Ditch the Sandbox? 7 Reasons to Choose Grass for Play Areas

When setting up an outdoor play space for kids, two popular options often come to mind: sand and grass. Both have their appeal, and if you’re fortunate enough to have room, having both can offer the best of both worlds. But if you're working with smaller yards and have to choose just one, which surface should you go with?

As families today seek cleaner, safer, and more sustainable options for their children, real grass is easily becoming a favorite. It’s a natural choice that’s soft underfoot, eco-friendly, and surprisingly low-maintenance when done right. And while sandboxes can be great for certain sensory and creative activities, real grass offers a more versatile and family-friendly play surface that grows with your kids.

In this article, we’ll break down the key reasons to consider grass for play areas and show how grass plugs, like SodPods®, make building and maintaining a lush, child-safe yard easier.

Is Grass Safer Than Sand for Active Play?

It’s not always a straightforward comparison between grass and sand when it comes to safety. Each surface has its advantages, depending on the child’s age and the type of play involved.

Sand is often praised for its impact absorption, especially in playgrounds with high climbing structures. It’s great for digging, scooping, and sensory activities—ideal for toddlers and early learners. On the other hand, real grass provides a more dynamic surface—a natural, cushioned surface that supports running, jumping, and ball games. For more active play, especially in residential yards, grass offers a solid and versatile base.

While studies specifically comparing sand vs. grass safety are limited, a study of professional football has reported a higher rate of injuries on artificial turf than natural grass, suggesting that natural turf may offer better shock absorption and overall safety for athletes. These findings support the idea that well-maintained grass can provide a safer surface for active movement, even outside professional sports settings.

Why Grass Is a Better Choice Than Sand for Kids’ Play Spaces

Creating a safe, practical, and enjoyable play space is more than surface softness. Here’s why grass shines in so many family backyards:

Grass Stays Cleaner and More Hygienic Than Sand

While sand can be fun to dig in, it’s also notoriously difficult to keep clean. It can trap pet waste, harbor bacteria and mold, and attract unwanted guests like insects, rodents, or the neighbor’s cat. Over time, sand can become difficult to clean and may need to be replaced entirely.

Meanwhile, grass is naturally cleaner. It provides better water drainage, absorbs waste more effectively, and is easier to rinse off or clean when needed. A quick hose-down or lawn cleanup is often enough to refresh your space. If cleanliness is a priority, grass is a sandbox alternative that helps you maintain a more sanitary backyard for kids.

Grass Keeps Kids Cooler During Hot Days

Under the sun, surfaces like sand, rubber, and synthetic turf can get dangerously hot. But grass has natural cooling powers. With its natural evaporative cooling properties, turfgrass can be up to 30% cooler than asphalt and other hardscape materials. With grass, your kids can safely run barefoot, lounge on the lawn, or play tag without worrying about scorched toes or overheated surfaces. If your play area gets full sun, grass is one of the best surfaces for keeping things cool and comfortable.

Grass Encourages Active, Imaginative Play

Where sand is mostly stationary, grass invites movement. It supports dynamic play—from running, jumping, cartwheeling, kicking balls, tossing frisbees, pretend play, and sensory exploration.

Open natural spaces like lawns also support motor development, creativity, physical activity, and sensory exploration. A lush, green space makes it easier to encourage active, unstructured outdoor play—experiences that are often lost in single-purpose play zones.

Grass Is Easier to Maintain Than You Think

Sand might seem low-maintenance, but it actually requires frequent attention—constant raking, sifting out debris, and even replacing the material over time. It also tends to wash away in heavy rain or wind.

Sure, grass requires some level of maintenance, too. But modern solutions make it manageable. For example, grass plugs—small, pre-grown sod pieces—are a smart way to grow or repair lawns. They help fill bare patches, grow a thicker turf, and make lawn care cost-effective and beginner-friendly. For Florida and other warm climates, varieties like bermudagrass plugs are drought-tolerant and kid-tough.

Grass Is Environmentally Friendlier Than Sand or Rubber

Living grass benefits the environment in ways that synthetic or loose-fill surfaces can’t. A grass lawn:

• Absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen

• Reduces erosion and supports beneficial soil microbes

• Cools the surrounding area, reducing urban heat

On the other hand, sand, rubber, and synthetic turf can increase surface temperatures, degrade over time, and contribute to plastic waste or dust pollution. Meanwhile, grass breaks down naturally and integrates into the landscape. 

Grass plugs not only help establish turf faster—they also promote deep root systems, which reduce runoff and improve water absorption, contributing to long-term soil health.

Grass Grows With Your Family’s Needs

A sandbox might be fun for a few years, but as kids grow older, their interests change, and it may eventually lose appeal. Grass, however, evolves with your family. It offers a flexible space where toddlers can crawl safely, older kids can kick a ball around, and everyone can relax or gather outdoors.

With some light upkeep—and the occasional use of grass plugs to repair heavy-use areas—your lawn becomes a permanent feature that adds beauty and function to your backyard.

Bonus: Installing SodPods® Grass Plugs Is Easy and Affordable

If your yard is patchy, sandy, or worn from years of use, grass plugs are the fastest way to bring it back to life.

Grass plugs are small sod plants spaced apart in soil, designed to spread and fill in over time. They're perfect for patching worn spots, starting a new play lawn, or transitioning away from high-maintenance alternatives like sand or mulch.

They’re also budget-friendly and ideal for DIY projects. Whether you're working with a small yard or creating a whole new play zone, installing plugs is simple—and the results are long-lasting.

Look for Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine plugs, depending on your location, sun exposure, and usage. Check out this article to discover the best grass for high-traffic lawns.

Rethink the Sandbox—Go Green with Grass

While sand has its benefits, especially for younger kids and sensory play, grass offers a long-term solution that grows with your family. In most home settings, real grass strikes an excellent balance between safety, beauty, and versatility.

Grass offers a cleaner, cooler, more eco-friendly space that naturally supports active play than sand. Plus, it’s easier than ever to grow or revive a lush lawn with the help of grass plugs.

Looking to upgrade your play area? Grass plugs make it simple to grow a kid-friendly lawn that lasts. Buy grass sod plugs at the SodPods® website today.