Sandbox Woes

[My3cents]

I have a sand table and a sand box and a water table. I use colored sand in the table and just put a little in it at a time, with small items. When they start to dump the sand on the grass, sand table is done. It is light and moveable, so if they don't leave it alone- I move it. my kids are all two and under. Sand has been a wonderful thing along with rice and oatmeal and any other thing I can think of to put in my sensory table- it teaches dexterity with using spoon for meals. The kids love it. Highly supervised. My sensory table goes outside in the summer and inside in the winter.

My table has two separated sections so I put two colors of sand and expect them to be mixed. They love this-

I am a messy provider- I like to do the things that get kids involved using all the senses and arts. Everything cleans up so why not! I tell my parents send your kiddo's in play clothes you never know what we are going to do for the day.

My boxes have covers--- no kitty turds thank you anyway::

[My3cents]

I made a wonderful sandbox for the kiddos - painted a tractor tire great bright colors and a mom helped me fill it with sand - put in trucks, buckets, digging tools - and in three minutes they were throwing it. I've had this issue every single time I let them play with sand. Let's see - about 20 times now. Every time they get it taken away for the day, second offense for a week. This time I got fed up and they haven't played in it since.

How do you teach 4yos that throwing sand is NOT ACCEPTABLE????

You all have such wonderful ideas and suggestions!

wanted to add take out the digging tools and put pouring items, like measuring cups, cups, spoons that type of thing instead. Show them how to transfer sand from one thing to another. Funnels. choose your tools carefully- that can make a difference. Take the child that is not using it correct away. Even at that age highly supervise- sand is messy and it does tend to find its way into eyes at times. You have to really guide the kids with this. Another help is to limit it to small groups at a time. two-three peeps at one time. Don't throw sand!!! Remove, rinse and repeat- Open it to the kids when your feeling it- some days dealing with sand is just not something I want to do along with all the other things to do for the day- This will make it a treat, privilege to use. Best-

[Heidi]

wanted to add take out the digging tools and put pouring items, like measuring cups, cups, spoons that type of thing instead. Show them how to transfer sand from one thing to another. Funnels. choose your tools carefully- that can make a difference. Take the child that is not using it correct away. Even at that age highly supervise- sand is messy and it does tend to find its way into eyes at times. You have to really guide the kids with this. Another help is to limit it to small groups at a time. two-three peeps at one time. Don't throw sand!!! Remove, rinse and repeat- Open it to the kids when your feeling it- some days dealing with sand is just not something I want to do along with all the other things to do for the day- This will make it a treat, privilege to use. Best-

Country Gal only has 3 kids (plus her grandson, who is 5). I would think that by well over 3 they can listen. These are not toddlers..the youngest is 3 1/2 I beleive....

I'm not picking on your answer at all I think she's a little past the "watch them every second" stage. At 3 1/2 and up, they should know some boundries already. I'm not saying don't supervise them...just that we should not have to intervene in every minute of play.

I dont' think their ages is in her post, so I thought I'd clarify...

[My3cents]

Country Gal only has 3 kids (plus her grandson, who is 5). I would think that by well over 3 they can listen. These are not toddlers..the youngest is 3 1/2 I beleive....

I'm not picking on your answer at all I think she's a little past the "watch them every second" stage. At 3 1/2 and up, they should know some boundries already. I'm not saying don't supervise them...just that we should not have to intervene in every minute of play.

I dont' think their ages is in her post, so I thought I'd clarify...

I find with kids and sand- highly supervised activity. I don't care how old they are. The older kids can be worse then the younger ones. It is different, it is not like your at the beach with your own child. I agree with you they SHOULD know but... just take it away if it is not being used right. Throw in little stuff to play with too- another idea, esp for the older kids. They will take a car and make roads, and go on for hours- all depending upon the child. Some kids- it is not at all their thing.

I don't care if your picking on my post or not......not a big deal. I was trying to help and voice what works for me-

[Heidi]

I find with kids and sand- highly supervised activity. I don't care how old they are. The older kids can be worse then the younger ones. It is different, it is not like your at the beach with your own child. I agree with you they SHOULD know but... just take it away if it is not being used right. Throw in little stuff to play with too- another idea, esp for the older kids. They will take a car and make roads, and go on for hours- all depending upon the child. Some kids- it is not at all their thing.

I don't care if your picking on my post or not......not a big deal. I was trying to help and voice what works for me-

no...I definately wasn't picking on you....

I know Country in "real life" and I know how frustrated she is. I was just feeling empathy for her and wanted to make sure you knew all the circumstances.

It seems like her and I have had some of the same suprises going back to this after a long break. We remember it being easier, and it seems the kids used to respect us (the adults) more. It's a shock to us that they require so much intervention. Both her and I have raised now grown children and done dc before, comming back to it last year. Things have changed!

[jojosmommy]

For the sandbox issue, I would do 1 kid at a time (lame yes) while they practice how to play in the sandbox. Each child will get their own turn to practice alone. After a few indiv times (maybe over a few days) I would allow a second friend- only one who can be trusted- to join. 2 friends enjoying the sandbox. I find my kids break the rules when there are too many involved in an activity. Later I would allow a 3rd if room in the sandbox permits. Any sand throwing, everyone is done for the day. Start over the next day with one or two.


For the other issue- plain and simple disobedience, I have two of those here now. Same family, two years apart. I usually say "Oh MAN! You were doing so good, but since you can't control yourself you need to go read a book. I don't want you mistreating (insert next toy's name here) " Then I get out the best toy we have (whatever they LOVE to play) and allow that child to see how kids who can listen and control their implulses get to play. Pretty obvious that you can choose to do what you want but you have to pay the price here.

And I agree that it is my job to watch the kids but by 3 1/2-4 they should be old enough to follow the rules/use materials appropriately without me having to help them hand over hand.

[Countrygal]

wanted to add take out the digging tools and put pouring items, like measuring cups, cups, spoons that type of thing instead. Show them how to transfer sand from one thing to another. Funnels. choose your tools carefully- that can make a difference. Take the child that is not using it correct away. Even at that age highly supervise- sand is messy and it does tend to find its way into eyes at times. You have to really guide the kids with this. Another help is to limit it to small groups at a time. two-three peeps at one time. Don't throw sand!!! Remove, rinse and repeat- Open it to the kids when your feeling it- some days dealing with sand is just not something I want to do along with all the other things to do for the day- This will make it a treat, privilege to use. Best-

I do have the other toys ready for the sand box, but like I said we had JUST put it in. It was the first time they even got to touch it.

Actually, I did take out the digging toys (except the trucks).

[Countrygal]

I so want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to give me your thoughts! You all are the greatest!

Ideas seem to have run the gammut - from not taking things away for longer than a short time to taking them away for several days to grounding! :::: Too bad these kids don't come with instructions, ain't it???::::::

Anywho - I kinda take BC's track. And I liked the idea of grounding. I may start that with the two older ones. They are both well able to understand the concept. The other 4yo the other ideas still work - removing him, etc.

jojos you said: "For the sandbox issue, I would do 1 kid at a time (lame yes) while they practice how to play in the sandbox. Each child will get their own turn to practice alone. After a few indiv times (maybe over a few days) I would allow a second friend- only one who can be trusted- to join. 2 friends enjoying the sandbox. I find my kids break the rules when there are too many involved in an activity. Later I would allow a 3rd if room in the sandbox permits. Any sand throwing, everyone is done for the day. Start over the next day with one or two." I had to laugh because I've actually done this with them with their new play yard that they were destroying. I only let them in two children at a time and the other two had "ground sitting" play outside the play yard, then we'd switch out. It did seem to work pretty well, at least it helped me keep my sanity if nothing else!

What ever happened to the days when kids just learned to mind???

[Blackcat31]

What ever happened to the days when kids just learned to mind???

Somewhere along the lines someone taught them that they have choices in EVERY matter.