Most children will find that sandpits are exciting and fun at around one to one and a half years, although many will love the sandpit from earlier than that, and some will not like it at all until they are older.
Playing in sand can be a great developmental activity for babies and toddlers, and it can help to develop there cognitive and motor skills. The texture is fascinating for many children, and, if your child plays in a sandpit in a park, they can learn to develop social skills too, by playing with other children.
However, sand can also be dangerous. Young children tend to put everything in their mouths, and eating sand can be a problem, particularly if there’s bacteria in it!
Then there’s the risk of sand in your child’s eyes – painful and unpleasant!
If you’re wary about the risks, you can make a ‘sandpit’ indoors, using something like rice, cornmeal or oats, and let your baby scoop and bury/uncover small toys. You could also opt for a ‘ball pond’ that is safe for your child to play in.
Playing in sand can be a great developmental activity for babies and toddlers, and it can help to develop there cognitive and motor skills. The texture is fascinating for many children, and, if your child plays in a sandpit in a park, they can learn to develop social skills too, by playing with other children.
However, sand can also be dangerous. Young children tend to put everything in their mouths, and eating sand can be a problem, particularly if there’s bacteria in it!
Then there’s the risk of sand in your child’s eyes – painful and unpleasant!
If you’re wary about the risks, you can make a ‘sandpit’ indoors, using something like rice, cornmeal or oats, and let your baby scoop and bury/uncover small toys. You could also opt for a ‘ball pond’ that is safe for your child to play in.
