Space-saving models
Mobile alternative to the sandbox: digging in the sand shell
In contrast to a wooden sandbox, the sand shell is smaller, lighter – and more mobile
© saz1977 / Getty Images
Whether on the beach, in the playground or in the garden: children love to play with sand. If you would like to offer your offspring a place to dig, but do not have enough space for a wooden box, smaller models are available – also called sand shells.
In contrast to a classic wooden sandpit that is permanently installed in the garden, a sand shell is a mobile toy made of plastic. Not only is it a lot smaller (and cheaper), it’s also a lot lighter. This makes it easier to transport, assemble, disassemble and store. In addition, most shell-shaped models consist of two shells: This means that one side can be filled with sand and the other with water – alternatively, one half is used as a cover to protect the contents from wind and weather. However, before you decide on a sand shell, you should consider a few points.
Sandbox alternative: The most important criteria
Although one sand shell is the same as the other, there are major differences between the over-the-counter models. For this reason, you should consider the following criteria before you decide to buy:
- Sand shells are not only in different colors and sizes available: Depending on the manufacturer, there is an indication of the maximum load. This means how much weight the material (including sand and children) can withstand without breaking.
- Most models are made of hard plastic such as PVC, which should definitely be UV resistant. Otherwise one would Plastic sand shell quickly fade – or change shape – if exposed to too much sunlight.
- When buying a sand shell, always pay attention to one wide plastic edge: If it is too thin, there is unfortunately a risk that it will break off under heavy loads – and your child will injure itself on a sharp edge or plastic splinters.
You can find even more sand shell models on Mytoys.de.
Setting up a sand shell: You should pay attention to this
Since the plastic shell is not firmly anchored in the ground, it is not always storm-proof, depending on the amount of sand. To ensure that your child does not fall over while playing in it, the mobile sandpit should always be on a level surface. It is also important that you weigh down the lid with a heavy object (e.g. a large stone) on windy days, as it will not close properly. There is a simple reason for this: so that a child cannot lock themselves in and suffocate, sand shells should always leave a kind of safety gap when you want to fold them up.
Tip: If the sand shell does not have a lid, you can also use a special one tarpaulin use for it.
TÜV-tested is best suited for filling the sand shell Children’s play sand: It contains no dirt particles or pollutants and has the right grain for playing without roughening children’s delicate hands. Depending on the size of the mussel, you need between 25 and 50 kilograms of sand – that’s about three bags. In the end, the only thing missing is suitable sun protection, since the sand shell offers no protection against UV rays. So that your children don’t burn their skin when playing for hours, it is best to set up a parasol or push the shell into the shade.
Care tip: How to properly clean the sand shell
Since sand shells are made of plastic, they are easy to clean: a damp cloth and some washing-up liquid are enough to remove dirt from the halves. On the other hand, it gets a bit trickier if you want to remove leaves and stones from the used sand that have collected in it over time. It is best to use a large one for this (garden) sieve and thus filter all coarse particles out of the sand. After two to three years at the latest, however, you should replace the play sand with new ones.
Another tip: Rotate the layers of sand at regular intervals. The sun’s rays kill bacteria in the sand naturally – but only on the surface.
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