Let’s be optimistic about the summer. Let’s pretend that April and May just swapped places to confuse us. In advance of the lovely summer we ARE going to have, Mimitoys has got together a range of Sand and Water Toys to get you thinking of recreating a bit of beach fun in the garden.
Water Fun - the most obvious place to play with water is in the bath and everyone always has great fun splashing in the tub and playing with their favourite bath toys. But what about changing the venue to somewhere where it doesn’t matter how much splashing goes on? In the garden they can still play with bath toys but they can add bigger toys or whatever they see around them. (Hide the cat.) They’ll have great fun discovering what floats or sinks, bathing their favourite dolls, sailing their boats, washing up their play teasets and, best fun of all, squirting anyone in range with squirty bath toys or empty shampoo/washing up bottles.
Making bubbles is also great fun outdoors where you don’t have to worry about slippery floors. Save yourself having to bathe them that evening by adding bath bubbles to a paddling pool and handing them a whisk! A paddling pool like our TP Boat Sandpit is ideal for outdoor water play but great fun can also be had with only a washing up bowl on the grass!
Oh, and I know I don’t need to say this but I will anyway. Never leave your toddler on their own when playing with water.
Sand Fun - We stock a variety of sandpits at Mimitoys and a lovely range of Sand Toys, but it’s important to use your imagination and look at the everyday things around you that can add to the fun. It really is worth getting sterilised play sand for your sandpit if you want your child to stay clean.
Sand play differs greatly depending on whether the sand is dry or wet. Think about what you can do with wet sand - build sand castles, write words and make patterns, draw pictures and decorate them with shells, leaves, etc. My kids love making sand landscapes with mountains, twig trees and roads and then adding trucks and little figures for great adventures.
Dry sand is less versatile, but very tactile as it runs through your fingers. Funnels and sand mills are great for younger kids. Give them containers of all shapes and sizes with a range of scoops and spoons for measuring games. Miniature treasure hunts are also popular - hide some favourite household items or toys in the sand for your toddler to find.
I should also add that outdoor sand and water playtime can be very relaxing for adults too - little or nothing to clean up afterwards, and that therapeutic feeling of water and sand running through fingers isn’t just confined to children!
Tags: baby toys, early learning toys, outdoor toys, sand and water play, sand play, toy shop, toy store, water play, wooden toys