Sandpits

Introduce sensory and creative outdoor play, and allow your child to master new skills during the early stages of childhood. Sandpits are a great way to engage young children in free play and learning. Made from sustainably sourced FSC® certified timber, Plum® sandpits are built to be kind and friendly to the planet.

View the full range of sandpits we manufacture and sell below - we’re confident you’ll find something that is perfect for your little ones. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to check out our FAQs or get in touch with us today. We’re always happy to help. 

The Benefits of Sand Play for Early Childhood Development

Sand play offers a world of benefits for young children, especially in terms of how play helps them develop essential early childhood skills. 

For young ones, playing in sand is a great form of sensory play that allows them to make sense of different textures and materials. As they play with dry and wet sand, build sandcastles and mounds, and interact with different tools and toys, it helps them make sense of the world and how different materials interact.

It also helps drive physical development and cognitive development. On the physical front, sand play builds on fine and gross motor skills. Actions like digging, pouring, and shaping sand support fine motor skills. Larger movements such as lifting buckets, crawling around the sandpit, and using rakes to flatten out the sand build on the strength and coordination that’s essential to gross motor development.

Sand play drives cognitive development through processes like problem-solving and coming to grips with basic physics. Along with the motor skills they support, scooping, pouring and moulding sand drives experimentation and encourages kids to predict and plan how different approaches result in different outcomes. Actively handling sand also helps them gauge early STEM concepts, such as gravity, volume, cause and effect, etc.

With larger sandpits where multiple kids can play at once, collaborative play helps children develop social and emotional skills. These include cooperation and sharing, and engaging in imaginative play together.

Timber & Covered Sandpits – Find the Right Fit

No matter the sandpit you opt for at Plum Play, each one is crafted from FSC® certified sustainably sourced timber. It’s pressure-treated wood with rounded edges that ensure safety for young kids. Our sandpits come in several configurations, including square, rectangular, and octagonal shapes.

Some of these include open-air sandpits, sandpits that have general covers when not in use, and a sandpit with a canopy and benches on the side. Whichever one you go with, all of them are designed to work within relatively compact spaces, with most measuring around 1 metre in length or diameter.

Tips for Setting Up a Sandpit in Your Backyard

When it comes to setting up a sandpit in your backyard, the general assembly of the sandpit is straightforward. Between our range, it should only take one adult approximately 45 minutes to one hour to assemble the sandpit.

If your backyard has any sections where water can build up and stagnate after rain, it’s best to avoid these sections for the sandpit. Otherwise, when build up does occur, water could get into the sand and impact its usability. Of course, sandpit covers can help mitigate this to a certain degree, but any area of your backyard where flooding may occur is best steered clear of. 

It’s also a good idea to place a protective barrier, such as a geotextile fabric, between the sandpit’s base and the earth - this helps improve drainage and keeps contaminants from the earth from mixing in with the sand.

Outside of assembling the sandpit framing, remember that you’ll need to purchase sand separately. It’s best to look for specialised play sand, dust-free sand, and/or non-silica (non-industrial) sand. How much you’ll need depends on the sandpit you purchase and how full you want it to be. 

This can vary quite a bit, but can go up to weights of a couple hundred kilograms. The good news is that most play sand is very cost effective, but just be ready to pick up quite a bit at first.

Shop Sandpits Online for Hours of Outdoor Fun

With several shapes, sizes, and depths to choose from, you’re sure to find a sandpit that is the perfect fit for your backyard and young ones. Inspire hours of outdoor fun and engage your children’s curiosity and love of play with Plum Play sandpits. Browse the range and see which one works best for your space.

Should you need any further assistance or essential information related to our products, warranties, replacement parts and more, check out our Help Centre.