enter sand-baby

Ok, I know, I'm really stretching it with that post title. But I just want to tell you about the Christmas gift that my Hubs made for the Baby. 
A Sand Table! Do you remember this kind of thing from when you were little? I had both a Sand Table and a Water Table in my Kindergarten classroom as a kid, and I remember both of them very fondly.

Just in case the name is not self-explanatory enough, I'll tell you that this is basically an indoor sandbox on legs. I thought that Hubs was slightly crazy when he told me he was going to make this for the Baby. Let me see, a box full of dirt in our HOUSE! Can you say MINI-VAC? But we decided to put it on the flagstones by the patio door, and so far, it hasn't been much trouble in the clean-up department. We just keep a little broom and dust-pan at the ready, and clean up spills before they get tracked around. 

You can see here how tall it is. It also has a lid, so when it is covered it is a nice, toddler-height table, perfect for running little cars around on. Did I mention that my Hubs made this? Without a pattern or plan or anything! I'm so impressed with it. And the Baby is just crazy about it. I can tell because he's usually a very easygoing little guy, and at almost 19 months we still don't have many tantrums, but we did get quite an outburst the other morning just before nap-time when he wanted to play with the sand table and was not allowed to. There was definitely some angry protest-crying. But I think we'll take it as a compliment to the high quality and great play-value of the new sand table. 

Its a good teaching tool as well. Playing with the sand table involves a few rules, and some supervision. Sand must stay IN the sand table, (a challenging concept) and not every toy is allowed to go in there. And if any eating of the sand occurs, sand table time is over. Ditto for throwing of sand, but we haven't hand any of that yet, and I hope it stays that way. It also makes a great play environment for his other true love - the tractors. We are up to three now, and they all play together very nicely in the sand. He can't be left alone at the sand table to play, but he is so engrossed by it that I can bring a cup of tea and a magazine along and he will happily keep busy long enough for me to go cover to cover. 

I'm pretty sure that it is the biggest hit of all the Christmas gifts. Which is very rewarding, as it was a hand-made one. He's a pretty tactile kid, and is becoming more away of textures and little bits of things that he finds on the ground, and he's always loved to put his fingers in the sand. I'm going to add some pinecones and stones to it as well, just to give it a bit more variety, and outdoorsy-ness. And during these chilly days of winter when he does not get to go outside as often, its like having a little bit of the outdoors on the inside.   

Comments

[Zonnah]

Very cool! Now you just need the water table :P

[steph]

Yeah, but not by the sand table! Can you imagine the mess? :)

Wow. Totally impressed, too. It really is cool!

I love it when my hub gets handy like this; he designed and made a custom top to our fish tank and I was so pleased and proud I took photos and such too. My enthusiasm was also supposed to be encouragement but I haven't seen anything new since...

[finger thumb]

Yes, so true. Too much sand table to water table proximity and we might just as well build a mud table!

And if your hubs is anything like mine, enthusiasm or no enthusiasm, he will only make something if the spirit moves him!

[Marcia Van Drunen]

Just got all caught up.
And all I have to say is thanks.
Oh, and keep writing and posting pictures :)
Happy New Year!

[finger thumb]

oh, you are so, SO welcome Marcia. Its my pleasure.

[Rebekah]

This is such a great table! I remember these from elementary school and your son is going to have such fun playing with it (heck, I'd have fun playing with it if it were in my house)