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A bag full of toys that just happen to trick kids into learning as well.
Fun and colorful 18-piece set. With tools of all shapes and sizes, this toy set is ideal for kids of all ages and for those learning to share as well. Parents love the backpack, which makes cleanup a breeze. We love that the products are BPA-free.
Sizes are not consistent and may not appeal to specific ages.
Charming and creative baking set inspires your child's imagination.
Sea-themed set includes whisk, spoon, and measuring cups. Turtle lid doubles as a strainer. Appeals to a wide range of kids from toddlers to preteens. High marks for sturdy and durable material.
Be careful, as the lid may come loose.
A piece of construction equipment that offers hours of fun for kids.
Innovative toy keeps kids' minds engaged while providing a fun, physical activity. Customers reports kids from ages 4 to 7 can use this toy. Holds up to 110 lbs. Easy to assemble for instant fun in the sand. Folds up so it's easy to store.
May require some replacement pieces for stability.
A history lesson in the sand allowing kids to learn about their favorite dinosaurs.
These miniature dinosaur figures make for a challenging game to find in the sand. Figures are 6 to 7 inches long. Made from flexible plastic. Can stand on their own. Allows adults and kids to get creative and create real-life excavation experiences. Provides hands-on and highly interactive play.
The figures may be smaller in size than anticipated.
Toys that kids will spend hours using to build the sand castle of their dreams.
23-piece set will keep your child entertained for hours. We love that the toys are kid sized and also smooth around the edges. Stands up well to rough play in the sand.
There are a few reports that the buckets may not withstand much weight.
We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
For kids, there's something magical about the gritty texture of sand as it passes through their fingers. Sandbox toys add to the fun by providing endless opportunities for them to create castles, moats, dinosaur digs, or a bakery in the backyard or at the beach.
And they’re great for your child’s development, too. Depending on the pieces that are included, sandbox toys can encourage both open- or close-ended play. They can help improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and even social skills.
Indeed, sandbox toys are an inexpensive way to provide children with countless hours of entertainment. However, before you buy, you’ll want to consider the best way to store them, whether portability is important, and what type of play your child is most interested in.
Sandbox toys get spread far and wide before children are through with them. Some sets include only a bucket and a shovel while others come with two or three dozen toys of all shapes and sizes. While the sets with lots of pieces may be calling your name, keep in mind that you'll have to keep track of and store all those pieces. Try to strike a balance between the number of pieces and your sanity.
Will your child be using the sandbox toys in a sandbox at home or out at the park or beach? If you'll be in your backyard, portability might not be an issue unless you need to store them somewhere other than the sandbox. However, if you want the option of taking them to the beach, sets that come with a carrying bag or tote are easy to grab on your way out the door and won’t slow you down too much when you have chairs, towels, umbrellas, and other things to carry.
How much space do you have? Buckets and shovels, spinners and dump trucks — they gobble space faster than you think. Decide where and how you’ll store the toys before you bring them home. Some sandboxes are large enough to store the toys inside while others will require you to store them in the garage. If you’re planning on taking the toys to the beach, sets that come with a plastic bin or bag are easy to store and can be tossed in the trunk of your car when it’s time to go.
Different kinds of toys may encourage different types of play. Take a good look at how and what your child likes to do to help you narrow down your choices to a set that complements his or her interests.
Plastic is by far the most common material used to make sandbox toys. Plastic’s ability to withstand water and sand makes it a great choice. It's also lightweight and portable. However, it breaks down faster than either wood or metal if left in the sun day after day, so be sure to put the toys away in the shade or in a garage or garden shed.
Wood and metal are the other two materials used to make sandbox toys, but they're far less common. Neither of them holds up to sand and water as well as plastic, but both do better in the sun. Metal toys are prone to rust, especially if they get a nick or scratch.
Something to think about with sandbox toys — the brighter the colors, the easier they are to find. When your son comes to you and tells you he thought it was a great idea to bury his favorite bucket, you’ll have a higher chance of finding it if it’s bright red.
In general, sandbox toys aren't small like a Matchbox car. Even small buckets, shovels, picks, and rakes are bulky and can be awkward to store. And some are large enough that there's not enough room left for your child and a few friends in the sandbox. Take a close look at the specifications and make sure you have the space necessary for the toy. Keep in mind that one large toy may not take up too much space, but a set of four or five of them may overload your storage.
Anything that comes with its own storage bag or container gets a big old star in our book. Without one, you'll either have to buy one separately or find some other way to keep the toys contained.
Sandbox toys can usually be found between $10 to $30. Within this range, most are plastic with anywhere from three to more than 30 pieces. But there are also wood and metal sets, too. The majority of these sets are brightly colored and may have a theme.
There are a few outliers in the $50 range that are typically either large, metal, or ride-on sandbox toys.
A. For the most part, all you’ll need to do is occasionally rinse the toys with moving parts. As long as the only place they’ll be used is in your sandbox, they won’t get much more than sand on them. Of course, if a cat decides to use your sandbox as a litter box, that’s another story. And if you take them to the beach, you’ll need to rinse off the saltwater, as it breaks down pretty much everything faster than freshwater.
A. The themes are wide and varied just like kids’ interests. Common themes include:
A. Durability depends on a few factors, including the material of the toys, how the toys are stored, and your climate. If properly stored out of the sun, most sandbox toys can last for several years. Thicker plastics will last longer than thin ones, especially if your kids like to load test their toys.
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