Post by Rae Ann Kelly

The spring sunshine has been showing off lately which means two things in this family 1.) our playtime moves outside and 2.) the kids are constantly wanting to play in the water and sand. My answer (when they asked) was sadly almost always no. A few weeks ago however, we set up the Sand and Surf Table which let’s the kids play with their favorite warm weather things (sand and water) without getting drenched and filthy and requiring an extra bath time and outfit change. It’s like bringing the beach to your backyard!

They’ve been spending so much time playing at the table that we’ve come up with a few fun activities and thought we would share the most popular one so far, Dinosaur Ice and Sand Excavation. Take a peek below for a supply list and details for how to DIY at home!

ICE & SAND DINO EXCAVATION

You’ll Need:

• Balloons (regular party ones)
• Squirt Bottles
• Surf and Sand table (or large bins)
• Sand
• Little plastic dinosaurs
• Paint brushes
• Scissors

Here’s How to Play:

1. Put one dinosaur into each balloon (we used 12 but 8 would have been enough), fill with water and tie a knot. Place in the freezer for a few hours or over night. Once frozen, over the water side of the table, cut the balloons open (I helped the kids, carefully extending the balloon and letting them do the snipping) then remove the ice.

(The kids were obsessed with these little dino eggs!)

2. Bury the remaining dinosaurs in the sand and fill the squirt bottles with warm water.

3. Now your ready to hand over the squirt bottles and paint brushes to let the kids ‘excavate’ the dinosaurs while you enjoy an iced coffee and enjoy the view. (That last part is optional but highly recommended!)

This activity occupied my three youngest (20 months, 4 years and 7 years) for a solid 45 minutes which is not an easy task given their age differences and my 4 year old stayed at the table for even longer. Clean up was a cinch too, just toss all your supplies into a cute bin for later use, discard balloons and tidy up and cover the table

The playtime possibilities are endless with the Sand and Surf Table. The kids love using it and I love that it engages their senses and fine motor skills and adds to the design of our backyard. Win, win, win!

XO, Rae

Rae Ann blogs at Rae Ann Kelly and is a kid wrangler, graphic designer, food & craft nut. Her blog features little tidbits about her day to day life & design projects, tutorials for DIY’s, free downloads, yummy recipes, lots of kid friendly ideas and outfit inspiration.