Can’t stand sand? Here’s why you don’t have to

Sand is a wonderful, and relatively cheap, way for your baby to play using all their senses. But it is also itchy, easily spread around and almost impossible to fully sweep up, no matter how many times you try. For some parents this is fine, for others this sounds like a nightmare come to life.   

If bringing sand into your house isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry that your baby will miss out.

The most important thing to remember when people are suggesting you have a sandpit or sand table at home is that it is a personal choice – you really don’t have to get sand involved at home.   

Your baby will have plenty of opportunities for playing with sand as they grow – at the beach or park, at friend’s homes, at childcare settings and even at school. You not having a sandpit won’t, in any way, deprive them of anything in their development.   

Sand alternatives at home  

If you want to play in a similar way to using sand, there are other ways to do this at home: play with water or dig in muddy patches. Your baby could enjoy this on a walk, or they could help with planting flowers.  

Getting your baby involved in cooking and baking will offer many of the same experiences of scooping, filling and learning with their senses that a sandpit would provide.   

Offering alternative sensory options to sand will still give your baby brilliant development opportunities to explore their touchy-feely world.