We’ve all been there. Your child is in the sandbox, or on the beach, staring longingly at the sand toys – shovels, pails, strainers – other children are using. Your little one doesn’t have any toys because you forgot to bring them (or buy them at your travel destination).
Just in time for the dog days of summer, today’s hint is a tip for the next time you find yourself in this situation, and it’s a strategy for saving money on toys too: Think creatively when it comes to sand toys. In other words, let your child play in the sand with items you do have on hand – think water bottles and snack bags, for instance.
It’s no secret that kids love to play with such non-toys. Case in point: The last time I forgot the sand toys, I gave my daughter an empty Pirate’s Booty bag (she had just had her snack), and suggested she use it like a pail. The substitution worked, and she happily played with the bag and an ownerless shovel.
And I’m not the first parent to think creatively like this. Photographer Juli Isola shares on her site how “sometimes the best sand toy is the one you have with you,” i.e. a plastic bag. Meanwhile, check out this picture on Twitter of a sand castle built with the help of a plastic cup and some straws.
But what if you’re the type who never forgets to bring the sand toys? Well, you can still save money too by repurposing items you have around the house – strainers, Tupperware, measuring cups, etc. – into sand toys.
How have you handled the “I forgot the sand toys” situation? Your tips for saving money on sand toys?
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