The whole kit can be used in a sandbox or at the beach. The rake, shovel, and bucket are good for small hands and offer ways for younger kids to get used to the feeling of sand while developing fine motor skills, and the molds and sifters offer a more hands-on sensory experience. The wagon, which is also a carrying vessel for all the toys, allows kids to practice pushing and pulling over the sand, which “provides heavy work and resistance to muscles and joints,” says Mulligan. toys Wavy-Wagon tops our list because it comes with a wide variety of toys recommended by an occupational therapist because they offer different opportunities for skill building and development. Additionally, a family physician on our Review Board reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity surrounding what to look for in sand toys and how to play in the sand safely.

We looked for options that are age appropriate, safe, durable, and that will keep kids entertained for hours at a time. To select the best sand toys for kids, we interviewed two child development experts, talked to dozens of parents, and researched hundreds of toys available on the market. And let’s not forget that kids can pretty much play with sand toys independently, so maybe you’ll even get to sit down for a minute and enjoy the outdoors. It also promotes imaginative play, which is at the core of developing problem-solving skills, practicing social scripts, learning cause and effect, and fostering creativity, she says. In particular, it can provide age-appropriate challenges for a child’s tactile system. They may think of them as just a few buckets, shovels, and molds, but sand toys can really unlock a world of imaginative play and support the development of all kinds of important skills learned during childhood.Īccording to occupational therapist Jessica Mulligan, OTR-L, playing in the sand promotes sensory exploration and development.

Color emotions wheel for kids