulder blades or buckets. The guys will solve these problems themselves. They will learn to share toys by getting rid of the negative trait of greed. Another positive feature is that the children's sandbox is located outside. This means that kids will spend more time in the fresh air, and not sitting in front of the TV.
Plastic sandboxes located in the courtyard among the city's high-rise buildings play an important role in the development of children:
- Depending on the size, the playground is equipped with one or more sandboxes. Even if, for example, three of them are installed, it is still not enough for an individual game. In this case, children's sandboxes are shared. On the playground there are kids from different entrances. They have common interests, friendship is struck.
- The plastic sandbox allows for customized toys. Of particular interest to children is a product in the form of animals, fairy-tale characters or a boat. In this case, the sandbox itself is an individual toy, but several children can play with it at the same time.
- Even if there is no playground in the yard, there will always be a private trader who will bring a car of sand to repair the apartment. In such cases, prefabricated plastic sandboxes will help to organize the place for the game. It is enough just to take the structure out of the apartment to the entrance, quickly assemble it and ask a neighbor for a couple of buckets of sand, as the kids will immediately run away.
In the development of a child's psychology, it is very important to play with bright toys that are comfortable and pleasant to the touch. Plastic meets all these requirements. Plastic sand play equipment consists of shovels, molds, buckets, rakes and other items. Colorful toys create a good mood for children, bring a lot of positive emotions. Compared to old faded designs, plastic sandboxes are of more interest to toddlers.They are more pleasant to touch than painted sides made of wood or metal.
Plastic sandbox playpen for a small child
Many parents remember the old playpen, where the baby was seated and poured with toys. The child was tired of being in a confined space for a long time. Now on sale there are individual plastic sandboxes that can replace the playpen from an early age. Small colorful designs are produced in the form of fairy-tale characters or simply in the form of a box with a lid. Most likely, it can be noted that it is better to buy just such a plastic sandbox instead of an arena. For the kid, she is of greater interest.
An individual plastic sandbox can be installed even in a room by laying a film under it. A child will never get tired of playing in such an arena. He will not be capricious, and will have fun playing the whole day while his mother is busy with other things.
Why plastic is considered the best sandbox material
The variety of ideas for making sandboxes is great, but it is plastic structures that are considered the safest. Moreover, they are more comfortable for children. It's like comparing an old chair to a new chair. You can sit on both objects, but the chair is still more comfortable.
Let's take a look at the main advantages of a plastic sandbox:
- The compact size allows you to carry the plastic sandbox from place to place, bring it into the apartment at night, play indoors if it is raining outside.
- With the onset of cold weather, the sandbox can be stored indoors. It is especially convenient to do this with collapsible plastic structures. It can be easily assembled in the playroom if needed. When playing indoors, it is not necessary to use sand. The filler can be rubber balls or other similar items.
- During the game, the baby will never stain the clothes on the plastic. There is no chance to drive a splinter or get hurt by peeling paint.
- An excellent option is a plastic sandbox with a lid, so you don't have to worry about the cleanliness of the sand. This free-flowing litter is often used by yard cats and dogs for the toilet. The lid will prevent animal intrusion and will also prevent the sand from clogging up with leaves and other debris falling from the trees.
- There is a sandbox with a lid that can be used as a table. Simultaneously with the fun in the sand, the child gets the opportunity to be distracted by board games.
- A big plus of a plastic sandbox is its easy maintenance. The design does not require annual painting, grinding and other repairs. Plastic can be easily washed with any disinfectant, retains a bright color, and does not disappear in dampness.
Even a large plastic sandbox is lightweight. You can easily bring it home from the store by public transport.
Choosing the best plastic play option for the kid
The modern manufacturer offers many plastic models. Sometimes it is difficult for parents to decide on the best option for playing their child. This issue should be approached slowly and wisely. Many children's sandboxes are equipped with additional plastic elements for playing. And it's not just about small toys. The structures themselves are made in such a way that they are able to transform into a table, benches and other convenient devices.
When choosing such a toy, it is important to find out the opinion of the child. It will depend on how he treats her. Let's say the kid wanted to acquire a comfortable play area with a table, but they bought him an ordinary plastic box. Naturally, after a couple of days, interest in such a toy will disappear, and an expensive purchase will be lying around, thrown into the pantry. However, along with the desire of the child, the opinion of the parents must also be taken into account. They will have to take care of the plastic playground.Typically, plastic sandboxes hold about 40 kg of sand. The volume is small, however, it is better if it does not get dirty for longer. Whether the child likes it or not, it is better to give preference to a product with a lid.
Choosing high quality sand
So, the children's plastic sandbox is purchased, now it remains to fill it with sand. In rural areas, this issue is easier. You can visit a quarry or scoop up river sand. Alternatively, ask your neighbor. For city dwellers, the problem of free sand extraction is getting more complicated. Except that there is a large construction site nearby. However, this is worth considering. A lot of money has been paid for a plastic sandbox to ensure the hygiene of the child. What can you expect from sand collected from the street where cats and dogs have visited?
It is optimal to give preference to purchased sand, specially designed for filling plastic sandboxes. When buying a filler, it is advisable to ask the seller for a certificate of product quality. Better to unpack the bag and inspect the contents. The cleaned sand comes without any admixtures of clay or river silt. Monochromatic grains of sand have excellent flowability and do not stick to the hand.
There is another plus in giving preference to purchased filler. The fact is that during cleaning the sand undergoes a special treatment, after which sharp edges are smoothed out at each grain of sand. The use of such a filler is guaranteed not to leave small scratches on the plastic surface of the product.
Stationary plastic playgrounds
A small sandbox is not enough for 3-5 children. In this case, stationary gaming complexes are installed. The use of a large plastic structure is important in public playgrounds, for large families or friendly neighbors with babies.
A children's sandbox in the form of a play complex is capable of reaching dimensions of 2x2 m. The height of the plastic board is usually limited to 40 cm. The design is most often completed with additional elements for the game. This includes benches, a table, a sun canopy and other attributes. All additional elements are removable for easy transportation.
The canopy will allow your child to play outdoors in any weather. On a sunny day, the roof will protect the baby from overheating, and in cloudy weather, from rain. Benches with backs will create comfortable conditions for playing at the table. It's good if they are able to transform into a lid. The covered sand will remain dry and clean at any time of the day. At night, the cover will prevent stray animals from blotting the sand, and in strong winds, it will prevent it from blowing out.
A rather interesting solution for organizing a playground is represented by modular plastic sandboxes. The product resembles a designer. Its complete set includes from 4 to 8 plastic modules. To assemble the box, you just need to connect the required number of elements, but not less than four. Plastic modules allow you to give the sandbox a different geometric shape, while simultaneously adjusting the size of the playing area.
Modular plastic fencing has no bottom, roof or other fixtures. You will have to make the cover yourself or the rainwater will simply pass through the sand and soak into the ground. For the manufacture of plastic modules, high-quality polyethylene and bright non-toxic dyes are used. The product weighs about 16 kg. This allows it to be easily transported and installed by one person.The disadvantage of the low weight is that the plastic fence is moved from its permanent place or tipped over by children. To make the structure heavier, the hollow modules are filled with water.
No matter how many modules a plastic sandbox is assembled, it can be easily moved to another place. At the end of the summer season, the product is disassembled into separate elements, after which it is sent to be stored in a utility room.
Arrangement of a playground in the country
At the dacha, a plastic sandbox for children will help organize an excellent resting place with a playground. The model can be matched to the landscape design of the yard, but always with a cover. Plastic does not require any maintenance, so it will not take up valuable parental time. In general, for summer cottage use, it is optimal to buy a molded plastic bowl with a bottom. This design can be used for playing with sand, as well as a small pool. A small amount of water will quickly warm up in the sun, and the child will be happy to splash around.
Children's dismountable model Nova
Among the collapsible plastic sandboxes, the Nova model is quite popular. The product is suitable for indoor and outdoor play. The segments are made of high quality plastic. The set includes a waterproof awning. For outdoor installation, it can be used instead of a cover.
The Nova kit consists of six modules that are connected to each other with plastic screws. They also attach an awning if necessary. The plastic sandbox is equipped with a bottom made of moisture-resistant material. The length of each module is 71 cm. When assembled, the height of the plastic sides is 24 cm, and the diameter of the structure is 1.2 m. The filler is ordinary or purchased sand, as well as special balls for pools.
The video shows different options for children's plastic sandboxes:
DIY plastic sandbox
It is impossible to make a plastic sandbox with your own hands due to the impossibility of organizing the entire production technology at home. Although craftsmen manage to find a way out of this situation. The familiar plastic bottles are used, but first, the frame of the box is made from boards or timber.
Bottles come in the same shape and size. Each cap is screwed to a wooden base with self-tapping screws. At the same time, it is important to maintain the correct distance between them so that the screwed in plastic bottles do not crumple, and there is no space between them. When all the corks along the perimeter of the base are screwed on, the bottles are screwed onto them. Next, they take a soft wire, and stitch all installed plastic containers together. The seam is made double: at the top and bottom of the bottles. A photo will help to visualize how plastic bottles are stitched with wire.
The strands of wire are hidden between two adjacent bottles. A wooden frame with a plastic bottle rim is installed in the grooves, after which it is tamped with soil. The bottom inside the box is covered with moisture-resistant material, and sand is poured on top. The homemade plastic sandbox is ready to use.
Outcomes
Returning to the purchased plastic models, it should be noted that you should not save on the purchase of cheap sandboxes. Low-quality plastic has the ability to burn out, decompose in the sun and release toxic substances.