Whether found in local parks or educational settings, children’s play areas have evolved significantly over the years to offer ranging creative and interactive experiences. Few pieces of equipment have managed to sustain their popularity against new innovations, but one such item is the covered sandpit. Covered sandpits offer a huge variety of ways to play with benefits to both adult educators and young learners alike. Let’s explore their magic further.
What Is A Covered Sandpit?
A covered sandpit is a versatile piece of outdoor equipment that couples an enclosed sandpit with a handy cover. The cover is typically made of wood or plastic and covers the sand from exposure to the elements so that children can play in a relatively dry and clean environment in all conditions.
Many covered sandpits typically feature handy storage for other play equipment including sand and water toys. Along with additional seating, the handy and multi-functional design of covered sandpits makes them a clever and controlled environment that’s ready-made for positive play among children.
What Are The Benefits Of A Covered Sandpit?
Undoubtedly, one of the advantages of a covered sandpit is that it keeps sand play as clean, neat and tidy as possible. However, the benefits of covered sandpits extend far beyond practicality and it is the wider magic that a covered sandpit can evoke that has led to such timeless popularity.
If you’re considering investing in a covered sandpit for your school or play area, get to know the following benefits:
Encourages Imagination
One of the main aims of any type of play is to encourage children to be imaginative. Covered sandpits are fantastic at initiating imagination as the sand acts as a blank canvas for children to create whatever they want. The act of opening the cover further enhances the way that children can make new worlds and environments, as it adds a degree of mystery and excitement perfect for evoking new stories and ideas. This makes covered sandpits perfect for bringing classroom learning to life or simply encouraging children to build and play in their break time.
Promotes Sensory Exploration
Sensory experiences are crucial for any child’s development. Covered sandpits are the perfect sensory learning tool as they offer a safe space for children to discover textures, temperatures, colours and even scents as the sand gets mixed with water or other natural materials. The type of cover can also further enhance the sensory experience of this kind of play, for example, a sheltered sandpit den provides ample shade for healthy play on sunny days without the sensory overload of direct sunlight.
Great For STEM Learning
If there’s one thing educators are conscious of at the moment, it’s the need to integrate engaging STEM learning opportunities into the curriculum at the earliest possible opportunity. STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are hugely beneficial to a child’s development, but many schools struggle to find ways to make them engaging for younger pupils.
Covered sandpits allow STEM learning to be seamlessly integrated into sandpit play and bring concepts like gravity and balance to life. As children experiment with different structures and observe how sand behaves they unknowingly engage with science and engineering principles, setting them up for genuine lifelong curiosity.
Aids Social Interaction
Outdoor play is as much about collaboration and friendship as it is about individual discovery. Covered sandpits encourage social interaction as they provide a physical hub in a play area for children to come together and make or build as a group. Naturally, this inspires conversations and communication between children that may not otherwise socialise, fostering friendships as well as building teamwork and negotiation skills.
How To Add A Covered Sandpit To Your Outdoor Play Area
With such a practical design that inspires a range of benefits, a covered sandpit is the perfect addition to any outdoor play area. Consider how much space you have available and what type of cover and extra features you’d like your sandpit to have, like storage or seating. Then, get in touch with the expert team at Cost Cutters UK. We stock a range of sand and water play and can offer you a bespoke space planning service to help you maximise the potential of your outdoor play area.