The best sand toys for toddlers and kids that are fun and educational

Everything they need for a day of fun at the beach, all packed up in a wagon they want to drag along themselves? Yes, please.

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, the Hape beach toy essential set is it. Not only does it include 11 high-quality BPA-free sand toys, but they’re all conveniently packed up in a mesh backpack that even a toddler can carry.

It’s oh-so-satisfying to make dribble castles with your fingers, but if they want to go pro, this is the tool to do it. Fill one part of the tool with water, the other with fine sand and let the dribbling begin! Note that it can easily get clogged with bits of shell or rocks, so it’s best if you’re headed to a beach with fine, chunk-free sand.

Same idea, but make it aesthetic. I mean, just look at this gorgeous set. Even better, the pieces are made from silicone which you can crush inside a suitcase if you’re taking the show on the road.

Outdoor mess-making > indoor mess-making. Let them live out their Master Chef Junior fantasies at the beach instead of the kitchen with this super-fun sand baking kit which comes with shell-shaped measuring cups, octopus whisk, crab mixing spoon, and a mixing bowl. Bonus! The turtle lid on the mixing bowl doubles as a sifter.

If hundreds of parents take time out of their busy day to review a kids’ sand shovel, you know it’s good. Sturdier than most and with a clever sieve built into the handle, it’s not hard to see why. Many reviewers share that theirs have lasted years and even stood up to the abuse of tots who can break just about anything. Sold!

Perfectly tot-sized and oh-so-portable, these silica gel buckets are absolutely genius. Since they squish, they take up only their fair share of space!

If your little baker just can’t get enough, this Melissa & Doug set has all the tools needed to make enough sand “cookies” to satiate Cookie Monster.

Budding paleontologists will be thrilled to dig for dino bones with the ultra-cool dinosaur sand glove from HABA. Let them scoop and explore or bury it for a big reveal.

It might be awhile before they’re traveling the world, but it’s never too early to learn about all the cool things there are to see out there. Take world architecture lessons to the beach with these fun molds of the Taj Mahal, Parthenon, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, and Eiffel Tower.

These sturdy scoops are great for little hands and come as a set of three, so no worries if one goes missing.

How much fun can ten buckets be? TONS, as it turns out. Not only do they fit together and build a colorful tower, but the incremental sizes make for great sandcastle building. Kids will find endless ways to play while the thick construction means they’ll last a good long while. (And when sand play season is over, they make the perfect bath toy!)

If digging a giant hole is part of the day’s activities, they’re going to need something more than a wimpy 6 inch plastic scoop. Equip them with one of the heavy duty wooden shovels from Matty’s Toy Stop. At 31 inches long, they’re a scaled down version of what you might use for gardening but work just as hard! (Price is for a set of 2)

Spielstabil shows up on this list a few times for good reason—their quality is unbeatable. Not only is this sweet little watering can dubbed “indestructible” but it also comes with a ten year guarantee. The two handle design is great for toddlers whether they’re playing in the sand or tending to the garden.

Filed under “what took so long,” these brilliant buckets collapse to make fun on-the-go easy-peasy. Made from BPA-free plastic and food-grade silicone, the space saving design is perfect for everything from sand lugging to keeping pups hydrated on adventures. It also comes with three scoops and a handy mesh bag to keep it packed up neatly!

Toddlers have been known to spend hours scooping, dumping and driving trucks along the sand. Give yourself that gift of peace and quiet with this engaging construction set! The parts move to mimic the real thing and they’re designed to take a beating—after all, they are CAT!

Pro-tip: Sequester the sand toys. Mixing and mingling guarantees sandy snacks and no one likes those. This super-affordable mesh bag makes it easy to collect all their toys and treasures without contaminating everything else or bringing the beach home with you. The generous opening makes it easy to get everything in there and it conveniently folds up into its own little pocket when you’re done.