Sand play is fun and educational (Woolworths Play Sand)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Woolworths Play Sand
Date:	20/10/07 (199 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good clean play sand

Disadvantages: none

I think sand and water are one of the best play mediums you can give your child.
I think I could safely say all or very nearly all childcare / nursery schools have a sand pit or tray a child can access. My grandchildren spend many hours playing in their sand pit outside their backdoor its great as this area has a roof to shelter the little ones when they are playing outside with the sand.
I also have a smaller sand tray at my house it lives in the conservatory where we can sit with the children.

I have bought sand from Woolworths for my grand children's sand pit. Play sand is available at other outlets, but I bought a couple of bags of Woolworths play sand in the sale.
This play sand comes in a10kg bag, this costs about £1.50-£2.00 a bag can not remember for sure. My local woollies had none in stock when I looked after work today.


Play sand is better for your children to play with than builders sand as play sand will not stain like builders sand does. Play sand is recommended for use with children it specially graded for children and washed .
The play sand from Woolworths is not unlike the play sand from mother care the ELC or many other outlets. I bought it from woollies as it was easy for me to get and it was in the sale.

Why I think sand is a good toy.
_

Sand helps children develop many skills. Primarily it is a sensory experience good for using with my special children at school. Do not just encourage young children to feel it with their hands but let them put their feet on sand feeling the rough sand and the way their feet sink into it and let the sand run over their toes. Wet the sand and let your child feel that, make a foot print.
Now explore a little further. Plays with dry sand first sieve it pour it see how the sand runs and falls. Add some water and see how it reacts differently your child can mould it into pies and castles.
Your child is exploring science, learning volume, pouring, discovering the properties of sand learning as they play.

While your child is playing with the sand give them some tools to play with and your Childs hand eye co-ordination will develop. Their fine motor skills will be improved too.
Any sand play toys are good in a sand pit, you can purchase a variety buckets, spades a sieve or use an old spoon a washed out yoghurt pot.

When playing with sand your child will learn about changes, the difference adding water makes. Your child will learn about causes and effects, what happened when you tap out wet sand from a bucket what happens when you knock the sand castle over.
Wet sand is also good for writing letters on tracing the letters into the sand either with a finger or a tool.
After the first exploratory sand play your child will learn construction making tunnels and buildings.
This constructive play will soon develop into dramatic play, your child using the "digger" to build a house, to build a road., listen to your child while they are playing they are in a world of their own.

Sand play is good for your Childs vocabulary too learning words like wet, dry, sift pour. Learning the words for capacity empty, full. Please talk to your children while they are playing.
Playing with sand can also develop social skills, learning to share, learning to play with each other.
Yes sand is a really good play material.

There are many outdoor and indoor sand trays/pits available from many different outlets or you can use and old container. Just one thing id you keep your sand pit in the garden do put a lid on it other wise it may become the neighbourhood cat loo.
Now as winter draws nigh you might not think that it's good to buy sand for your child at home, but there is no reason why you can not use sand inside the house. Use a smaller container, put an old shower curtain under the sand tray and have a dustpan and brush at the ready.

Hazards with sand
-----
Most children will try and eat sand do not worry too much as it can not do much harm will not usually hurt anyone and your child will discover it does not taste or feel nice in the mouth. Just say that was silly sand is not for eating it's for playing with, it does not taste nice does it.
Sand in the eyes, yes it happens, your Childs friend may throw some sand this should be discouraged. If a little sand does get into a Childs eye tell the child not to rub they eye and get the child to blink a lot and this should wash the sand out flush the eye by pouring clean water over the eye this will help wash the sand away with lots of blinking. The sand will wash to the corner of the eye gently wash it out with more water or dab it out. Keep an eye on the child after If the child continues to have sore red eyes you will need to see a doctor

Playing in sand is fun and while your child is playing they are learning. Playing is a Childs work, go on enjoy playing learning with your child in their sand pit with a bag of play sand from Woolworths it really is worth it.




I wrote and posted this review in june this year unfortunatly in wrong category . This review has been deleted from that category and a new category made for me to place this review correctly . Thanks for reading and rating Mary .
I feel very strongly that sand play is a really good medioum for childs play .

Summary: clean sand for your childs sand pit