How Children Learn Through Sand and Water Play

Posted by EYR Team on 5th May 2025

Learning through play is a hot topic within the early year’s sector with a lot of parents and educators wanting more information on specifically how children can learn skills whilst engaging in play. In this blog we explore how sand and water play in particular can be used to support children’s development and even be used to support learning alongside the curriculum.

What is sand and water play?

Sand and water play simply refers to any activity involving the manipulation of sand and water, either together or separately. It can be completely open ended and self-directed by the child or a more structured activity for example as part of a science experiment. This type of play is a staple in nursery settings and at home for many reasons.

What can children learn through sand and water play?

1. Fine and Gross motor skills

As children scoop, pour and dig, they will naturally be developing both their gross and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills will come into play when children grasp tools like pipettes or brushes and gross motor skills will come into effect when children lift heavier items like buckets to carry water.
Both these skills are crucial for general development and form the basis of a lot of skills required for later life such as writing, cutting and participating in sport.

2. Enhance cognitive development

Sand and water play can be very effective for introducing mathematic and scientific topics from an early age. Maths skills can be developed as children learn about volume, mass, measurement and quantities as they fill containers and build. Science skills will come about as children explore cause and effect, materials and their properties and observe differences.

3. Language and communication

Sand and water play is great for developing children’s language skills as they learn new words related to the different objects they are playing with and thus expand their vocabulary. Children will also naturally narrate their actions and develop their descriptive language.
A way to further support this development is by asking children questions as they play for example “what will happen if we add food colouring to this water?”

4. Social skills

Sand and water play within a group of children is a great way to foster cooperation, teach children to share resources, take turns and collaborate on projects like building structures. These shared experiences in turn will help children:

Learn to compromise and negotiate
Express themselves
Build confidence and self-esteem

5. Creativity

With sand and water being a generally open ended play activity, it lends itself to creativity and imagination! Children will need to think of their own activities using the tools and materials presented with them and this can change from time to time – requiring your little ones to think outside the box and creatively, a skill which is required for later life!

How to set up engaging sand and water play areas.

Below are just a few tips on how to best set up a sand and water play area, feel free to use variations on the resources suggested and get creative!

Provide a selection of different tools. Items like buckets, spades, funnels, sieves, measuring cups, sponges and old containers are all great options
Consider themes. This is a great way to guide children’s experiences and perhaps introduce them to key EYFS topics. For example, why not turn your sand table into a construction site or your water tray into a beach clean up to teach children about sustainability?
Incorporate natural elements. Not all resources have to be bought, consider using natural, foraged items like shells, twigs or pebbles.
Ask questions and prompt discussions. This is a fantastic way to get children engaged and thinking about the different actions they are taking. For example if building a sand castle, ask them questions like “what happens if we add too much water to the sand?”
Encourage free exploration. Finally, allow your children to explore freely, this is a great way for children to get curious and creative with their games.

Conclusion

Sand and water play is more than a simple pastime – it can be used as a fundamental tool in skill development and learning. Through the act of scooping, pouring, building and playing, children can develop essential skills for later life. We would love to see how you engage your little ones in sand and water play, tag us in your photos on social media or use the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR