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5 Sensory sandbox learning opportunities

5 Sensory sandbox learning opportunities

Posted by Jess Goodwin on 22 May 2022

Take your sandbox to new depths by sprinkling in these creative yet simple sensory learning experiences.

Kids have been playing in sand for years, even centuries. And I think we can all agree there is nothing better than sinking your hands and feet into the cool sand. Pathways.org says children who play in “the sand by themselves and with others helps them to develop fine motor skills” along with other developmental skills. There are many ways to encourage critical thinking with the activities you choose.

With the benefits of sand play in mind, let’s sink into some easy learning opportunities you can do at home with your child.

1. Blocks

Take some blocks or shapes you have at home and bury them in your sandbox. Do this out of sight of the child. Then call them in and start asking them to find certain color shapes or specific shapes in the sand. This causes them to think and identify the colors and shapes while also encouraging digging and fine motor skills.

Simplay3's sensory sandbox ideas: an assortment of colorful blocks on the floor in front of a child's feet.

2. Counting Bears

Place your counting bears all around your sandbox. Try to add more of a certain color, or just use two colors. Then you can ask your child to count how many of a certain color there are. You can ask questions in different ways. “Can you count the red bears? Can you take out all the blue bears? How many green and yellow bears are there?”

Simplay3's sensory sandbox ideas: red, yellow, blue and green counting bears in a pile of all sizes on a table

3. Letters

If your child is learning to recognize letters or spell their name, place magnetic letters or block letters into your sandbox and start asking questions. Ask them to find the letters in their name or spell their name as they find the letter. You can also encourage them to trace their name in the sand with their finger.

Simplay3's sensory sandbox ideas: alphabet letters made of felt and in all colors across a white background

4. Animals

Animal recognition is also a skill that can be easily taught with your sandbox. Take your child’s plastic animals and let them find their favorite animal or specific animals, even future anthropologists can get in on the action by digging for dinos! If your child is a little more advanced, you can ask for ocean animals or animals for the jungle. Your questions can adjust to your child’s level of development.

Simplay3's sensory sandbox ideas: a toy elephant, lion, zebra, cheetah, and rino in a line on a table

5. Other Mediums

With your sandbox, pit or tub, you can substitute the sand for water, rice, beans or other sensory mediums. You can even mix in sand with these and encourage your child to create new worlds like a coral reef or castle in their sandbox!

Simplay3's sensory sandbox ideas: water orbs that kids play with in a bowl

These activities can be done in a sandbox, pit or tub. We recommend these from Simplay3.com.

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