Sand and Water Play: Resources

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Exploring Water with Young Children
Chalufour, Ingrid and Worth, Karen. (2005)

A great way to get children interested and educated about water. This complete set will inspire teachers and children. The video demonstrates very simply and clearly how to use this unique curriculum.

Squish, Sort, Paint & Build.
MacDonald, Sharon. (1996)

Delightful and exciting...new and old ideas come alive in this book of hands-on activities for 'learning centers'. A step-by-step guide through each project and area with checklists and drawings to enhance the text.

Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
Trister Dodge, Diane, Colker, Laura & Dombro, Amy Laura. (1999)

Yes, even infants and toddlers benefit greatly by being exposed to the wonders of sand and water. Chapter 21 is entirely devoted to the use of sand and water.

Creative Curriculum for Preschool
Trister Dodge, Diane, & Colker, Laura, & Heroman, Cate. (2002)

Skillfully arranged and written, this curriculum/book is well written and very valuable to all educators and parents of preschool age children.

Sand and Water Play: Simple, Creative Activities for Young Children.
West, Sherrie; Cox, Amy. (2001)

A simple 'how-to' activity book to help you get the most out of your sand and water area.

Online Articles

Sometimes, You Just Gotta Make Mud Pies: Children's Adventure Play Gardens
by Randy White

Children learn through the experiences they have when they play, without being taught and while having fun.

The Nitty Gritty Business of Sand Play
by Christine McLean, Registrar of Certification for Early Childhood Educators, AECENL

Explores the learning opportunities that are characteristic in sand play, and the ways to setup and utilize materials to enhance this fundamental early childhood activity.

Related Websites:

The Safe Sand Company

Safe sand is a fine white sand that does not contain carcinogenic dust.

Natural Playgrounds

If you are considering giving your children a quality outdoor experience, check out Natural Playgrounds. They can help you find all the why's, where's and how's of creating an excellent natural playspace for your center or school.

Schoolyard Habitats

A subsidiary of National Wildlife Federation (NWF), this website offers an exciting variety of resources and programs that can help stimulate unique, hands-on, outdoor learning opportunities.

Natural Learning Initiative

A great website which promotes the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children, through environmental design, action research, education, and dissemination of information.

Planet Earth Playscapes

Don't miss this website ....find out how they create one-of-a-kind, natural, community built, play and learning environments for children. Also visit their list of valuable links and resources.