The Nitty, Gritty of Sand Play

According to Maria Montessori, “There is only one substance that the modern child is allowed to handle quite freely, and that is sand” (Montessori, 1967, p. 168). Sand is accessible throughout the world and is one of the few granular materials that does not readily decompose. As an open-ended, sensory motor activity, sand play is highly compatible with the explorative, imaginative nature of young children and well-suited for promoting the fun and expansive learning that embodies childhood.