Step 2 Sand and Water Table -- Messy, Messy Everywhere!
Written: Dec 04 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, durable, easy assembly, tight-fitting cover, umbrella included, FUN!, two-sided sand&water play
Cons: Not really an indoor item, price is a little high
The Bottom Line: Are you looking for a durable sandbox that'll last your child years? Check out Step 2's Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Table!
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| gatorgirlie's Full Review: Natural Playful Sand and Water Activity Table 7437... |
There comes a time in every mom's life where you look at your tiny child and think to yourself "Aw... I want to get him/her a sand box." You know you've done it, in fact I can't think of one of my son's friends who doesn't have some kind of sand box. Even in the apartments, there are children with sand boxes.
So the search begins.
I say it that way because things are never easy in my household. I'm a perfectionist and have an almost-OCD leaning towards getting the best product for the best price. It doesn't have to be the best, it doesn't have to be the cheapest, but I want to find the best product at a price I find reasonable. This obsession is the reason I'm still kicking myself over my play kitchen purchase decision (more to come on that later). Ever wonder the reason I write so much on Epinions? That's the reason, right there.
What I was looking for
There are an uncountable number of sandboxes on today's toy market. There are big ones and small ones, floor models and upright, basic ones and ones with upgraded bells and whistles... I had only a few requirements... First, it couldn't sit on the floor and second, it had to have a TIGHT fitting cover. We own about 1.5 acres out in rural Florida and that means two things: bugs and critters. Bugs like to chill out in sand and critters like to pee in sand, so whatever sandbox we bought had to keep out the above two items. I also wanted it to be sturdy, durable plastic since it'd be spending a fair amount of time outside in the scorching Florida sun. There is no such thing as "off-season" here, so it's pretty much in 12 month exposure.
Enter Step 2
Step 2 is known for making high-quality, durable toys at reasonable prices. They're not the cheapest on the block but they aren't sky-high either. The Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Table had everything we were looking for at a decent price, so we ended up asking grandpa and grandma to get it for Aidan's first birthday... and they did.
Item Specs:
*Available at Toys R Us (really, the only place I've found it) for $69.99, though I know my parents bought it on sale for (I believe) $50.
*Faux-wood style in beige and burgandy matches well outside. It coordinates with other Naturally Playful items from Step 2
*Detachable legs
*Matching umbrella that blocks 97.5% of UVA & UVB rays
*Cover that attaches with elastic bands
*Two sides for play -- one with bridges and roadways (water) and one an open sand pit.
*High sides mean less sand on the floor
*Comes with two bridges, two boats, two pots and one shovel
*Drain plug built in
*Minimal assembly required
Assembly
Assembly is a piece of cake (hello, Step 2... Can you try this with your stupid kitchen, please?). Just snap on the legs, screw them in and flip over the table. Having an electric screwdriver makes it faster, but really it isn't that hard to use a regular old Phillips head. The bridges just sit in place and the lid is put on by attaching some elastic straps. It takes approximately two seconds to put it on or take it off.
The umbrella is similarly easy to use. When you want to use it, there is a hole in the center of the table that you stick the end of the umbrella through until it hits the ground and you open the umbrella. Wow. Hard.
Durability, Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
First, I can't really say that I'm shocked at the durability of Step 2 merchandise because most people know how durable they are... but this has really surprised me. We've had this sand and water table for over a year in the scorching Florida sun and there is virtually no fading or other visible wear and tear. In addition, the table's sturdiness has really been tested lately and it's come through with flying colors. During my son's 2nd birthday party a number of children were leaning on it and I've even found my son sitting in the sand area a couple of times (he's 28 lbs), so it's definitely passed the sturdiness test. Since it's outside, I don't make a hardcore habit of cleaning it but it is fairly simple. I spray it down with some Clorox Anywhere spray and wipe it off. Since it's outside, I'll also take a hose sprayer and hit it every once in a while because (since it's faux-wood) there are little grooves that catch everything.
As far as maintenance goes, I don't do much. I empty out the water once every few days (or as soon as my son is done playing with it, if I know it might be a while before we see it again. The drain plug holds pretty tight, so there's no worry about leakage.
The table itself is lightweight, so if you empty out the sand and water it's easy to transport and stow away if you live in a climate where outside sand play in December is discouraged.
What mommy doesn't like
Ok, I don't know about the mothers of any other 2 year olds but my son has yet to figure out how to play with the sandbox without getting sand all over the place. Unless they constructed the sides to be six feet high, there will be sand on the floor. Sure the high sides keep *accidental* sand from getting out of the table but they'll do nothing about the purposeful emptying of sand. The only other issue I've had with this is the hole for the umbrella. While the cover fits tightly and keeps bugs out because of its snug fit, nothing covers the hole for the umbrella (at least on the bottom of the sand table). Oh sure, the cover will keep critters out but the day I opened up the table's cover to find a fairly large spider scurrying for cover I realized I had to tape up the umbrella's hole. One piece of duct tape usually does it until I need to use the umbrella, then I peel the duct tape off and replace when we're done.
What mommy likes
You mean, besides the easy-cleaning-no-maintenance-piece-of-cake assembly?
First thing I like is the size. With a 46 x 26 rectangular dimension, it accommodates quite a few toddlers. I've seen as many as 7 or 8 all crowded around it at one time, though probably the optimal number is no more than six. This is great when you have a large 10 toddler contingent and only a few large-scale toys for them to enjoy (bigger toy means less fighting). Compared to other upright sandboxes, this table has large compartments for both the sand and the water. I'm not sure how many lbs of sand it can hold, but the sand it at least a few inches in depth and the sand area is big enough to accommodate my 36", 28 lb son sitting up there, in the sand, with no space issues. Though I can't see any sandbox having this problem, both the sand and water sides are easy to fill.
Next thing is that Aidan loves it. He loves to play with it outside (though we do periodically give it a rest so he can "rediscover" it later). He loves to splash in the water and move the boats... he loves to empty out the sand pit (on to the grass) and he loves to shovel. Since he's only two, he hasn't moved to building anything yet but that hasn't diminished his enjoyment of the table. He hides stuff in the sand and digs for it, we take out his toy cars and drive them along the bridges and through the sand, we race the boats. In essence, it's helping him to use his imagination at an early age (which I'm a big fan of... since most electronic toys take away the child's ability to use their imagination). He really liked the accessories, especially the pots that had holes in them, but we lost those a while ago. One thing I like is that the high middle area does a good job at keeping the sand out of the water (unless there's a toddler specifically aiming to put the sand in the water).
Overall
There isn't much to dislike about this sand and water table. I like that it's elevated and has a tight-fitting cover, I like the umbrella that comes with (along with all the accessories), I like the ease of cleaning, emptying and filling, I like that it is large and has areas for both sand and water play, I like that it's lightweight enough for me to move it around the yard easily, I like the ease of assembly, and I like that it's both sturdy and durable. I could sell this thing tomorrow and it would look like new, even though it's been sitting in my backyard for a year. I like that (unless Aidan climbs up in it) he's not actually sitting and rolling around in the sand. The last thing I like? That Aidan still likes to play with it after a year of fairly often use. Not many toys in this household can make that claim, to be brutally honest.
It's not a perfect toy and does have its quirks (the umbrella hole being the major one) and the price is a bit high, but when you compare it to other sandboxes it really isn't that bad (especially if you can get it on sale from Toys R Us). Best place for it? Probably outside or on an easily cleaned porch, but then again that's the best place for any sandbox.
Overall? I'll give Step 2's Sand and Water Activity Table a really high Five Stars for its fun and an Absolutely on the recommendation!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
gatorgirlie
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Location: Orlando, FL
Reviews written: 248
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