Treasures in the Sand

[15 Minutes]

Sand play can be a soothing and calming activity; but it can also be exciting. Let your child enjoy "sifting" through the sand in search of buried treasures!

You'll need:

• sandbox or dishpan • sand • five objects to hide (seashell, rock, small sand toys, crayon, rubber band) • index cards • crayon or marker

What to do:

1. Choose five small objects to hide in the sand. Draw a picture of each treasure on an index card.
2. Fill a dishpan with sand or use the outdoor sandbox or an area at the beach.
3. Hide the objects in the sand. Invite your child to sift and search in the sand to find the buried treasures.
4. When he has found the treasures, ask him to count the objects: 1,2,3,4,5. Encourage him to match these to the pictures drawn on the index cards, then invite him to play freely in the sand.
5. As you are sifting in the sand; say this poem together:

   Let's play in the sand.
   It feels good in our hands.
   We can dig it and sift it,
   And find treasures in it.
   Count with me what we have found,
   1-2-3-4-5!

6. Play this game again, adding more objects to find. Consider how high your child can count when adding treasures.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Let's name the things we found in the sand.
• How did they get there?
• What other toys could we bury?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills, matching skills, and counting skills.