Recession guide

toddler sandboxes

Photo by my2luvbugs

Those little toddler sandboxes shaped like turtles or crabs are such a great idea. You can stick them anywhere, even in the smallest of yards or patios, and your toddler will almost always find some type of creative activity to play in them.

What I didn't realize was how expensive the sand is!

We considered building our own sizable on last year, but after we priced out the sand, we scrapped the idea. I forget the exact total, but it came to something like $200 for the number of bags of superfine sandbox sand we'd need.

For those who have made the investment, the good news is it's not necessary to replace the sand every year, or even empty and store the receptacle, the Toddler Moms say.

The snow, rain and elements will not damage it ... well, why should it. It's sand, after all! But I've often wondered if leaving sand out makes the sand less ... playable.

"The snow did not damage mine last year at all," says Mom71307. "I left the sand in and everything ... no issue over the winter in Wisconsin! I plan on doing the same this year, though we may clean out the sand since there are a ton of pinecones in it right now."

Other moms said this way, their tots can play in the sand all year round, even in the cold weather, when they are absolutely bored of being in.

Does your toddler have a sandbox? How do you keep it clean -- or do you just surrender it to nature?

 

Related posts:

Ideas for the Sandbox

What's the Best Way to Disinfect a Sand Box (Cat Pee)?

Do You Let Your Toddlers Play in the Sandbox?