Toddler

There are safety concerns around sand, especially with young toddlers who may put it in their mouths. Camuti suggests:
• Keep the sand clean. Use sterilized sand and keep it covered when not in use — backyard sandboxes are the preferred litter boxes for outdoor cats. Camuti actually replaces her sand every six weeks.

• Wash sand toys regularly.

• In public playgrounds, scope out the sandbox to make sure it’s relatively clean and free of dangerous objects. Bring a child’s rake to comb through and check the sand where your child is playing.

• Wash your child’s hands after he’s been in the sandbox. Bring wipes or no-water hand cleansers to the park.

What if you don’t have a backyard? You can bring sand play, or something like it, indoors:
• Keep sterilized sand in a large plastic storage bin with a lid.

• You can also use cornmeal or rice instead of sand. Rice doesn’t pack into shapes, but it sifts through your fingers in a very satisfying way.

• Whatever you use, a tarp or drop sheet under the container will keep the gritty fallout off your floor.

Isn’t it interesting that, in this age of “smart toys” and electronic everything, sand play still endures? “Natural materials offer children a different feel than a plastic toy,” observes Camuti. “There’s just a pleasure that comes from the natural substance of sand that you simply don’t get from other materials.”

Originally published in Today's Parent, June 2005