Step2 Naturally Playful Sandbox

Crystalline silica, a colorless mineral, also called quartz, is an ingredient in sand, exposure to crystalline silica dust can cause lung diseases such as silicosis, inhaling airborne crystalline silica dust also has been associated with other diseases such as tuberculosis and lung cancer.


Great sand box - be careful about buying sand!   January 22, 2006
DonnaC (Carlsbad, CA United States)
147 out of 151 found this review helpful

I want to thank M. Beatrice for planting the seed in my mind about "safe" play sand. I read the review, bought this sand box for my one-year old daughter and went to Home Depot to buy Play Sand. The label said it was specifically for use in sandboxes and washed, filtered, etc., so I bought four bags.

When I was unloading it at home, the red warning label caught my eye "Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer". I couldn't believe it, so checked the sand manufacturer's website [...] and sure enough, it's silica sand, known to cause cancer. Good grief and it's legal to sell this stuff for children's sand boxes?

Yes, it's cheap, less than $20 for 200 lbs. But what price do we put on our kid's health? Back it goes and I begin my search for exorbitantly priced "safe sand". (For ideas, type in "safe play sand" in your search engine.) But who cares? At least I won't have to worry about my daughter spending hours playing in a toxic pit! Thanks again, M. Beatrice....


A Mom in Killeen,Texas   May 15, 2002
57 out of 57 found this review helpful

My 2 year old son loves this sandbox! I chose it because of the natural color (we live in Texas and it seems the hot sun bleaches out most of his toys). Two children can easily play together in it because it's long rather than round or square. Also for the size, it's a really good value! We had his birthday party recently and had a bunch of one to four year old children really test it out - so I know it's very durable! The lid fits securly and the little bit of rain or sprinkler water that has fallen on it has not seeped in. Niether have any bugs or animals so far! My nieghbor's 7 year old son likes it also, so it's good for all ages. I highly reccomend it!


A Sandbox That My Husband Doesn't Think Is An Eyesore!   June 21, 2002
44 out of 44 found this review helpful

I really wanted to get our one and half year old son a sandbox. My husband was refusing to because he said he'd make one for him (like when is he going to get around to doing that?) because he didn't want one more brightly colored plastic item in our rather small yard. Thankfully, Step 2 came out with this sandbox this year and I convinced my husband to let me buy it. I have to say he is pleasantly surprised at how nicely it compliments our landscaping and it sticks out in a "nice" way. Oh and yes, our son loves to play in it. The four seats are a nice addition and the rectangular shape makes it seem bigger than the square and round ones. Kudos to Step 2!