Today Esther spent some time exploring a toy that William and I just do not get.

It is a truck that is basically a sand shovel.

A shovel excavator?

It is designed as a tractor to be used to collect and transport sand.

It does not look like a tractor.

It is more of a truck.

But it is also a shovel.

A super duper truck shaped sand shovel.

But a sand shovel it is.

Not to Esther though.

For Esther it is a sand monster.

An animal she can feed.

She opens the mouth of the monster truck

And feeds it spadefuls of sand.

Sometimes she turns the truck around

And pretends that it is a car

A car with a big boot

She uses piles of sands as items to put in the boot

She has an amazing imagination!

Our sand play over the last few days has gone in so many different directions, enabled us to explore so many different concepts and ideas and create stories. Just watch this video and see the richness of language used and the diversity of storytelling and imaginings of my 33 month old girl.

This is a very versatile sand toy though I think it is rather awkwardly named and a little overpriced.

But I am certain if Esther was asked she would disagree as it is providing her with lots and lots of messy, sandy fun.

I have a post about mark making coming up tomorrow which will feature the Haba Sand Funnel. The Shovel Excavator will feature again as Esther loves to use it to make tyre tracks in the sand.

I hope you will join us again then.

In the meantime if you are keen to start exploring sand play with your little ones please check out the fabulous Haba Sand Toys available from The Toadstool.