{"id":2003,"date":"2012-03-05T09:53:46","date_gmt":"2012-03-05T15:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardcity.wordpress.com\/?p=2003"},"modified":"2012-03-05T09:53:46","modified_gmt":"2012-03-05T15:53:46","slug":"4-easy-steps-to-a-safe-and-healthy-sandbox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/4-easy-steps-to-a-safe-and-healthy-sandbox\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Easy Steps to a Safe and Healthy Sandbox"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sandboxes<\/strong><\/p>\n

With spring just around the corner, the kids will soon be anxious to get outside\u00a0and engage in some seriously fun backyard play time.\u00a0 Have you had a chance yet to spruce up the sandbox<\/a>?\u00a0 Before the kids are allowed to start digging and shoveling, make sure the sandbox is ready for another season of active play.\u00a0 The following four easy steps will help you ensure that the sandbox is clean, safe, and inviting for your kids.<\/p>\n

1. Replace the sand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over time, the sand in outdoor sandboxes gets dirty and should be completely replaced periodically. Generally speaking, replacing sand every year or two should be adequate, but more frequent changes might be needed depending on how often children play in the box and whether a sandbox cover is used consistently. Play sand, rather than building sand, is the best choice for children’s play areas because it is cleaner and free of materials, like clay, that are likely to stain clothing and skin.<\/p>\n

2. Inspect sand toys.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shovels, rakes, and other toys intended for sand play are not always the most durable of tools. Consequently, they don’t often last for more than a season or two. When sand toys or other tools used in the sandbox break, they can have sharp edges or pointy parts that can cause injuries. Before allowing kids to play in the sandbox this spring, check the condition of their sand toys. Toss out any broken or worn out tools, and replace them with tools made from more durable materials.<\/p>\n

3. Check sand on a regular basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don’t assume that the sandbox will stay in good condition over the course of the spring and summer. Sharp sticks, rocks, and other debris find their way into play sand quite easily. What’s more, sand toys may not be able to survive an entire season of active play. Checking the sand on a weekly basis allows you to discover and remove any potentially harmful debris and broken toys. You may also need to replenish play sand during these weekly check-ups, especially if kids have spent any time shoveling it out of the box.<\/p>\n

4. Use a sandbox cover.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sandbox covers<\/a> are not used as extensively or as frequently as they should be, but they are one of the easiest and most important ways to maintain a safe and healthy sandbox. When used properly, sandbox covers prevent excess debris, like leaves, sticks, and rocks, from getting into the sand and creating a potential danger to children. Sandbox covers also protect sand from blowing away in strong breezes, and they keep insects from burrowing and nesting in the sand. Most importantly, sandbox covers prevent play sand from being contaminated by animals who would like to use the sandbox as their toilet.<\/p>\n

The only way to use sandbox covers successfully, of course, is to use them regularly when children are not playing in the box. Use sandbox covers that are made to fit your sandbox. Tarps and other makeshift covers can be easily dislodged or removed by animals or strong winds, making them unreliable and ineffective.<\/p>\n

Overall, maintaining the backyard sandbox is a simple task that requires little time and few supplies. Keeping all play areas safe and healthy for your kids will give you peace of mind, and will provide your kids and their imaginations with hours of good, clean, simple fun.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With spring just around the corner, the kids will soon be anxious to get outside\u00a0and engage in some seriously fun backyard play time.\u00a0 Have you had a chance yet to spruce up the sandbox?\u00a0 Before the kids are allowed to start digging and shoveling, make sure the sandbox is ready for another season of active play.\u00a0 The following four easy steps will help you ensure … Continue reading 4 Easy Steps to a Safe and Healthy Sandbox<\/span> »<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,17],"tags":[466,468],"class_list":["post-2003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-backyard-fun","category-outdoor-safety-tips","tag-sandbox-covers","tag-sandboxes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Nnyf-wj","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":766,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/sandboxes-are-a-never-ending-classic\/","url_meta":{"origin":2003,"position":0},"title":"Sandboxes Are a Never-Ending Classic","author":"Sara May","date":"June 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Experts agree that the simpler the plaything, the more effectively kids are able to create and\u00a0imagine.\u00a0 Nothing is\u00a0simpler than sand, and nothing\u00a0gets a kid's creativity and imagination going\u00a0quite like\u00a0an old-fashioned sandbox. Kids of all ages flock to sandboxes\u00a0in parks and\u00a0at schools, and who can resist that ultimate sandbox --\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backyard Fun"","block_context":{"text":"Backyard Fun","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/backyard-fun\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/sandboxes.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2736,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/4-steps-to-maintaining-a-safe-and-healthy-sandbox\/","url_meta":{"origin":2003,"position":1},"title":"4 Steps to Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Sandbox","author":"BYC Temp Admin","date":"January 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Fast and Easy Tips for Play Time Safety Kids don't need costly, technologically complex toys and games in order to tap into their creative and imaginative powers. All that's required to get kids' creative juices flowing are some basic materials that can be found easily and inexpensively. One popular example\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backyard Fun"","block_context":{"text":"Backyard Fun","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/backyard-fun\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/PIP\/Sandbox-Kit-5x5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1856,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/sandboxes-will-make-your-children-happy-for-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":2003,"position":2},"title":"Sandboxes Will Make Your Children Happy for Christmas!","author":"Trey Collier","date":"October 21, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Sandboxes make an excellent gift for your children or grandchildren, and with only 63 days until Christmas, now is the time to shop! There are some great new options available that will far surpass the basic framed boxes of the past. Here are several options that will appeal to both\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Backyard Fun"","block_context":{"text":"Backyard Fun","link":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/category\/backyard-fun\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.backyardcity.com\/Images\/ETC\/Maxi-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":523,"url":"https:\/\/www.backyardcity.com\/Outdoor-Patio-Blog\/sandbox-cover-keeps-debris-out\/","url_meta":{"origin":2003,"position":3},"title":"Sandbox Cover Keeps Debris\u00a0Out","author":"Trey Collier","date":"October 14, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you tired of raking out the debris that gets into your children's sandbox? \u00a0Are you looking for a\u00a0Sandbox Cover or tarp to fit your existing swing set, fort, or free standing Sandbox? 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