Little Tikes Construction Big Digger Sandbox

Product Information

We have been manufacturing sandpits for many years now. As the years go by we look into a variety of new and interesting products to add to our collection, so we can provide you with the best possible choice when buying for your children. From a completely blank canvas of sand and some toys, children are constantly creating new structures, objects, ways of transporting and moving sand, and new things to do with the substance. Children are creators by nature. Whatever you give them – sand, water, paper, playdough, anything – they will create something out of it.

Children learn through play. During the first 6 years, they learn more maths in the sandpit and the bath than they do in a formal lesson. Not only are they digging and excavating to find things that are buried, but they are also discovering the various layers and how the sand changes as they dig deeper – just like the earth. While children play, they are constantly solving problems. These real-life problems that need solutions form the basis for all kinds of problem-solving throughout school, including solving mathematical word problems. When a child makes a mud pie, they develop an understanding of one object (as well as no objects). They can conceptualize that their friend also has one object. So, how does a sand pit help a child’s development? Apart from the fact that sand play is highly therapeutic and relaxing, there are also many educational benefits to this messy play.When children play with toys in the sand, they develop this skill as they need their hands and eyes to work together to be able to create and build. Children also learn to compare, analyze and measure things informally in the sandpit. 2. Capacity and Volume In the sandpit, children are able to work on their finger muscle strength and control, especially when digging sand with their fingers, shaping sand and mud into shapes and putting fine details into their creations – e.g. placing small twigs (candles) in their mud “birthday cake.” 5. Eye-hand coordination

This is called incidental learning. They don’t really know they are analyzing the amountbut do it naturally. Are your children coming home from school filthy from head to toe? That could be a sign they’ve been engaging in sandpit play. It’s also a sign they’ve been learning. The early years are the time when hand-eye coordination should be formed. This helps children with activities such as playing ball games or cutting out a worksheet at school. 6. Gross Motor Development

These gross motor movements build the large muscles and strengthen the child’s body. They develop an awareness of their body in the sandpit and how they can use their body to accomplish tasks. 7. Language and Vocabulary The sand at the top is warm and dry, whereas it gets compact, colder and moister as you go down towards the bottom. They discover the properties of sand and water through exploration. When they are well developed, children will be able to control a pen or pencil and write when they start formal schooling. They also verbalize what they are doing, such as telling their friend about the ramp they are building for their cars to drive up. 8. Problem Solving They then start to make multiple objects. When one collapses or gets broken down, there is now one less. They compare how many objects they have with how many their friends have.

Children also explore different materials, both natural and man-made, and learn how things work and how they impact one another. 4. Fine Motor Development

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Children do not develop a concept of numbers when they start learning formally in kindergarten or Grade 1. This concept develops during play, long before they can understand that the symbol 1 stands for one item.

So, if your child comes home filthy from the sandpit every day, rest assured this is one of the best activities to be engaged in. The sand also provides an opportunity to create freely, without an adult asking for a specific outcome, as they might with a guided art activity. This means every creation gives the child a feeling of success and accomplishment. 10. Social SkillsBy the time a child learnsnumbers formally, they should have had enough play experiences over the years that they are then able to hold an abstract idea of, for example, 2 + 3. The sandpit is the perfect place for a child to further develop their vocabulary. It is also a good opportunity for a parent or teacher to verbalize what the child is doing, thereby teaching new vocabulary. While playing in a sandpit, children make movements such as digging, scooping, pouring, pushing and lifting. However, all of our sandpits have gone through extensive testing to ensure that they are both safe and durable allowing the user to enjoy it for years to come safe in the knowledge that it will not cause any harm. On top of this all of our sandpits are made to EN71 standards making them ideal for children to play in. You can be confident that the treatments used on the wooden sandpits will not be toxic or harmful to your little ones. It is also worth mentioning, that if you are to treat or stain the wood again in the future, to ensure you choose a product which is also child-friendly. Our Sand Sailor Sandpit is one of the most popular and well designed wooden sandpits currently on the UK market. Featuring a unique boat design as well as a folding bow which forms a lid for a storage space beneath and benches inside the boat. This innovative sandpit is a hugely attractive addition to any garden, and the added ship features such as a mast and steering wheel really add to the imagination experience. The seats and benches allow users to simply take a seat when they're not playing. The front of the ship has a folding lid, offering valuable storage space for toys or other garden equipment.