Sand play invites participation; it stretches the
imagination; it allows children to make and test hypotheses; it provides a
potentially soothing sensory experience; and it is an excellent avenue for
children to learn physical, cognitive, and social skills.
Because sand play is open-ended, the child determines the direction and path of his or her own play. This freedom then clears the way for the child to build developmental concepts.
Most of all its fun!
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Below are some photos showing how creative the kids could be with the sand play set & their own toys.
The animal farm series.
The space sand play series, where the sand can be squeezed and mould into different shapes and sizes.
Simple and yet it's so fun! =D
Kids have so much fun playing with the space sand set by adding in their own toys^_^
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Benefits of Sand Play:
1) Development of fine motor skills.
2) Eye & hand coordination – watching and doing and coordinating these actions.
3) Promotes creativity and imagination through role and developing stories.
4) Sensory- Development of the sense of touch. Feeling and manipulating objects and moulding the sand.
5) Language development – playing with sand is a social activity requiring speaking and listening, also developing vocabulary. Practising and experimenting with language.
6) Teaches Mathematical Concepts - Using containers of varying sizes and shapes helps to teach children about ideas such as "more than," "less than," and "equal." Through trial and error, these children will be able to make predictions about which containers will hold more or less sand. Providing measuring spoons or cups could help children learn more specific measures as well as other mathematical terms such as "empty" and "full" or "heavy" and "light."
7) Encourages Scientific Experiments - Burying metal treasures for example and provide children with magnets. Children will learn about magnetic force while going on a treasure hunt. Provide other objects for children to construct their own scientific experiments such as funnels, ramps, and rolling pins. Observe as the children make their own experiments to discover information not only about sand but also about basic scientific principles.
8) Incorporates Artistic Expression - Encourage children to draw pictures in the sand, develop elaborate sand castles, and create interesting moulds from household objects in addition to buckets. As children experiment with the properties of sand and create their own buildings and towns, they can decorate the objects with stones, leaves, and flowers that they find in nature. Provide sand combs and discuss different patterns and designs with children as they draw in the sand. Playing music while children work and play in the sand is another opportunity to encourage children to sing along.
9) Promotes Cognitive Development - Children learn the inherent physical properties of sand by playing with it and by comparing wet and dry sand. They can also learn the theory of the conservation of matter as they pour sand from one container into another and compare the amount of sand that fits in each. While playing in sand, children will learn to problem-solve as they try to figure out how to prevent their towers from continually falling over or their moats from collapsing in on themselves.
10) Encourages Social Skills - When children play together in a common sandbox or at a sand table, they are often faced with problems involving sharing tools, negotiating for play space, and compromising about what will be built in the sand. Although each child may have a separate play space, many of them will engage in pretend play as they combine to "cook" with the sand or construct roadways, dig tunnels, and build towers for a small city. By working together in a common play space, children learn empathy and how to recognize and understand the perspectives of the other children while working together and sharing sand tools.
11) Promotes Physical Development - Muscle skills in the arms and upper bodies of children will be further developed through sand play. By digging, pouring, sifting, and scooping sand, children use their upper bodies and arms in ways that many of their other toys do not require them to work. Large amounts of sand can become very heavy and difficult to move, thereby creating further exercise and muscle-building opportunities for young children. If the sand becomes wet, it becomes even more difficult to scoop and manipulate, further flexing the young muscles of children playing in the sand. The legs and lower bodies of children get involved from squatting in the sand or from lifting and carrying buckets of sand to other areas.
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Below are some pictures of space sand play set and also customized space sand play set designed for Superhero fans-->
Perhaps, to parents who are running out of ideas on what to get for birthday present, Raya present, or even X'mas present (never too early for X'mas eh?=D), you may consider it as a gift to your beloved kids or their friends too.
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Also, we have few tips on sand play too:
1. Depending on the age of
the child, adult supervision will be required;
2. Ensure that your children
wash their hands after play;
3. If the dry sand becomes
wet, you should dry it out;
4. As seen in the picture below, cover the sand after use and keep the pets away from it;
5. Sand and water reflect the sun so
remember children should wear sunscreen when playing outdoors for any length of
time.
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Besides water beads series, now we have another choice of space sand play series, regardless to your kids' preference to water play or sand play, the bonding time between parents and children are priceless eh? :)
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-Coming Up Next--> Sensory Play- Sand Play Superhero Series-
