Expert answer: The BabyCenter Editorial Team

Yes. Sand play is a great way to let your child develop motor skills, explore textures and consistency, and begin learning concepts like full and empty. Sandboxes in public parks can also give your child a chance to practice playing and sharing with others.

"Most children take to the sandbox by around 12 to 18 months, but a few kids will enjoy playing in sand even before their first birthdays, especially the busy ones who like to pour things out of containers," says Victoria J. Youcha of Zero to Three, a nonprofit organization devoted to the healthy development of infants and toddlers. "Others find the feeling of sand against their skin annoying."

Babies and toddlers explore their world by mouthing things, though, and your child's likely to try to eat some sand the first time he or she encounters it. Young children don't understand what's edible and inedible, so they put things in their mouth to see if they're yummy or not.

To discourage this, tell your child, "We put food in our mouth, not sand." Most kids will quickly discover that sand doesn't taste good, and stop eating it on their own. But if yours doesn't or you're very concerned about the possibility of your child eating sand, hold off on the sandbox until your baby moves out of the intense mouthing stage.

As an alternative, consider filling a flat-bottomed container with a few inches of cornmeal. Let your child practice scooping and pouring the cornmeal with some small cups and spoons. For variety, bury a few toys in the cornmeal and let your child dig for them.

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