Young Academics - Benefits of Sand and Water Play

Bek Condello May 2022

Sand and water play has numerous benefits to a young child's sensory processing, fine motor skills and overall development. What may from the outside, look like a child just playing around with sand and buckets is them in the early stages of learning independent problem solving as well a range of other highly valuable and formative skills. They are making decisions about which are the right tools and implements needed to achieve what they are attempting to make (this is their fine motor skills), as well as sensory experiences such as an introduction to the dry grainy sand, or how it then changes when water is added.

While playing with other children at a daycare centre, they may also discuss with each other what they are creating or share their achievements with an adult who is supervising the activity. This can then lead to them learning how to look at what they have created and then considering how to use the appropriate adjectives to then describe what they have made to another person. At this point, the other children may also have thoughts on how to improve what they are creating. As an example, the other child may have a suggestion on how they can build a higher sandcastle. It is then up to the child making the sandcastle if they would like to take that feedback on board or ask the other child further questions to weigh up their options. They may also choose to not take on the feedback, and by doing this they are learning how to hear someone else's suggestion, but still ultimately make their own decision based on what they believe is best for them and what they are trying to achieve. These are the early stages of their rational thought processing development.

Independent and tactile play is pivotal in the early learning and development of a young child's brain. A child may not yet be ready to write using a pen, however, may start to write numbers or letters in the sand with their fingers or a stick. It gives them the option of trying something new, while also being able to instantly brush it aside if they would like to try again. As sand play is a lot less hands-on with supervision from parents or educators, it also allows them to create or make mistakes on their own. It is then up to them to decide if they would like to ask for help or call someone over to show them what they have created. This isn't to suggest however that child should be left unsupervised while playing in the sand. Doing this could leave them feeling anxious and unsafe. It is beneficial for them to know that an adult is close by should they need anything, but in a way that supports them to build confidence in themselves and create independence in a controlled and safe setting.

Tactile play for children who have sensory processing challenges, such as children with Autism can require a little more patience and observation with the child to ensure that they are comfortable and not over-stimulated. It is not impossible, however, and many children with sensory processing disorders (SPD) enjoy sand and water play immensely.

Of course, every child is different and what may be enjoyable for one, may not be for another, regardless of sensory challenges. A child may enjoy the texture of sand on their hands, but then get overly stimulated if the sand then gets wet and the texture changes. Another child may need the sand fully brushed off, or their hands rinsed immediately after play. For children with sensory issues, introduction to sand and water play may need to be a slower process with a gradual more structured introduction to the sand.

Placing some sand in a bucket or a container and letting them reach in and feel the texture at their own pace, in a way that they feel in control, may assist them in feeling more comfortable before actually sitting down in the sandpit with the other children.

Apart from the more obvious benefits of sand and water play as discussed above, it also has the additional benefit of increasing a child's immune system. Research in Finland involving 75 children in 2 separate cities showed that children who began sand play after living in more urban areas had a notable increase in their immunity. Coming into contact with smaller amounts of bacteria supports a child's early immune development and assists their body to begin learning how to process and understand the difference between harmful bacteria and bacteria at a safe level that it can adapt to.

To read more on the above-referenced research, it has been published in the Journal: Science Advances.