Sand Play is important for young children. As they manipulate sand they learn about basic math and science concepts, use language to describe what is happening and develop fine and gross motor skills.

Fun things to keep in your Sensory Area:

Cardboard tubes	cookie cutters	pails
gelatin molds	toy animals	spray bottles
measuring cups	toy people	measuring cups
plastic containers	toy cars	tractors
scoops	dinosaurs	shells
spoons	funnels	cups
baby dolls	bottles	socks(making roads)

Sand Alternatives can be:

Dried Beans	Rice	instant potatoes	dry cereal	Macaroni	water
crumbled cork	dried peas	bird feed	colored past	cornmeal	aquarium gravel

Sand Tables can be made from:

Bath tubs	plastic tubs	wading pools	dish pans
cardboard box	baby bath tub	big bowls	baskets

As always all children should be closely monitored at all times.

What can I do with sand? Many things such as:

measure it, hide things in it, sculpture it, make roads in it, walk in it, sand paint, make sand pictures, make sand playdough, write in it.

Sand Song: "I like Sand"

Sand can be wet, sand can be dry,
I like both, I'll tell you why.
I make sand castles with wet sand,
And pouring dry sand feels just grand.
Sand can be wet, sand can be dry,
I like both, I'll tell you why.
(Gayle Bitinger)

Some information from "Teaching Preschoolers: It looks like this...In pictures" by Jeannette G. Stone and from Totline exploring Sand and the Desert" by Gayle Bittinger-2 good resources every person should have.
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