3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14
  1. #1
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Stoney Creek
    Posts
    65
    Thanked
    8 Times in 7 Posts

    Thinking of getting a sandbox...but not liking the idea of sand all over my house.

    I would like to get a sandbox for the kiddies to play with outside but I don't like the mess. I understand that kids get messy and they would learn so much by playing with sand, but I have been debating it because I don't want to be frustrated with all the mess. I currently do alot of water table and rice table play, because of the easy clean up.

    What are your experiences with a sandbox?
    ~~Proud Mama and Owner/Operator of Cutie Pie Daycare~~

  2. #2
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    4,499
    Thanked
    1,469 Times in 1,125 Posts
    My outside playtime is AFTER nap, lol. As soon as the kids get up we do diapers, and then go outside. I have a picnic table they sit at for snack which I have since learned need only consist of a glass of juice because they won't stay there long enough for anything else. Then they go play. The parents pick up from the back yard so the sand, grass, etc. goes home with the parents.

    My sandbox is a wood frame with 4x4 posts in the corners that helps to support a 1x6 cap around it. The kids stay on the outside and reach in to get sand and use the 6" cap to play on rather than getting in so that helps a bit.

    As far as having a sandbox goes that is the favourite spot of my group from the 1 year old to the 3 year old. They have trucks and construction stuff as well as basic pails, shovels, empty containers for filling and pouring. I have a piece of wood for a lid so the sand stays dry and clean.

  3. #3
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Region of Durham, ON
    Posts
    241
    Thanked
    28 Times in 24 Posts
    I send the sand home with parents too!! We do our backyard time after nap and before pickup too.

    There is the occasional morning that we'll play in the sandbox. The kids take off their shoes at the door, bang them on the wall, and then we go into the house.
    ~ Mama to 4, Dayhome provider ~

  4. #4
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Oshawa
    Posts
    181
    Thanked
    7 Times in 7 Posts
    Our sandbox is the main attraction in our backyard, the kids spend most of our time playing in there, and more often than not if I take sand toys to the park they spend a lot of time playing in the sand then. I make sure to (and the kids are used to this) "de-sand" everyone before they come in the house, and the mess isnt too bad, but I've kinda come to accept that I live with a certian amount of sand during the summer. Although it can be annoying, the hours of summer entertainment for the kids is totally worth it for me!

  5. #5
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    AB
    Posts
    425
    Thanked
    103 Times in 59 Posts
    I open the sandbox after naps and snack too so it all goes home with them. I let them play in there sometimes in the morning, I really don't find it that messy.
    The Daycare Room ~ A forum for providers ~
    http://thedaycareroom.forumotion.ca/

  6. #6
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somewhere not warm enough
    Posts
    535
    Thanked
    102 Times in 74 Posts
    biggest advice- cover it at night.. Really. Animals think it is like a super posh bathroom

  7. #7
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    2,419
    Thanked
    599 Times in 439 Posts
    We got to the park almost every morning and there is lots of sand there, so I prefer to keep the back yard sand-free. We just take our sand toys to the park and leave the sand there. We have lots of other toys in the yard for afternoon outside time.

  8. #8
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    4,499
    Thanked
    1,469 Times in 1,125 Posts
    If bringing the kids back in the house make sure you remove their pants/shorts and empty the cuffs and pockets. This is where the sand collects and then falls out more so than the shoes since we are changing those once inside anyways. If you let them sit in the box then do the same with diapers having a change as soon as you come in.

  9. #9
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Sudbury Ontario
    Posts
    53
    Thanked
    8 Times in 7 Posts
    The sandbox is the favourite place for my kiddos too, when I first started out I had a huge sit-in sandbox. A few years ago I switched to the stand-up and it has made a world of difference. I love it! No sandy diapers, I don't end up on my knees to play, I can get around the entire box, behind the children to do hand-over-hand if they need help. Best $100 I've spent on daycare equipment
    http://varietytrading.com.au/images/...0Table%20C.JPG

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to VictoriaChildCare For This Useful Post:


  11. #10
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    178
    Thanked
    4 Times in 4 Posts
    Victoriacc where do you get one like this? Toys r us or something?

Similar Threads

  1. Just not liking my job lately
    By mickyc in forum The day-to-day as a daycare provider
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 05-04-2020, 11:56 PM
  2. Sandbox Sand
    By ebhappydc in forum Daycare activities
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-12-2018, 04:40 PM
  3. Sandbox
    By Daycare123 in forum Caring for children
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 05-08-2013, 02:28 PM
  4. Sand/water table?
    By Starshine in forum Daycare equipment & furniture
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-08-2012, 02:35 PM
  5. Sandbox # 3...ideas other than sand?
    By Dreamalittledream in forum Daycare equipment & furniture
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 08-19-2012, 10:30 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

Do not hesitate to refer to this article to help you choose a daycare provider, know which questions to ask, have an idea of what to look for...
Did you know?
DaycareBear receives more than 155 700 unique pageviews each month; that's nearly 1.9 million pages per year!
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider