Sand & Water Table Ideas

Sand and water tables stimulate a variety of senses and address various skills for young children. The hands-on educational tool allows children to manipulate and explore a variety of materials placed in the table. The sensory experience increases fine motor skills, use of imagination, scientific understanding and the ability to cooperate with their peers. Sand and water tables require constant supervision, particularly with young children, as many objects placed in the table could become a choking hazard.

Container Ideas

Commercially produced sand and water tables offer a sturdy base for sensory exploration activities. These tables offer a free-standing play area with sections for the sand or other materials. Commercial sand and water tables vary in size, with most allowing at least three or four children to gather around the table at the same time. Other container options save on the budget and space. Plastic totes, bowls, baby bath tubs or dish pans work well for holding the sensory materials. These ideas provide an option for individual sand and water tables for the kids and stack easily when play time is complete.

Accessory Ideas

Accessories in the sand and water table provide tools for manipulating the materials in the table. Toy cars and trucks allow the kids to create roads and move the material around the table. Household items provide inexpensive sand table tools that encourage exploration and discovery. Ideas for household items include slotted spoons, plastic cups, empty yogurt containers, sponges, colanders, measuring cups, funnels, sponges, kitchen utensils and cookie cutters. A storage container for the sand table accessories keep all of the tools together.

Food Filler Ideas

Sand and water typically fill a sensory table for kids. Expanding the options for sensory table fillers allows for more learning opportunities in the classroom. Dry food items offer a reusable option for sensory exploration. Dry food ideas include rice, dry beans, uncooked pasta, popcorn, seeds, salt, coffee beans and cereal. Wet food items provide a different texture but should only be used for a short time to avoid mold and other contamination. Options include cooked pasta, gelatin, pudding, cooked oatmeal, mashed potatoes and the inside of a pumpkin. Young children may find themselves tempted to taste the food items, making close supervision key when food is used.

Household Filler Ideas

Household items offer an inexpensive filler for the sensory table while expanding the opportunity for learning. Items to recycle into a filler or base material include fabric scraps, shredded paper, sand paper, newspaper, straws, pebbles, balls, buttons and foil. The sensory table takes on a holiday theme by gathering related household items as fillers. Wrapping paper, bows, confetti, Easter eggs, Easter grass and holiday ornaments work well for holiday-themed sensory tables. Nature items, such as pine cones, acorns, leaves, dirt and snow, fill the table with items that allow for scientific exploration.

Water Ideas

Water combined with cups and other objects allows kids to explore its properties. Other items added to the water enhance the experience and educational value of the activity. Ice cubes, bath toys, plastic fish and boats allow kids to explore the idea of floating and sinking. A doll and washcloth provides your kids the chance to practice washing. Toy cars turn a water table into a car wash. Adding dirt to the water to create mud provides a messy and educational twist to the water table. Homemade bubble mix can be made for the water table by combining a cup of water, one-third cup of liquid dish soap and two tbsp of light corn syrup. Straws, fly swatters, pipe cleaners and hangers work well as homemade bubble blowers.