What do you have in your Sand & Water table

The girls used their new sand & water table yesterday. I just put water in it and I can tell that the sand/water combo is going to be a real mess. I would go with just water but Emma's favorite thing in the world right now is her shovel.

So - is there another option to sand that works well? I have heard of people using rice, but what kind and what happens when the water gets on it?

Thanks!!

 

Day care teacher here who saw this thread in the "new posts" area.

Rice in a sand table doesn't do much when it hits water, you can just scoop it out.

I've used just about everything in a "sand" table

-beans
-corn meal
-popcorn kernels
-dried pasta
-potato flakes (which do do something when they hit water)

I've also done kibble and popped corn but with older kids.

You can buy special beads for sand tables too, check out your local teacher store.

 

I was going to say the SAME thing as Kendra!

Sand & kids are not a good combo in my opinion. My ex's nephew ended up in the hospital for getting sand in his eyes and things have never been the same for him. I bought a sand water table and then I sold it and bought a water table. They LOVE it!!!!

 

When I first bought the sand and water table I did use sand and it was a mess. All they did was mix the two together. I usually just fill it with water because my kids love to play in water with cups. During the winter I brought it inside and cleaned it up and would put cheerios and marshmallows in it for them to eat and play with since they love to play with their food. At my daughters school they had a sensory table which is like a sand/water table but not split up in which they put ground coffee, cereal, rice, water, sand (when not filled with water) and that sort of thing.

Hope this helps.

 

I like beans or rice and water! Beans and rice are just as fun as sand! Thanks for posting that list, Kendra!

 

Well, we just got one last week.

I put rice in it and put it outside.

DS dumped it over after about an hour because it is about waist height for them and well, I guess he wanted to test his strength? Whoopie. Now I have an empty table and rice all over my yard. Sorry birds.

While it was operational, they did like it, but they were grabbing handfuls and letting it fall outside of the table onto the ground.

 

I haven't put ours up yet, but we are planning on just using water. I'm assuming they would mix sand and water, making a big mess, or worse, as a pp said, they could get the sand in their eyes. So my answer... water only. If your daughter really likes the shovel, she could use it with the water... or there are a lot of other things she could use in it... strainers, funnels, etc.
Good luck!
Helen

 

We let them use the sand and water and yes, it is a mess, but it's outside so I don't really care. They truly love playing with it. I let the sun dry up all the water (when they are done playing) that I can't drain myself. Then, the sand can be used again next time. I always start it out with the water on one side and the sand on the other, but it doesn't last for too long. My feeling is that it doesn't stain their clothes (everything washes off) and I make sure they aren't full of sand when they come back inside. And in the warmer months, they wear their bathing suits when they play with it.

 

I have a daycare in my home and our sand/water table is inside. I refuse to put actual sand in it. But, I have bought a lot of different foam shapes to use in the table. Some are letters, some are foam beads that they can lace on string. It keeps the mess down and the kids love the new activities. I rotate the things in the table every couple of weeks or so.

 

I did dry oatmeal in mine during the winter- it does get icky after awhile- we are by the beach and when it is foggy- everything is damp. But for a few days they have an absolute ball with it!!!! Our dog usually ate the stuff they dropped! We put water in it now that it is nice weather and all their outside toys. Now our problem is they like to climb in and sit in it!!! It think it is time for a little wading pool at our house!!!
Next winter, I'll have to try beans and big beads.... good ideas!!!
Lanie

 

We have sand but we keep it outside so I don't care about the mess part of it..I do not put water in it though just all sand and then they get one bucket of water to pour in to mush with. Be careful about using rice, beans etc if it is outside...little critters will have a field day with it, that happened to by SIL with hers.

 

Just thought of another thing that went really well yesterday!!!! ICE!!!! The boys had so much fun scooping and dumping and watching it melt!!! I got the chance to clean out the ice maker from the fridge that way!
Lanie

 

I went to a kidsfest today and they had a sandbox filled with bird seed. The kids went crazy for it. My girls would have played in it all day if we would have let them.

 

things I have seend in a sand/water table

dry beans, peas, lentils
dry oatmeal.
plus other things listed. rice, etc
also dirt only - no water -- potting soil mix

 

[SIZE=12pt]When I worked at the daycare we used rice or birdseed. I bet the twins wold love one of those. They have dumped almost all the sand out of their sandbox so I might would stick with water for a while for my two lol[/SIZE]