Babble Best: Sandboxes
Our five favorite backyard beaches.
by Jeanne Sager
August 26, 2008
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Life may be a beach, but with gas prices marooning us all at home, we offer up the next best thing: the sandbox! Grab your plastic shovel and dig in. — Jeanne Sager
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International Playthings Sand & Water Table - $81
For families with half the space, we've found three times the fun. The best part for our little tester was filling funnels with sand to make the flippers flip and spinners spin. The best part for mom and dad? Assembly takes mere seconds and the accompanying rake, shovel, boat and scoop made this a set that's ready for action — just add sand (or water). We'd advise one at a time — despite the dual sides to the sink, tots who get caught up in dumping water into a waterfall aren't thinking about the sand on the other side.
Get it from Psychobaby.
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Pottery Barn Kids Safari Sandbox - $399
For kids who thirst for adventure and moms who don't want them to leave the backyard, this Jeep-shaped sandbox is the way to go. Made from eucalyptus, the sturdy setup sports a steering wheel for little hands to spin as they tool their way through the jungle and climb out the hole they've dug in the sand all the way to China. Big enough for your little explorer to invite a friend or two along for the ride, the base leaves room for up to 300 pounds of sandy fun.
Get it from Amazon.
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Magic Cabin Austrian Sandbox - $199
This is one backyard addition that won't leave your lawn looking like the land of the lost toys. Made of solid pine, the vinyl roof offers shady protection from the hot sun for the kids while they're building — and then smashing — sand castles. When they're done, spin the crank to drop the roof, and visitors will never know you've got a mess of shovels, cups and sifters piled underneath. And neither will the neighborhood cats.
Get it from Magic Cabin.
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Step2 Crabbie Sandbox - $69.99
This crustacean has clawed its way onto our list with no assembly required, a tight-fitting lid, and room for 300 pounds of sand. Coupled with the pincer "seats," the extra space means no more fighting for room to get into the action.
Get it from Amazon.
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Safer Sandbox from HearthSong - $135-$145
The look of natural wood without the upkeep? We were all over this simple, durable plastic sandbox. Other users tell us it stands up so well that the boards" can take on a second life as a garden border when your kids have outgrown playing in the sand.
Get it from HearthSong.
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©2008 Nerve Media
About the Author
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Jeanne Sager is a freelance writer and photographer living in upstate New York with her husband and daughter, Jillian. She maintains a blog of her award-winning columns at jeannesager.blogspot.com. |
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