Hi all,

Our yard has enough room for either a sandpit or trampoline - we dont know which would be best to get for our very active, backyard loving, adventurous DS (2yrs). He has an old swingset that he loves, but we need another outside thing.

Does your son prefer his trampoline or his sandpit?

Many thanks!
Melissa

My sons would prefer the trampoline, but at age 2yo, I'd recommend the sandpit first, then you can add a trampoline next year - it's safer that way .

trampoline.

you don't have to worry about stopping cats from pooing in it, keeping it clean, plus it is actually active. we have just a very little one we bought second hand and our 3 adore it

Definitely the trampoline. DS was the same at that age, very active etc. If you get one with a net, they can even just run around in the tramp and bounce off the net. This is how DS started before he could really jump on it, which didn't take long. I don't think 2 is too young for it.

Hi
We have both and the trampoline gets much more use.
Definitely a winner!

We have both too and our sandpit gets more use.

My DS is very creative and enjoys building and role play more than riding his bike and playing on the trampoline.

We have both and the trampoline wins hands down. We have one with the net so he's been using it since the age of 2 and it has been fabulous to let him exert some energy, improve his balance and coordination, and he uses it every day. It also helps that it wears him out much more than the sandpit does

We have both, and they get lots of use.

One point about the trampoline is that the black surface gets very hot during the summer, we don't have any shade over it, the sandpit is easy to put up an umburella so they can get some shade.

We also have both and the trampoline is the favourite. The boys are on it nearly everyday and we got it 2 yrs ago when they were 5 & 2. They draw on the mat with chalk and play all sorts of games that they make up. Even if they are not jumping they can be found just lying on it looking at the sky/clouds etc or just sitting on it. We have rules such as no food, toys etc on it and only 2 at a time.

They like the sand pit but it's a pain to uncover it each time get the toys out, pack it up, put the cover on and strip 'em off before they bring it all inside

Can't stand sand getting in the house so we bought a trampoline. We also have a lot of cats in our area.

We have both. DD much prefers the Trampoline, but uses the sand pit reguarly as well.
We splurged on the Trampoline and got one of the springfree one's. It's brilliant, especially when we have other kids around. Really safe, so I don't worry about her on it.

The sandpit we use is one of the plastic one's from Toys r us, I use the cover as a paddling pool in summer. It doesn't take up a lot of space but the sand does make a bit of a mess.

I'd get the trampoline - with net around of course - I don't think 2yo is too young for that kind of trampoline.

I can't stand the idea of sand in my house so I leave sandpit play for kindy and daycare!

we have both....sandpit gets more use at this age...but then we designed it with lots of activities built in not just a box with sand in it.

The trampoline is fun and he is just learning to jump so it's a real laugh.

If I had to make a choice between the two I'd pick the sandpit...it still encourages outdoor play, stimulates imagination and slows them down a little from all the other type of activities that require a 3 second attention span....but by the look of other posters that makes me a minority.

We have a sand pit which my kids love (although it does now need a top up of sand) We just bought a clam shell so they can have water in one side sand in the other and then we can close it up when they are done to stop and cats getting in it!

we have both the boys tend to spend alot of time in the sandpit but when Daddy is around they like to jump with him.

Trampoline is the winner in our household.

We have an inground tramp, which is great. DS, 3 loves jumping and learning new tricks. Even DD, 18 months is starting to get on there. DH loves the tramp too.

We had a clam shell sandpit for a while, but they're were only interested in it for a week or so. And the sand in the house is annoying.

W have both and the tramp is definitely the winner - hands down. DS#1 gets on it whenever we are out the back and DS#2 loves to be bounced on it. (altho i worry about shaken baby syndrome.....) and they love it when we got on there with them. I also hate the sand in the house. We had a door going from the side of the house to the bathroom, which we closed off. i am regretting that now as we could've taken them to get cleaned up straight away, rather than walking thru the house.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.
Now all I need is a bigger yard so DS can have both!

I've just realised why my DS prefers his sandpit. DH has built a huge brick castle in the middle of it and it has ramps and a large moat with cannons. He spends a lot of time in it with his men staging mini battles

We have a large back garden so size isnt a issue for us but my two sons aged 6 and 3 love the trapoline its a big one with the safety net, We have a small sandpit wich comes out when its nice (not that often here in the uk! lol)

We have a sandpit which DD loves to bits - but last weekend we splurged and bought a jumping castel/ball pit/slide. She loves it to bits. We only get it out on when we are home and it folds up into a storage bag for the shed. Keeps DD occupied for hours!!
As for sand in the house, we have taught DD to brush her feet, arms and legs before coming in and have no issues at all.

we have both. The trampoline gets used more but not by much, my very handy DH built our sandpit it is fully enclosed with shade cloth and has doors to close so no cats can get in, you don't have to remove the toys and it is shady all year round. Only time it does'nt get used is when its raining (which isn't very often of late). Our tramp has the safety net around it, we let all 3 get on and I'd love to tape their laughter one day.
By the way make sure you get good beach sand otherwise they won't use it anywhere near as much... we learnt.

I'd go for a sandpit.

Def the Tramp! We have both but the tramp gets more of a workout!! Plus the sand gets EVERYWHERE and drives me insane! If you do get a tramp though - do get one with a net they are heaps safer!! The one I bought (there is an company on ebay sells brand new from sydney and a lot cheaper) is virtually impossible for her to hurt herself in it!!

Def the sandpit for boys especially.

My sons (3.5yrs and nearly 2yrs) spend hours in their sandpit. We also have a trampoline and to be honest its hardly used.