Sand Types

For long term fun, it matters. Some types are perfect for your sandbox: clean, moldable, soft and safe. Other kinds are perfectly boring, or downright abrasive.

What is sand, really? Beaches come to mind, and that's because ocean waves grind rocks and coral down to powder. Granite usually contains quartz, and that gives sand its sparkle. Sand labeled "beach sand" or "play sand" is usually born from granite, although eighty percent of it comes from quarries and factories, not beaches. That's good, because beaches contain a lot of organic things you don't want you kid playing in. "Play sand" or "sandbox sand" are your best choices for your sandbox. You want it to be smooth and a little sticky so it is moldable, perfect for making sand castles, tunnels and forts. Special processed play sands are used for therapy and sand table fun. Moon Sand comes in bright colors and has a texture that's almost clay-like. Therapy sand is sticky, firm and fun to grip. You can even find super-cleaned, non-allergenic sand. Most of these fine processed sands are too expensive to be practical for a sandbox, but they're wonderful for sand tables.

Do it yourself?

Can you just go down to the river and dig up some sand? It's tempting, but don't. Besides the ecological impact, beach and river sand are not smooth enough or clean enough for daily play. Sand labeled "sanitized" has been treated to remove all organics, and that's best for your cubs.

Utility sand is cheap and available everywhere. Although perfect for landscaping, it's too gravely for sandbox play. Slippery and dry, you can't make anything out of it but concrete.

Silicate dust in factories was found to cause lung problems in factory workers, which led some to worry that sandbox dust might not be safe for kids. Safe Sand, made from silica-free feldspar, was developed in response. It's not cheap, but it's powdery white, flour-soft and worry-free. Regardless, the Consumer Product Safety Commission looked into the issue and declared that sanitized sandbox sand was perfectly safe for children.