The Joy of Sandboxes

The benefits of sandbox play go far beyond having fun. Creative, imaginative activity brings out the best in your children. They'll feel better about themselves, and they'll pester you less. When you see the peaceful relaxation that comes over them, you'll be tempted to climb in that sandbox yourself. Go ahead. The benefits work on you too.

The psychology of sand One reason sandbox play feels peaceful is because little minds are busy imagining, so they don't need a lot of external noise to occupy them. All psychologists agree that working with the hands focuses and relaxes the mind and restores one's internal balance. Knitting and woodworking have the same effect on adults. (So does playing in the sandbox, if we could just get you in it.) Relaxed, imaginative kids socialize better. They share easily, inspiring and encouraging each other. While they're exercising their hands and arms, they're stretching and developing their most natural muscle: the imagination.

It's good for you too

And how about the benefits to you? Your kids are busy and happy, out of your hair. Sandboxes don't need batteries every other day. They don't wear down, they don't break, your kids don't fight over who goes next, and they don't need an instruction manual. It is effortless entertainment, besides dusting your kids off and wiping that smile off their faces.

It's an education in social studies. Building sand castles? That's architecture and engineering. Hiding and discovering objects is archeology, studying those sparkly grains is geology. It's all performing arts. Filling and stacking buckets + volume and physics = math. Or construction technology?

Or just plain, unfettered fun. It's a happy kid who knows how to entertain himself. What a kid learns playing in the sandbox will last a lifetime.