The Best Sandboxes That Parents Say Provide Kids With Endless Entertainment

This sandbox is the next best thing to actually going to the playground! With comfortable benches on opposite sides of the sandbox, parents can sit on the side while their child plays. The seats, which conveniently convert to a cover when playtime is finished offers plenty of space for socializing and entertaining. Coming in at roughly 4 x 4 feet, this box is big enough for up to four kids to play at one, but not too large that it’ll dominate your backyard. Some parents were able to place it on decks or patios, too. Made of heat-treated cedar wood, this sandbox actually looks pretty sleek, and many parents say that they love the cedar wood smell. Note that although many found this easy to put together, a lot of caregivers say that it’s best to use a drill.

If you don’t want to commit to an entire sandbox, try a sand table instead. Thistable from Step2 lets kids engage in sensory play with sand without requiring much space. The set comes with the plastic table and five toys, including a bucket, mini shovels and two sand scoop claws so your little one can dig, pour and more. The easy-to-grip toys are also perfect for toddler hands and helping them develop their fine motor skills. The lid is easy to place on top to keep animals out, and it comes with clasps to secure it. Parents love how easy it is to keep clean, and some note that it can be used for other activities, too. Fill it with water for a simple water table, swap regular sand for kinetic sand to make it indoor-friendly, or use it as a painting table to keep mess contained.

For bigger families, a large sandbox is in order: What to Expect parents say that this Creative Cedar Designs Octagon Sandbox is the best option. They love the huge size (about 8 by 7.5 feet) that can accommodate multiple kids of varying ages, and they appreciate the sturdy cedar wood construction that means it’ll hold up over years of use. Unlike other wooden sandboxes, this one is a breeze to put together as the pieces hook together and only require a screwdriver. What’s more is that four sides of the octagon double as benches for your little ones. Keep in mind that some parents found the included cover to be difficult to put on and that it collected rain water in the middle (one person says they fixed this by placing a beach ball under the cover so the rain would slide off — genius!).

For a classic kids’ sandbox, this Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox is the perfect option as it’s affordable, compact and downright adorable. Your child will enjoy the fun they can get up to in this sandbox sized perfectly for them, with a capacity of 100 pounds of sand which should be enough for one or two children.

"I love that it comes with a relatively light cover and that the turtle's feet double as ‘chairs’ for adults to sit on so I don't have to actually get in the sand to play with my daughter," says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director. "It's also pretty spacious without taking up too much backyard real estate."

As Leah mentions, parents like its smaller footprint, so you can even place it on a deck or patio. It’s also easy to put together as the pieces snap together, and you should be able to build it without needing a drill. The included lid is easy to put on when your child is done playing to protect the sand. You can even protect your tot from the sun by placing an umbrella in one of the four holes. Some parents felt that the plastic was flimsy, so it likely won’t be a sandbox you’ll use for several years.

Let your kids’ imaginations soar with this pirate ship sandbox that allows them to sail the seven seas and dig for buried treasure. It comes with all of the necessary features of a pirate ship, including a captain’s wheel, decals of skulls and parrots and a pirate flag. What’s nice about this sandbox is that it comes with built-in toy storage so you can keep their sand toys tucked away when not in use. The included cover is also easy to put on as it just snaps over the sandbox. Many parents dislike the included plastic bottom and say they built their own floor instead with plywood. And unlike the other wooden sandboxes on this list, this one isn’t made of cedar, so you will likely want to apply a water sealant to the wood so it will last longer.

Parents have turned to kinetic sand for years for a much less messy way for their kids to play with sand indoors or outdoors. This set comes in a storage case, so it’s easy to pack away when they’re done playing or take it to their grandparents’ house. The sand clumps together and is easy to build with, especially when using the included molds. Keep in mind that numerous parents say this kit doesn’t come with enough sand, so you might want to get a bag of kinetic sand if you plan on buying it. Also, you’ll likely want to put a tarp down if your kids are playing inside — they can still make a mess!