Hellobee Boards

they kind of gross me out...but my ILs have one (we share a backyard right now). I would just make sure they cover it in between uses!

Eh, I wouldn't want one in my yard because they make such a mess but I would never stop her from playing in one. I loved sandboxes when I was a kid, I feel like it's a staple part of childhood !

haha this makes me laugh only because I would never have thought twice about playing in the sand!
There is a sandbox at the park near our apartment and J plays there all the time.

As long as it's covered, it'd be fine with me.

We don't have one because I don't want to deal w the mess, but I don't mind ds playing in them elsewhere.

They're gross but I let DD play in the sandbox all the time at our local park. I also let her play in the dirt. Meh, kids need to be kids sometimes.

Love sandboxes! Once the oral stage passes of course. There has to be a cover too! My kids can play in them for hours. We don't see a lot of bugs in ours but we have pest control (they spray around the outdoor toys).

My dad made us a huge built-in sandbox in our yard growing up as a kid! I loved it! I would have no problems with my kid playing in the sandbox.

@twodoghouse: Not alone! I'm neurotic too case in point, I'm worried about which hose to buy.

TBH, never thought about it. We don't have one because it's messy but I don't care if DD or DS play in other people's.

at my IL's yes - its kept clean and covered. at the park - heck no. bottles/cigarette butts/syringes are high on the list of things to be found at the local parks here.

You're not alone! I hate the idea of bugs and mess, too. I will steer clear of them but if a friend had one, I would let my DD use it.

above all else, I just HATE having sand in everyone's shoes/diapers/underwear (ok, the last two just apply to the kids, but I HATE SAND IN MY SHOES). And I'm with you that it's gross.

I don't prohibit sandbox play, but I definitely don't encourage it. The annoying thing is some of the toddler sections of playgrounds around here are surrounded in sand. ugh! I am so annoyed at the person who decided that would be a good idea.

Last week we were on vacation with my in-laws and DD1 "discovered" a pony in the sandbox. MIL let her bring it home (ewww) but gave it a bath in hot water and soap before letting DD have it. I'm afraid this is going to make DD1 more excited about sand than ever (buried treasure, right!?)

I'd never stop her from playing in a sandbox. It's one of her favourite things.

We have a turtle sandbox with a cover at home, but she also plays in the uncovered sandboxes at the park. And, obviously she plays in the sand at the beach. She eats sand covered sandwiches every time we go to the beach. Whatever.

I have so many great childhood memories of playing in my sandbox. Can't wait until DD is old enough for us to get one.

I loathe sandboxes, but they are in every public playground here, so they can't be avoided. I mostly hate them for the mess because you just can't get rid of sand. That said, I also don't prevent my kids from playing in them. My son used to be able to play in the sandbox for 2 solid hours while I sat on a park bench and watched. Luckily, all the parks also have fountains, so you can at least rinse everyone and everything off when they are done.

It's always grossed me out too.
1. I hate the mess and how it sticks to everything.
2. Unless they have a cover, they seem like a big litter box that neighborhood animals poop in.
3. Ring worm.