At a recent playdate for my preschooler, I had a big playset with two slides, a play cottage, a play kitchen, and tons of smaller toys out for the kids but the biggest hit of the day? The Sand & Water Transportation Table from Step 2.
This group of three and four year olds clustered around the table and contentedly filled, poured and splashed for almost two hours. Meanwhile, the moms sipped lemonade and chatted in the shade.
The table is incredibly simple to assemble. While putting it together, we joked that it was so easy to put together, a three year old could do it. In fact, my daughter helped snap on the towers.
We use the table as a water table, but you can also fill one or both sides with sand. There is a little train that your child can push along a track and over bridges–and what child doesn’t like trains? The train cars and shovel can be used to pour water or sand into the funnels on three towers. Each has an interesting lever or set of gears that spin as the water or sand filters through. There are also two sailboats for floating on the water. Plenty to keep a kid, or even a small group of kids, happily occupied.
There’s the tactile pleasure of the sensation of water and sand. Kids can practice fine motor skills digging and pouring. Not to mention all they can learn about measurement and gears through exploring the features on the table. And don’t forget the good old-fashioned fun of getting soaking wet and making a mess (that’s easy for mom and dad to clean up…but don’t tell the kids that!).
When we were done with the table, we just removed the rubber plugs and drained the water. The table also has a cloth cover to protect the table so you can just leave it outside.
Every sunny day, my daughter wants to run outside and fill up her water table. We love this new addition to our backyard and look forward to a boatload (and trainload) of summer fun!
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WANT IT: Get the Sand & Water Transportation Table from Step 2 ($50) or Amazon or Target.
WIN IT: One lucky reader will win the Sand & Water Transportation Table from Step 2, To enter, check out the fun outdoor toys from Step 2 and let us know which is your favorite and why (besides the table reviewed here and please be specific).
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Contest ends May 27, 11:59 PM ST.
