SAND PLAY
TP's award-winning Play Table contains two deep compartments that can be filled with contrasting materials, or with sand, and one shallow compartment for storing implements or building with sand. The table has six tubular legs, and petal-shaped indents that enable children with space to work in groups. Made from heavy duty plastic, the table is bright orange with blue legs, and comes with a lid to cover it when not in use or to provide a surface for drawing or play. It measures 80(d) x 51(h)cm, priced 29.95 from Letterbox. A boat-shaped sandpit and a 'Rockface' sand table are also available.
* Telephone 0870 6007878
New from Little Tikes is the Easy Store Sand & Water Table. This has a large, deep sand pit with a water tray that contains a moulded roadway, bridge, gate, harbour and two hand cranks with which to create 'currents'.
Two boats are also provided, and the table can be quickly folded up, with the toys stored inside, to provide a flat surface, drawing or play table with built-in cup holders or pencil storage wells. The unit measures 143(l) x 74(w) x 50(h)cm, and is priced 66.99, from Mail Order Express.
* Telephone 08700 129090
Asco stocks a wide range of sand tables, including several new for this year. The Frog Pond Table is horse-shoe shaped, with a shallow outer canal that has paddles and dams for water play and exploration. The centre tub in the table is 15cm deep and is textured with pond creatures and fitted with a drain plug for emptying. An embossed lid is included for flat-top play, or to protect sand when the table is not in use. The Frog Pond table measures 90 x 90cm and can be fitted at two heights - 45 or 60cm, priced 189.95. Another new addition is the Apollo Table with Island. This table is designed without corners, to allow more children to play comfortably, and includes a water wheel and dam. A removable island is also provided, which allows water to flow down steps and create a waterfall.
Both tubs in the unit are fitted with a drain, and the table measures 120 x 63cm, with adjustable heights, as before. Priced 225.
* Telephone 0113 2707070
LifeEd Direct is well known for its moulded puzzle pieces (pictured below) that interlock to provide differing functions, and as the pieces can be used indoors or out, you can build your own sandpit, whatever size you need it to be. Each piece is made from specially formulated polyethylene, and interlocks with any other piece with no hard joins or 'pinch points'. The blocks are available in two shapes, straight or curved, and in four colours: red, blue, yellow and green, with UV inhibitors to ensure the blocks retain their colour when exposed to the weather. The curved puzzle pieces have a solid surface, top and bottom, so you can change the direction of the curve when required, and the straight pieces have a flat top surface with a hollow interior, so you can use them with the flat surface to the ground if you wish to provide cavities for storage or fill them with sand. Each straight piece measures 27.5" in length and all the pieces are 12" high. An eight-piece set is priced 349.95.
* Telephone 01777 869044
WATER PLAY
Sand and water don't always have to come together as an inevitable partnership in play and exploration. If you organise some separate sessions for sand and water, you can encourage children to enjoy the different properties of water and extend your repertoire as well. Equipment such as Earlyplay's Waterway sets will ensure that children do more with water than just splash around. The Waterway Corinth includes a moveable crane, a lock with pump, a dock, a waterwheel, four boats and 56 pieces in all. The tracking holds ten litres of water and measures 107(l) x 93(w)cm when it is set up, priced 38.95. Also available is the Junior Waterway Set. It has 53 pieces and is suitable for slightly younger children, containing an easy-grip bucket and dolphins, priced 34.99. The Waterway Kiel has 33 pieces, holds 6.5 litres, and is priced 24.95, available from Mail Order Express.
* Telephone 0870 0129090
A BIGGER SPLASH
As soon as the weather is warm enough, you can invite the children to participate in some 'full body' water play, either as an end of term treat or to cool off after long, hot sessions. The proliferation of inflatable, shallow pools in a huge variety of designs means that every establishment has room for one or more pools that can be easily stored away when not in use.
Early Learning Centre introduces different designs to its range of inflatable pools each season. This year sees two new arrivals: the Fun Bug pool and the Island Activity pool. The Fun Bug pool comes in the form of a car with dangling dice, mirror and a steering wheel that turns. The pool measures 115(h) x 165(l) x 115(w)cm and is priced 25. The Island Activity pool includes an integral palm tree ball hoop, a water spraying lobster and detachable coconuts. It measures 125(d) x 50(h)cm, and is priced 15. Both pools can be used as ball pools when the weather changes, and Early Learning stocks bags of playballs, priced 10 for 100. A free foot pump is available with the purchase of any pool from Early Learning while stocks last, or you could opt for the ELC electric pump, new this year, recommended for adult use only, priced 20.
* Telephone 01793 831300
Toy Brokers stocks an extensive range of pools, including some that are suitable for group use and are long enough to teach children to swim. The Inflatable Playground is suitable for younger children, and can be used indoors with balls, as well as outdoors for water play. The pool includes an integral mini slide, basketball hoop and squirting palm tree, and measures 229 x 229cm, priced 19.50. The 12' Easy Set Pool is designed to be easy to assemble, and has an inflatable top ring which supports the liner while the pool goes up by itself as the water level rises. The side walls of the pool are made from three separate layers of materials to give strength and durability, priced 199. Both are available from Mail Order Express.
* Telephone as above
WATER & SAND SAFETY TIPS
* Sand should always be covered when not in use, to avoid it becoming soiled by animals or thrown about accidentally.
* Sieve sand before storing it away and discard supplies that have seen a lot of use or have become dirty.
* Only use sand that is specially-formulated 'play sand'.
* If sand gets into a child's eye, do not rub the eye or allow the child to do so. Carefully separate the eyelids with thumb and index finger to look for the object, and flush it away with cold water, if possible. Never try to remove sand that is stuck or on the coloured part of the eye - take the child to hospital.
* All sand and water play requires constant supervision. Where possible, children should be grouped by age in the water, and never turn your back while children are in the water or playing near water.
