Sand play has so many benefits for children, and what better season to get out and take advantage of these benefits than in summer!?
The excitement when I tell the children we’re heading to the beach for the day is palpable.
When my children were very young, these little outings proved extremely stressful. The need for sunscreen, little swimmers, swimsuits, towels, first aid kit, and all the beach accessories seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. Not to mention the amount of sand that I always knew would come home with us.
However, I did it anyway.
It was not always easy, but I persevered. The benefits were immediate. The children would be on their best behavior. They could run, scream, and play until their hearts were content. Those carefree days of playing in the sand and water are my favorites. As an added bonus, afterward, I always had snuggly, tired children, which led to a nice peaceful afternoon while they napped soundly.
So what benefits can come from sand play?
Sensory play is a very useful activity for children of all ages. A child getting their hands in the sand and water as they enjoy a day at the beach will benefit them in so many ways, not to mention, give you some time to soak in some sun.
Sand play promotes large motor skills through digging, sifting, scooping, and building.
Sand play promotes small motor skills through filtering sand with their fingers, patting the sand into castles or shapes, and measuring as they build.
Sand play also works on eye-hand coordination and small muscle control as children play with different sand accessories and add dimensions to simple sand creations.
A day at the beach in the summer is a perfect way to enhance a child’s learning experiences through their 5 senses.
Seeing: as the children look out at the water and the many other natural sights that surround the beach.
Hearing: as the children listen to the waves crashing and the different birds flying by.
Touching: as the children feel the textures of the sand and water, rocks and seashells
Smelling: as the children absorb the scents that come with sand and water, and possibly nearby flowers
Tasting: as the children taste the different aromas in the air, whether it’s salt or freshwater(hopefully they can be encouraged to NOT taste the water or sand though).
At the beginning of each summer, I head to the local dollar store and stock up on some fun sand/beach accessories.
I grab strainers, funnels, shovels, buckets, toy boats and cars, frisbees, cups and any other fun items that catch my eye. The more unconventional the better!
So the next time you want to add some fun, excitement, and memories to the dog days of summer, consider loading up a tote full of fun sand accessories and heading to the beach.
