Feeling ready for some sand play? Here are our tips
Playing in a sandpit holds fond childhood memories for many of us. Now your baby is slightly less likely to put everything they meet into their mouth, you might be considering introducing them to sand play at home. Here’s our advice for doing it without turning your house into a building site!
Sand play can be brilliant for your baby – and for you
Playing with sand is a very sensory experience and can be a wonderful way for your baby to experiment with the feeling of texture using their whole body. This sensation can be very soothing, and you may enjoy the feel of dry sand slipping between your fingers as you play together.
How to introduce it at home without a sandpit the size of a car?
Being able to get your whole body covered in sand while digging can be part of the fun – but not many of us have space to give up to a huge sandpit. The good news is, sand play at home can be done easily in a much smaller space (this might be a benefit for your baby as they learn about how sand can be played with using less overwhelming amounts).
Outside: smaller sandpits in the garden or outdoor space can be made from large flower pots, clean and recycled large pet litter trays, or contained on tarpaulins to be wrapped up at the end of the day (always make sure to cover outdoor sandpits at night).
And in: a low-sided storage box, or trays with sides, can be filled with sand for a sensory experience without the need for a permanent space in the living room. These are best placed on a larger piece of material or mat which can be gathered up and shaken outside after your baby has finished playing.
How to handle the inevitable sand snacking your baby will try...
Firstly, and most importantly, sand play needs to be safe. Your baby might have reduced the amount of time they spend testing objects with their mouth, but they will still use taste as a key sense when they discover something new.
When introducing them to sand, make sure you supervise closely and encourage your baby not to put the sand, or their hands, in their mouth or around their face too often. In most cases, a little taste of sand will be enough to put your baby off eating more.
If your baby is still learning by putting everything in their mouth, or if they seem to enjoy the texture and taste of eating sand (not as unusual as you might expect), it’s probably best to wait a little longer before introducing regular sand spaces, unless you can be sure you can supervise and prevent them from eating too much of it.
Can’t think of anything worse than willingly inviting sand into your house? That’s ok! Read our advice for anyone who hates the idea of a sandpit at home, here.