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Sand and water play has many surprising benefits for children, such as developing gross motor skills, emotional and social awareness, language expression, stimulating creativity, and improving math and science concepts. Sand and water play is sensory play, which allows children to learn through curiosity, problem-solving, exploration, and creativity.
1. Motor skills
Sand and water play offers children many opportunities to use and develop fine motor skills. For example, the children use the handle to hold the shovel, excavate and pour sand into the bucket. Using toys such as shovels, rakes, buckets, etc., not only does it support fine motor skills but also helps develop hand-eye coordination.
2. Language expression
When playing with sand and water with friends, children will talk to each other about things they have built from sand or thoughts they have while playing, providing an excellent opportunity for children to develop language expression and also encourages children to share ideas, helping to increase their vocabulary in a fun and relaxing learning environment. When children play with sand and water, teachers often ask them questions about their creativity and practice two-way communication. These interactions contribute positively to the development of children’s ability to express language.
3. Social and emotional awareness
Outdoor lessons and nature provide excellent learning opportunities in the child’s early years and offer the best environment for children to develop social skills and emotional awareness. Playing sand and water with friends encourages children to share, listen and cooperate, which supports empathy learning, and helps children become aware of other people’s feelings and how their actions can affect the feelings of others. Allowing children time to explore their personal feelings while playing with sand and water with friends enhances emotional development and the ability to self-regulate their own emotions and recognize what makes children happy, sad, excited, etc.
4. Math and science
Many young children love sensory activities such as sand and water play, which can provide a wealth of knowledge, especially mathematical and scientific thinking; for example, mathematical concepts of measurement and weight and scientific concepts such as the sinking and floating of various objects, and when dry sand and water are mixed, the sand becomes wet and usable to make different shapes.
5. Creativity and imagination
Playing with sand offers impressive benefits in helping children develop imagination and creativity, essential for academic success and boosting mental flexibility and knowledge acquisition. Also, the children can find their lifelong passion for learning.
