Any hints in keeping sand out of the house?

[Graciescotland]

We have a little garden with a sandpit which DS really enjoys. The only problem is the amount of sand that gets tracked back into the house. The floor seems permanently gritty. Is there a magic mat or anything that'd help keep sand in the garden?

I actually didn't get the DDs a sandpit for this very reason (that and neighbourhood cats). They have lots of sandy play at nursery and at the playground, plus we live by the sea.

We have a shoes off in the house rule anyway so they know they have to do this. If they are really sandy, I take their shoes off outside the back door.

They need a bucket of water to mix with the sand anyway, so I just make them wash their feet and hands in there before coming in. Plus wipe their feet on the mat/wash their hands properly when they come in.

We have a big sandpit. Put a mat outside sandpit, teach dc to shake and brush ( hand brush) shoes off before entering house.

Get a blanket to put down on your patio, or inside your door. Shake it at the end of the day.

We also have a baby bath for water play and to wash hands, feet.

Oh and put it as far from the door as poss,

Thanks everyone.

I was just thinking about where to put a sand pit in our new garden....your thread has thankfully put me off the idea!

Get rid of it - worked for us

Don't live on a beach.

sorry OP. I have no other advice so what everyone else said.

Aw bounty007, don't be put off - my dd2 can be utterly absorbed in sand play for hours at a time. It's fantastic fantastically easy. Just put it in a shady spot and go and get yourself a book and a cuppa, job done.

I agree mine play for hours in our, make it big enough for it to be really good fun.

They will play in the rain!! ( waterproofs)

Also very educational.

Fortunately my dds get their sand fix at a friends house now, my recommendation would be a sunken sand pit at the end of the garden - and yes as large as you can.

Clever sand trap

I noticed a really cool thing at a friend's beach house. It was this contraption that you stepped on and it sprayed your feet off. I want to say surf and splash or surf splash or splash and surf?