Sand is a fantastic place for kids to play. Whether they’re playing in their sandbox or at the beach, it’s a terrific way for children to engage in some creative play outdoors. If you’re thinking about getting your child a sandbox, you should consider the type of sand to buy.
Play sand is much smoother and less coarse than conventional sand, making it better for kids to play with. Let’s examine the distinctions between the two categories of play sand vs all purpose sand in greater detail in this article.
What is All Purpose Sand?
A sort of sand that has been cleaned to lower dust levels is known as all-purpose sand. Additionally, it has been filtered to make it slightly coarser. Technically speaking, it should be free of the majority of larger particles. Even though the remaining particles are relatively small, they will still have a lot of sharp edges.
It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from mixing with cement to make gravel and concrete, under paving slabs, or even mixing with potting soil. It is intended for use in construction and landscaping.
Can you use ordinary sand in a sandbox?
Even though play sand and all-purpose sand appear to be the same at first glance, it is not a good idea to allow your children to play in all-purpose sand.
Sand used for all purposes is substantially coarser and contains a lot more dust. It might be detrimental to your kids because of both of these factors. Kids who play in it may become itchy and even scratched, and the extra dust may harm their lungs.
One more disturbing issue is the discovery of tremolite in some all-purpose sand. Since tremolite contains a kind of asbestos, you should keep your children away from it.
What exactly is Play Sand?
Play sand is a sort of sand that has been cleaned up and treated to make it safe for kids to use. It is frequently used in sandboxes due to its lower risk of endangering children.
Quartz is the main component of play sand. Only the fine grains are left after it has been filtered. This implies that there aren’t any substantial aggregates, just small bits. It can seem a little dusty because of how fine it is. The tiny grains’ ease of aerial dispersion is the cause of this. Sand that has been slightly dampened will stop this.
Play sand has undergone considerably more thorough testing, which is a significant factor.
In addition to the fact that the grains are finer, there is a limit to the concentrations of specific compounds in the sand. Additionally, it is examined to make sure no harmful bacterial growth is present.
What distinguishes play sand from ordinary sand?
Prior to being placed on the shelves, play sand is refined and thoroughly cleaned with kids in mind. In the process of refining, dust is removed from the sand and the size of the sand grains is decreased using pressurised water, resulting in a considerably smoother product than plain sand. Regular sand, on the other hand, does not go through the same process, making it unsuitable for use as a toy for kids.
‘Regular sand’ is a challenging concept to define. The sand you’ll find at the beach varies tremendously based on where you live. That sand could be black or pure white in some portions of the sculpture.
Sand is just a phrase used to describe materials with specified grain sizes. White sand is typically composed of calcium carbonate, which is derived from the shells of sea creatures. Black sand is frequently created from crushed volcanic rock. While playing sand, like most sand on the planet, is composed of quartz.
When you go to the shop and see all of the different sand bags, it can be difficult to comprehend what the difference is and why they aren’t all the same.
Compared to all-purpose sand, play sand is a more refined variety of sand. It offers a better alternative. Play sand can thus be used in place of all-purpose sand. However, you CANNOT substitute play sand for all-purpose sand.
Which is better for your child: play sand or regular sand?
The ideal sand for a child’s sandbox is, without a doubt, play sand. Given that it undergoes a thorough cleaning and polishing process to ensure that there is no dust present, it is the safest material for your kid to play with. Additionally, it is much smoother than ordinary sand, protecting your child from injury.
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