logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Online Classes
  • Learning Center
  • My BabySparks
  • Login
  • Join Us

    • Contact Us

    • Logout
  • My Profile
    • Contact Us
    • Logout
  • es
  • Prev
    Toddler utensil use milestones 0
    Spoons & Forks: How Toddlers Learn to Use Them
    06 October 2020
    Next
    Healthy toddler snacking 0
    Toddler Snacks: Why They’re Important & How to Keep Them Healthy
    03 December 2020
    Cognitive
    Developmental Benefits of Sand Play
    2 December, 2020 by BabySparks in Cognitive

    Developmental benefits of sand playThere’s nothing quite like watching a baby play in the sand for the first time. Watching her eyes widen as she scoops it up and slowly lets it trickle through her fingers is nothing short of magical. Sand play is not only fun, but also quite valuable as well. Sand play provides countless developmental benefits to infants and toddlers. Regardless if it’s at the playground, in a sandbox, at a sand table, or at the beach, playing with sand can provide a lot more than a good time! Check out the many benefits of sand play below.

    Highlights: 

    • Sand play isn’t only fun, it also provides many developmental benefits for little ones!
    • It builds sensory development in three key areas:
      • Tactile Sense – Sense of touch, pressure, and temperature. 
      • Vestibular Sense – Ability to understand how their body moves and balances.
      • Proprioceptive Sense – Awareness of how the body navigates their environment. 
    • Sand play also promotes gross and fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, social skills, language skills, and even boosts immunity. 
    • Always be sure to inspect the sand at the beach, playground, or sandbox to be sure that it’s a safe area for your child to play. 

    Sand Play Builds Sensory Development

    There are three key sensory areas that are strengthened through sand play:

    Tactile Sense – This is your child’s sense of touch, pressure, temperature, and detection of vibrations. For example, when she discovers the difference between warmer sand in the sun and cooler sand in the shade, she’s exercising her tactile senses.

    Vestibular Sense -This is her ability to understand how her body moves and balances over surfaces. For example, kneeling in the sand with a shovel in her hand helps her to understand how to move her weight around without toppling over.

    Proprioceptive Sense– This is her awareness of her body parts and how they work in her surroundings. When we navigate a crowded room or walk on an uneven surface without looking down, those are examples of our proprioceptive and vestibular senses working together. Pushing a toy truck through the sand or pouring sand from a bucket are both examples of activities that strengthen these senses.

    Sand Play Promotes Physical Development

    Playing in the sand is terrific for developing motor skills, building hand-eye coordination, and strengthening muscles. Your child exercises her fine motor skills when she learns how to properly hold a shovel in her hand. And her gross motor skills get a workout when she attempts to lift a bucket filled with sand. Almost every movement is significant to her physical development when engaging in sand play!

    Sand Play Builds Creativity and Imagination

    There are endless creative possibilities when it comes to sand play! You can go the traditional route of building sandcastles, moats, mountains, or bridges. You can arrange sand into different shapes. You can change the texture of sand by adding water. Your child can create her own little world in a sandbox! Provide tools or toys, such as cars, buckets, shovels, or animals to really let her imagination run wild.

    Sand Play Develops Social and Language Skills

    Playing in the sand is an enjoyable form of independent play, but it’s also a great way for her to interact with others. When toddlers share sand toys or dig a hole together, they’re not only practicing social skills like turn-taking and collaboration, but also using problem-solving and language skills as well. Plus, achieving a goal together provides a great sense of accomplishment they can share with friends!

    Sand Play Boosts Immunity

    If you’re the type of parent that cringes at the idea of your child getting dirty, you’re not alone. Keeping them clean and healthy is all part of the job! However, research shows that kids who play outdoors in the grass, sand, or dirt have healthier immune systems than kids that are constantly in sterile, indoor environments. Playing in the sand can actually boost their immunity.

    That said, it is important to always inspect the sand thoroughly. If you’re going to the beach, a playground, or a sandbox, make sure the sand is free of debris, such as broken glass. Check for animal droppings or anything else that produces harmful bacteria. If the sand smells funky or appears to be an odd color, it’s probably best to skip the sand play that day! If you’re hoping to build a sandbox or sand table in the backyard, there are a few brands that are safe for kids that you can find online or at your local hardware store.

    • Sandtastik Sparkling White Play Sand
    • Safe Sand Natural White Play Sand
    • CoolSand Deluxe Bucket Kinetic Play Sand
    • Jurassic Mojave Beige Play Sand
    • ACTIVA Scenic Sand
    • Be Good Company Natural Sand

    Be sure to check out the sand activities in our BabySparks personalized development program!

    0 Comments
    • language skills
    • motor development
    • sensory
    • social skills
    • toddler
    • baby
    • child
    • fine motor
    5 Like!
    Share
    BabySparks

    Recent comments

      Tags

      baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
      ABOUT US
      THE TEAM
      CHILDCARE PROVIDERS
      TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
      support@babysparks.com
      Copyright © 2021 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
      logo
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
      (All Prices in USD)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
      Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

      Form of Payment

      Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
      Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

      Number of children:

      x per child

      Total Amount

      SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      * Required field
      Buy now BS

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

      Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

      Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

      Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

      Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

      Cancel your subscription at any time

      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
      Your account
      Change your password
      X
      EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
      Update payment method
      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
      X
      UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
      Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      Update your package at any time
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 23 99

      per year

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      How does it work?

      You can change your activity package at any time.

      The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

      You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

      Cancel Activity Package
      shapeCheck

      shapeCheck

      X
      LOGIN BABYSPARKS

      Forgot your password?

      X
      PASSWORD RESET
      X
      RESET PASSWORD
      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 1 of 2
      Create Your Account

      Already Have an Account? Login

      X
      GET BABYSPARKS
      Step 2 of 2
      Logged in as: (Not me)
      Select Your Activity Package
      (All Prices in USD)
      Pay as you go

      1 Month

      $ 3 99

      per month

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      50% Discount

      1 Year

      $ 1 99

      per month

      Paid Annually: $23.99
      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      60% Discount

      Lifetime

      $ 39 99

      one time

      YOUR OFFER

      $ 2 99

      BabySparks Premium Gives You…

      Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

      An expert-created program to support your child’s development

      Weekly development reports summarize progress

      Browse activities for any situation

      Expert-written articles about development

      Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

      Add up to 5 babies to your account

      Cancel your susbcription at any time

      * Required field
      Buy now BS
      By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.