May 12th, 2010 by Stinkhead
Step2.com sent us their Play Up Adjustable Sand & Water Table. One of the key features is that the legs are easily adjustable so you can raise the table height to grow with your child. It also features an umbrella to protect against the sun, and an easy to attach cover to protect it from the elements. Click below to see my pics and review.
The table is a great size for my 2.5 year old, we started off on the highest position (he’s a growing boy) and I just let him take to it with no direction from me. He was instantly drawn to the sand side and went to town. We started off with the toys and tools that came with the table. There is a double-sided shovel (the handle has a rake), and two small pots. My son loved digging in the sand, raking it, and filling the pots and then dumping them out again. He buried a few toys, and then dug them up again.
He hates having dirty hands so he kept holding out his hand for me to rinse off the sand with the garden hose. It was at about the 20 minute mark that he figured to rinse his hands in the water side. So after a few more minutes it got pretty cloudy. I like how each side has a easy pop-open drain for easily removing the sandy water.
On the water side, instead of being a wide basin like the sand side, it’s a twisty river. There are two bridges and two small boats for twisting around the curves. Also, the planters from the sand side have holes in the bottom, so we enjoyed scooping water in those and watching it trickle out of the bottom.
The hard plastic cover has two elastic straps that loop around tabs on either side. It’s pretty quick on and off, but small children won’t be able to do it without help. The umbrella is nice and protects against the sun’s UV rays.
So what did we think? My son loves it. He loves digging in the sand (and then washing his hands) and if I start off, he’ll play on the water side. It’s a great size for just him, and maybe a buddy or two. I like that they threw in some toys to play with. We’ve since added some action figures and a bulldozer of our own to push around the sand. We’ve seen that the water side is not as preferable when there is sand available. (He has played for quite a while at a friend’s water table), and having both in close proximity is a recipe for a sandy mess, so I’d probably think about either the all sand Blue Canyon Construction Set (with built in excavator!) or the Fun Flow Play Sink where the child uses a hand pump to activate the faucet. Check em out to see what would be best for your children. We have a lot of fun with this table on warm afternoons, and after the little party we’re having this weekend, I’ll include some video, so check back next week.
Click to listen to me discuss the Sand and Water Table with Jack Logar on Magic 106.5FM
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