Age suitability and size – The height of the sand table is a key consideration because you want your child to be able to reach the play area with comfort (and usually when standing up).

But, while it's wide, it's not super-deep so it doesn't need as much sand as you might think – although obviously we are talking way more sand than some of the smaller, divided sand tables need. This great-value, vibrantly coloured sand table has 2 little sections for sand (or water) at either end and then a bigger, deeper central section that can be covered with a yellow activity tray with sieve sections at the front, a play cannon at the back and a slot in the middle into which you can slot the red sand mill. The sand container is lined and 10cm deep, so you can get a fair amount of sand in, and you can cover the whole thing with a wooden lid that converts the table into a very serviceable picnic bench. It's split into 2 sections, so 1 can be filled with water if your child prefers, and the sand/water areas are nice and deep (the packaging doesn't specify its capacity but it felt quite generous to us). litres of sand or water in each section and comes with a drainage plug for easy emptying, a nice collection of sand-play/water-play accessories and a lid to protect the sand from weather, insects and debris.Age: 18 months+ | Size: L53cm x W53cm x H70cm (with funnel waterfall) | Material: Plastic | Cover: Yes | Weight: 6. This little construction-themed sand table has a movable scooping digger arm, traffic cone legs, 2 pipes for dumping sand (or water) down and a little dumper truck – so the stage is truly set for some sandy excavation adventures. Do note, though, that only 1 section has a drainage plug, so if you're opting for water play, make sure you use that 1 because the other only has a 'blocker' designed to stop sand trickling out of the hole. Sand tables also tend to have lots of great built-in features or add-on accessories that boost the scope – and fun – of the sand play your child can enjoy. Saying that, this table is pretty small and light, so tipping it up to empty it isn't as difficult as it would be with other bigger, heavier tables.

Sectioned or non-sectioned – A lot of sand tables are divided in 2, to give your child 1 area for sand play and another for water play. Whether you’re looking for a kids’ sandpit for building fun or a completely different water table that offers endless surprises for a splashing good time, we’ve got it all! Once both sections of the lid are on and connected, it's definitely waterproof but maybe not completely water-tight. The sand/water mill can be placed in 3 different positions on the central divider, and the turtle sand moulds and little sailboats are really chunky, nicely designed accessories.Each section of the table has its own drainage plug, and the lid has elasticated tie-downs at each end, which we particularly rate for keeping everything super weather-tight. Of course, sandpits (and beaches) are brilliant places for sand play but not everyone has room for a sandpit at home or time for a trip to the playground (or beach).

It's super simple to assemble and you can change the height of the stand which is great for kids of different ages. This larger, higher sand table comes with a lid and a removable sun canopy, so you can protect your child from the sun on a bright day. This Sand and Water Activity Table comes in bright blue and red and has plenty of attachments and accessories too.The sand table is lined and a generous size and depth, though it may be a little on the high side for the smallest toddlers; the smaller water table is also lined, which makes drying it out easier, but we did think the lining was a little on the thin side for continued use by excited young children. Lid – Sand tables that come with lids mean you don't need to bring it in when the weather's looking bad. This sturdy, wooden bench-style sand table is great for siblings or up to 4 friends who want to play together, as the container for the sand stretches along the whole length of the bench, offering each child their own little patch to play in. She has a First-Class Honours Psychology degree where she developed a strong interest in child development.

During her teenage years she worked as a play worker and Brownie volunteer to support children's play. The table is not as high from the ground as it might look from the picture but, as it's designed for sand play while sitting on the bench, it's actually a good height for preschoolers. This tends to be factored in to the age suitability indication from the manufacturer but it's worth checking by looking at the product's specifications. Each year thousands of products are put through their paces by hundreds of parents across the country on behalf of MadeForMums, to ensure we’re bringing you honest and true reviews and recommendations. I like all the toys, especially the ones that slot in and it's nice that the cover doubles as a race track.

Perfect for sunny days to entertain the little ones, this colourful Dolu Water and Sand Activity Table is the perfect height for your little ones to have fun. Their motor skills are improved thanks to all the pouring and splashing, while language and speech skills develop thanks to their explaining what they’re building and exploring their imagination! Liz, mum of our child tester Sophie, 13 months (pictured, above) said, "It's a perfect height for my daughter (she is on the tall side) and she stands and plays independently with it. When testing and selecting these sand tables we considered age suitability, size, materials, features such as covers and lids, and any included accessories.