Ideas for Sand Play

• Put the infant's feet in a dishpan filled with sand. Talk to the infant about how the sand feels ("The sand feels cool" or "The sand feels rough on your hands"). Spray a little water on the sand. Encourage the infant to kick her feet in the sand.
• Sprinkle handfuls of sand on a tray. Place the tray in front of the infant. Show the infant how to pat the sand. Give the infant a plastic spoon and let her tap and scoop the sand.
• Provide one year olds with small plastic bowls filled with sand. Show the child how to scoop the sand. Provide plastic cups and let the child fill and empty the cups. Talk to the child during play ("How does the sand feel?" or "The sand feels wet").
• Place the child in a sandbox filled with clean play sand. Give the child scoops, spoons, and animals for play.

Appropriate Sand Toys

• Small plastic bowls
• Soft vinyl animals
• Plastic spoons

What Can I Use Instead of Sand?

* Try a variety of items for sand play.

• Soft, shredded paper
• Rice
• Cornmeal
  
  

* Do NOT use these items.

• Beans (young children could poke them inside their nose or ears)
• Small erasers (young children could choke on these)

• Small muscle development in hands
• Hand to eye coordination