In full disclosure, Play Visions provided us with the Sands Alive Let’s Go Learn at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a mess-free, educational and sensory based toy, then Sands Alive is for you!
Sands Alive has been popping up across the internet and various stores throughout New Jersey which is no surprise since it is an exciting and interactive product with many educational features. We were recently provided with the Sands Alive Let’s Go Learn play set by Play Visions. We were so excited when we opened the box and found a bright red, portable container that kids can easily transport from room to room or even when we visit grandma and grandpa’s house!
Here is what Sands Alive Let’s Go Learn came with:
- 3.5 pounds of sand
- 8 geometric shape molds
- Pebble and brick roller with interchangeable handles
- Two detail tools
My son was clawing to open the Let’s Go Learn set. My children were fascinated by this toy. It is straight forward in its approach which is “touch me and learn.” Children will be attracted to the texture and the opportunity to explore. Through their own investigation, they are learning which makes this a great toy to occupy busy minds.
Here are some of the educational benefits I observed with my children were playing with Sands Alive Let’s Go Learn:
Boosts Fine Motor Skills
Filling and packing sand into the mold, dumping out the three-dimensional shape they created, then repeating this task over and over helped my children to develop their fine motor skills. They enhanced fine motor manipulation, hand-eye coordination and fine motor strength all while having fun! They really enjoyed watching the shapes come alive as they piled the various shapes on top of each other. The fun texture encouraged them to return and play with the toy repeatedly.
Tactile Feedback
Sands Alive is described as a sand but it is way more than that. It is pliable, fluffy and has a velvety texture. The material comes in a plastic bag which is deceiving because once you open the bag and release the sand it expands and takes on a lightweight foamy consistency. Kids will love digging their fingers into the material. It is great for receiving tactile feedback which helps them better understand their world.
It is fun to make handprints in Sands Alive as my son enjoys doing.
Calming and Therapeutic
Playing with Sands Alive can be relaxing for your child as well as for you. I found myself sitting at my kids’ table and playing with Sands Alive alongside my children. How could I resist just pulling, dripping and squeezing the material? Children will enjoy exploring the sand and molding it into various shapes and you will as well.
Increases Academic Knowledge
At first, I was excited to watch my children play with the Let’s Go Learn set as I thought it introduced them to basic geometric shapes. Usually, toys that involve shapes will contain a triangle, square or circle. Sands Alive Let’s Go Learn, however, allowed my kids to create three-dimensional shapes so we were able to explore cones and cylinders as well!
It is fun to explore what can be made with the different molds included in Sands Alive.
Stimulates the Imagination
Children can use their expanding understanding of geometric shapes to create different three-dimensional figures such as castles and buildings. If your child builds a castle, let them bring in some figurines to play in the sand and let them explore their imagination. In our home, we have miniature bulldozers and diggers which we used to create our own construction site.
Enhances Reading Comprehension
How can sand enhance reading comprehension? Well, having a tangible product to use when explaining a story helps stories come alive! We have read and enjoyed the Eric Carle book Little Cloud in which the cloud takes the shape of various things it sees. I encouraged my children to pretend to be little cloud and make the shape of a rabbit or a tree out of the sand. You can also create buildings, castles and even people to help tell a story!
Increases Independence
There are so many possibilities of exploring, observing, interacting and learning with Sands Alive that children will not need a lot of direction. They can play, create and build by my themselves which gives them the feeling of independence. It also allows parents to have some time to get household responsibilities done!
The red container allows this educational toy to be easily transported as our family recently took this toy with us on vacation.
Here are some more fun facts about Sands Alive:
- It contains anti-bacterial so kids can share without worrying too much about germs
- Contains no paraffin (which contains germs)
- 100% made with all-natural ingredients
- Does not stain
- Does not dry out
- Easy to clean up
We thoroughly enjoyed reviewing Sands Alive for Mommy University. It is a sensory tool that offers children many educational benefits. With Sands Alive, kids will enjoy exploring, discovering and learning not only about the sand, but about themselves as well!
Sands Alive LET’S GO LEARN can be found on Amazon and at Learning Express stores. So pick up your play set today!