Sand and water have been entertaining toddlers since the dawn of humanity!
Are they simply fun toys, or can they play an important role in your toddler’s development?
In this post, I will take a look at the best sand and water toys for toddlers. I will also be looking at some of the benefits of these types of toys to your child.
The Anchors Away Pirate Ship by Little Tikes covers the fun from both angles.
Playing with sand and water toys will certainly give your toddler’s imagination a workout. Throw in a Pirate-themed toy, and their imagination will go into overdrive!
I mentioned above that there is a small danger that you will get wet if you are too close to your toddler playing. The Anchors Away Pirate Ship takes it a little bit further, too!
Why?
Because it comes with at least 1 item that squirts water!
First up, we have the cannon. Thankfully, the range is not that great. Secondly, we have a totally portable shark squirter. I’ll say that again:
Totally portable!
Which means you are a target wherever you are observing the play from.
The build quality of the Anchors Away pit is outstanding. Little Tikes really do know how to make toddler toys that are built to last!
Manufacturers recommended age: 2+
American Plastic Toy Sand and Water Play Set
With so many games to play, your toddler will spend hours of fun with this toy and sand toy!
Let’s take a look from a construction angle first.
This toy comes with a rotation crane and a dumpster to return the sand to the pit. This is a great toy for Toddlers obsessed with construction and will also help with developing hand-eye coordination.
Now we look at the sand and water play!
What I like most about this playset is the mini waterway which allows easy transportation of sand and water all the way to the other side.
This extremely sturdy, ultra-fun sand and water toy is perfect for Toddlers.
From a toddler’s perspective, the best thing about this toy is the water tower, which you can combine with the mountain to create a cascading waterfall.
If you know toddlers, then you will already know how much they love pouring water! Over, and over, and over, and over…
Another great thing about this toy is that you can cover the sand if you are not a fan of combining sand and water. Toddlers will happily play with either side for hours.
Obviously, when you have a toy with water and sand, you know they will get mixed up.
Along with the tables, you will also receive a small bucket, a weird half-shark scooper, and a toy rake/spade.
It is worth considering digging toys with this option too!
Manufacturers recommended age: 2+
Seaside Sidekicks Funnel Fun
Going to the beach? Then take a long this awesome sand and water toy by Melissa and Doug!
Melissa and Doug are very quickly becoming one of my favorite toy manufacturers! Not only do they appear on this list, but you will also see them on the following posts:
Problem-solving skills are vital. Some of the toys on this page offer your child the challenge of getting water or sand from one part of the toys to another.
It will not be long before they develop their problem-solving skills to overcome this.
Develops Cause And Effect Association
When you pour the water or sand into a funnel, the result is that it comes out the other side.
These toys offer something very similar, especially those with long, winding funnels or buckets or spinning water wheels.
These skills are vital for when your toddler reaches a School age and begins interacting with new friends!
Conclusion
In this post, I have detailed 5 items that I consider the best sand and water toys for toddlers. I also threw in some details about how these types of toys will aid your toddler’s development.
Let’s take a second to remember one critical point here:
Any toy that involves water can be dangerous.
Did you know that around 10 deaths per day can be attributed to (non-boating-related) unintentional drowning?
You must oversee any play that involves water! It is a parent or guardian’s responsibility to keep kids safe.
It is not just drowning that you need to be concerned about, either. If you have read several articles on my blog, you will already understand that keeping my toddler safe in his house is right at the top of my list of important Dad duties!
If your toddler is playing with water:
Do not let them run; they might slip over
Keep them away from electrical items; they might get a shock
