In the eyes of psychologists, babies like to play with sand because such games make them feel happy, and it is of great value to promote the development of babies. Playing with sand is not just a game, but more importantly, it has too many benefits for the growth of babies. Here are 7 benefits of playing with sand:
1. Develop sensory perception
The early development of infants and toddlers is mainly the development of sensory movement, and sand can provide special sensory perception. During the process of playing with sand, they will come into contact with sand of different textures, such as wet sand, dry sand, sand with different particle sizes, etc. Sand has fluidity, it will sink when stepped on, and it can slide down from the top of the sand pile. Especially when grabbing a handful of sand, the flow of sand grains through their fingers will give young children a special feeling, and their sensory perception will become increasingly sharp.
2. Increase recognition ability of spatial relationships
Playing the "filling and pouring" game with sand adds even more fun. Through shoveling sand, babies gain a preliminary understanding of the relationship between the bucket (container) and the sand (contents), especially when the container filled with sand is turned upside down and various shapes appear, which further develops the baby's understanding of spatial relationships.
3. Practice hand coordination and promote the development of hand muscles
When playing with sand, babies slap the sand or use a shovel to scoop it up, this action helps develop fine wrist movements in children, improves limb coordination, and also controls the motion of hand muscles. It promotes both physical and brain development.
4. Playing with sand can develop creativity
Creativity is the core of intelligence. There is no fixed way to play with sand and no necessary outcome, so it gives babies a lot of room to fully unleash their imagination and creativity. They can dig holes and trenches in the sand at will, interesting games prompt babies to "invent" different ways to play, and gradually their creative awareness and ability grow.
5. Gain emotional satisfaction
Playing with sand brings great satisfaction and a sense of achievement to babies. When babies play with sand freely and unrestrainedly, their mood naturally becomes cheerful. Babies can play in their own favorite way, experiencing the joy of self-control, and their mood will be pleasant. For babies who lack self-confidence or are more introverted, playing with sand brings even greater satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
6. Deepen the affection between parents and children
Playing with sand can deepen the bond between parents and children. If there is a beach nearby, you should play with your child together. If not, fill a larger container with sand to create a small beach for your child, and prepare some necessary tools for them, such as clothes, buckets, shovels, etc. Every toy carries a certain degree of danger, so parents need to teach children how to protect themselves.
7. Learn about sand
When babies play with sand, they discover its characteristics. For example, dry sand is loose, while wet sand can be formed into lumps or used to dig holes. Water looks transparent, if sugar is put into water, the sugar will slowly disappear, but if sand is put into water, the sand will still remain in the water. They will also understand that sand and water are very useful in life, building tall buildings requires sand, babies need to drink water in daily life, and small animals and flowers on the windowsill also need water...
Sand is a gift from nature to babies, and this natural material is by no means inferior to expensive toys. Playing with sand is the closest contact with nature, making babies so fascinated that they forget to leave.