Both sugar sand and play sand can make great options for sand box play.
Sand boxes make great play spaces for children. Kids love to dig, build or play with sand in sand boxes. There are considerations when selecting the right type of sand for sandboxes, however.
Sand can be expensive, hard to obtain, or in some instances unsafe for children to play with. There are also aesthetic preferences-some may prefer the beautiful white color of sugar sand, while others may prefer the moldable quality of play sand.
Advantages Of Sugar Sand
Sugar sand is a fine white sand, often derived from crushed limestone. Sugar sand can be a good choice for sand box play thanks to its attractive appearance and soft, pleasant texture. People living in areas where sugar sand occurs naturally can access sugar sand just by digging past the earth’s top layer of soil and collecting enough sugar sand to fill a sandbox.
Disadvantages of Sugar Sand
Sugar sand is less readily available than play sand, and people who don’t live in areas where sugar sand occurs naturally may encounter extra difficulty obtaining it. Naturally-occurring sugar sand may require sifting to remove rocks, sticks or other potentially dangerous items before play is permitted.
Sugar sand can also be lighter, making it less moldable than play sand even when moistened with water.
Advantages Of Play Sand
Play sand can be a good choice for sand box play. It molds when wet, making it ideal for building sandcastles or other play structures. It also creates relatively little dust, making for a clean play area. Play sand is also readily available, and can usually be ordered and delivered relatively quickly in small or large quantities.
Disadvantages Of Play Sand
Some bags of children’s play sand display warnings that the material contains crystalline silica, a material found to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. Crystalline silica, also known as quartz, is a colorless material that can potentially cause lung disease, such as silicosis.
Frequent exposure to crystalline silica can damage the still-developing lungs of children playing in the sandbox.
Natural Play Sand
Not all play sand contains crystalline silica. Some companies offer natural or sterilized play sand, which doesn’t contain crystalline silica or other toxic substances.
By law, all toxic substances must be listed, as monitored by the Environmental Protections Agency and Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Working With Play Sand
Stay away from play sand that has been chemically treated in preparation for sand box use. These chemicals can be equally harmful for children when inhaled regularly.
Play sand should be replaced at least every two years to reduce contamination. To reduce contamination, cover the play sand and sandbox when not in use, as recommended by the National Health and Safety Performance Standards. Ensure that the sandbox is equipped with appropriate drainage to avoid contamination.
