Children playing sand, here are 5 benefits!

Most children, especially those just entering school age, are having fun playing outside with their friends. Encouraged by curiosity, children also begin to learn to explore the nature around them. One of the things that children often do when playing outside is playing with sand which provides various benefits for children.

The benefits of playing sand for children

No wonder parents often complain to see their children come home dirty after playing with sand. Parents are certainly worried that the remaining dirt from the sand will be dangerous for children's health.

In fact, letting children play with sand occasionally will actually be good for their development. Here are the benefits.

1. Playing sand trains children's motor skills

Not only dirty, this activity can also help improve children's motor skills, you know! Movements such as moving sand from one place to another and playing with a shovel will also hone his skills in moving his body.

In addition, when lifting the sand in the bucket, your little one also trains the muscle strength at the same time.

2. Increase creativity and imagination of children

Children often use sand to make shapes such as castles, mountains, or whatever they want. Even though it seems trivial, it is little things like this that can help children build their imagination.

By letting children play sand, you may find other potentials that were never seen before. Either from the way your little one uses other objects such as toy cars to complement his sand house, or how he does a certain way so that his palace is not easily destroyed.

Through play activities, children will learn to create a product from start to finish.

3. Train children's sensory abilities

Playing with sand has benefits for children to learn about different textures and train their sense of touch. When forming something with sand and water, children will feel the difference in texture resulting from sand mixed with other materials.

This will later become new information that will be absorbed by your little one.

4. Train children's concentration

Sometimes, teachers or parents are overwhelmed by their little one who is easily distracted. It turns out that this can be practiced when children play with sand. Children certainly have an idea about what buildings will be formed using sand.

In every step, starting from touching, adding water, to piling up sand, the child is unconsciously focused on doing it until it's finished. Playing sand has the benefit of training children to concentrate more on the task at hand.

5. Increase body immunity

Who says children have to be at home more often to avoid illness? In fact, children who play outside the house more often have better endurance than children who rarely do it.

A little dirt will help the child not to be susceptible to disease.

Of course, children can play with sand, as long as…

Source: My Kids Time

Before allowing children to play, there are a number of things that must be considered so that this fun activity does not end in unwanted things.

Regardless of where it is, make sure the sand to be played is clean and free of animal waste. To be safer, invite the children to play to a beach that is still clean and doesn't have litter scattered about.
Supervise the child throughout play, especially if your child is a younger child who has a more tendency to put objects in the mouth. You can also help the child when forming a building with sand.
Avoid playing with wet soil such as red earth as this can become a gathering place for dangerous worms and parasites.
Buy sand made specifically for children's toys. Place the sand in a closed box to prevent entry of small animals such as ants or insects.
Remind children to always wash their hands thoroughly after playing with sand.