Which sand for the sandpit?

Which sand for the sandpit - an important question!

Good play sand must have a number of important properties:

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

Most sand offers are provided with various seals of approval. This is to ensure that the play sand meets all requirements. Parents shouldn't just rely on the seals, they should always check the sand themselves.

Why is dimensional stability so important?

Small children want to build castles in the sandpit, bake sand cakes and experiment with shapes. Very loose, loose sand does not retain its shape. This means that the little ones quickly lose the desire to play in the sandpit.

In order for the sand to retain its shape, the grains must have a size of 0.06 to 0.20 mm.

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

Do not use sharp-edged sand

Young children's skin is very delicate. Very sharp-grained sand is therefore not suitable for them, as it can injure themselves. Sandboxes for small children should therefore be filled with play sand, which is more round-grained.

It goes without saying that the sand for the sandpit must be clean and free of all kinds of chemicals. After all, the child's health shouldn't suffer if they play in the sand and sometimes put it in their mouths.

It is also important that the sand does not get any dust. If the child inhales sand dust for a long time, it can damage the airways. Play sand is therefore washed well beforehand in order to remove not only dust, but also clay. Loamy sand sticks to clothing and is difficult to shake off. It also leaves stains.

Construction sand from the hardware store

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

The only requirement for building sand to be used is that it must be washed so that it does not contain any toxic or harmful ingredients.

Another advantage of building sand is that most hardware stores deliver it at a reasonable price, while expensive play sand often incurs immense transport costs.