Most parents and teachers know that children learn through their senses. Exposing your child to many types of textures will drastically improve their motor skills, and hand and eye coordination. This is vital when children are learning how to play with toys, learning to dress themselves, or using utensils and writing tools. It will also come in handy when your child has to tackle handwriting technique. Many people have used Sand and Water Sensory tables for many years.

If you are a preschool teacher it is highly probable that you know all about Sensory Tables and their benefits, and probably use them daily. These tables help to grasp developmental differences such "big and little," and "in and out." They also aid in the social aspect as children are learning to interact with their peers. They enable children to discover the world through their senses, and are wonderful for any child up to the age of five.

As these sand and water tables with be an important piece of equipment used in the daycare, preschool or home, choose the one that will best fit your space. If there are room constrictions, sand and water sensory tables are available for both indoor and outdoor. They are very lightweight and washable. They have a valve and pipe with a stem attachment that can be taken out for fast drainage or to clean. Most come with handy removable lids and shelves. They are rectangle shaped and made of both plastic and wood. Their available colors are wood grain, red, green, gray and blue.

It’s fun to surprise your child when you change out the toys. Switch it up with sea creatures, boats, trucks and cooking utensils that can be used with both water and sand. Many people even use leaves, dirt, grass or noodles to add to the fun dynamic. You may want to consider adding in a scraping tool like a bucket and shovel. This will teach manipulation and coordination. Have lots of Rubbermaid boxes to keep everything neat and separated.

When using sand, many children especially enjoy mixing it with glitter. However, make sure it is the plastic kind, as it is much safer than metal. The sparkly sand, glinting off the sun will entertain them for hours. You may want to add water or ice cubes. This will amaze and delight any child. For a fun outdoor activity, put a bucket at one end of the table. Have one child let the water flow out of one end, while another hauls the water back to the beginning and start all over again. This allows your little scientists to learn the properties of ice and water, better understanding cause and effect.

Depending on how often your child plays with the sand and water sensory tables will tell you how often you should change out or add materials. Most children will never get bored, and they never even realize how much they are learning!