10 Best Sandbox Toys – 2021 Reviews
Sandboxes provide creative, imaginative, and sensory play for children. By adding a few fun sandbox toys, children can entertain themselves for hours, creating and roleplaying in the sand.
The best sand toys need to be durable and intuitive to capture a child’s attention. We’ve rounded up our list of the top 10 sandbox toys of 2021.
Contents
- Our Picks for The Ten Best Sandbox Toys
- Reeves International The Big Dig and Roll Ride-On Working Excavator with Wheels
- The TOMY John Deere Sandbox Vehicle 2 Pack is perfect for small hands and imaginative play.
- CoolSand Advanced Building Sand Molds & Tools Kit
- JOYIN 25 Pieces Beach Sand Toys Set
- Toys by Battat Colossal Cruiser – 20” Large Sand Truck
- Liberty Imports 3 Pack Large Dinosaur Fossil Sand Molds Beach Toy Set
- Prextex 19 Piece Beach & Sand Toys Set
- Zen Rake Mini Zen Garden Rakes, Meditation Sand Zen Garden Tools
- iefoah Ice Cream Beach Toys Set
- Construction Toys 4 Pack Set
- Things to Consider When Buying Sandbox Toys
- The Age of Your Children
- Number of Pieces
- Portability
- Storage
- The Best Sandbox Toys Inspire Imaginative, Sensory Play
Our Picks for The Ten Best Sandbox Toys
Have you already read our Best Sandbox for Toddlers review? Maybe you already have a sandbox, but the toys are worn out. Check out our top pick for the best sandbox toys.
Reeves International The Big Dig and Roll Ride-On Working Excavator with Wheels
The Big Dig and Roll Ride-On Excavator is a fantastic sandbox toy for little engineers.
This excavator puts your child literally into the construction seat. The excavator encourages imaginative play, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. Kids can wheel the excavator around the sandbox for maximum fun.
Pros
- Durable design with sturdy metal construction.
- Built for four-season play in dirt, sand, or snow.
- Seat and crane arm can swivel 360 degrees.
- Two-hand controls are easy to maneuver.
- It helps the child develop dexterity and coordination.
Cons
- With excessive use, bolts may need retightening.
- Assembly instructions could be more precise.
The TOMY John Deere Sandbox Vehicle 2 Pack is perfect for small hands and imaginative play.
The TOMY John Deere Sandbox Vehicle 2 Pack is perfect for small hands and imaginative play.
This vehicle two-pack has a John Deere tractor with a working loader and a dump truck with a moving dump bed. Made from heavy-duty plastic and free-rolling wheels, these two vehicles can handle even the most precocious toddlers.
Pros
- Fully functioning parts replicate realistic motion.
- They are made from durable plastic to endure rigorous play.
- Iconic John Deere design and coloring replicates real John Deere tractors and dump trucks.
- The small size makes them portable and easy to handle by little hands.
Cons
- The John Deere branded stickers can fade and peel with time.
- The toys may be smaller than expected.
CoolSand Advanced Building Sand Molds & Tools Kit
The CoolSand Advanced Building Sand Molds & Tools Kit is the best sandbox toy for castle builders who want to build a village.
This 37-piece set comes with every shape and size needed to create a magical kingdom. With so many pieces, everyone can enjoy building moats, castles, towers, and parapets for creative sensory play.
Pros
- Made from non-toxic, high-density plastic, the kit has excellent durability.
- The mix and match molds inspire creative design and develop fine motor skills.
- The set has a variety of tools to assist in sandcastle design.
- It is an excellent price for a quality sand building kit.
- The storage bag allows for storability and portability.
Cons
- Molds may be too small for kids with big castle visions.
JOYIN 25 Pieces Beach Sand Toys Set
The Joyin 25-Piece Beach Sand Toys Set includes a variety of the best sandbox toys that will inspire hours of creative play.
The set consists of a mesh bag, bucket, car, shovels, rakes, watering can, and fun tropical molds for outdoor fun for kids and toddlers.
Pros
- The toys are made from thick, durable, non-toxic plastic.
- It is a great value for the number of sandbox toys.
- Mesh storage bag prevents excess sand from collecting in the bag.
- The set stores easily and is very portable.
Cons
- Toys may be too small for older kids.
Toys by Battat Colossal Cruiser – 20” Large Sand Truck
The Colossal Cruiser is a classic dump truck for car-loving kids.
Uniquely designed to be easily grabbed and maneuvered by small hands, the Colossal Cruiser can move over rough terrain. The Colossal Cruiser can also hold heavy loads, making any sandbox project easy and fun.
Pros
- The truck is huge and can move a lot of sand or water.
- The truck is very durable and sturdy.
- Large wheels roll well on sand, dirt, and gravel.
- It is easy to clean.
Cons
- Maybe too big for some toddlers.
- Bucket doesn’t recline more than 45 degrees.
Liberty Imports 3 Pack Large Dinosaur Fossil Sand Molds Beach Toy Set
The Liberty Imports Large Dinosaur Fossil Sand Molds Beach Toy Set will inspire your child’s inner paleontologist.
A 3-pack set of twenty-five fossil bone molds with a shovel and rake will provide hours of creative play for your child. The collection includes the molds of kid-favorite dinosaurs: Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus, and Stegosaurus.
Pros
- Made from non-toxic, environmentally friendly ABS plastic.
- The sturdy bone molds work well with sand or plaster.
- It creates a dino puzzle that is great for older kids.
- The different dinosaurs are color-coded to keep sets together.
Cons
- Sometimes the sand can get stuck in the molds.
- It can be difficult for young kids to put the puzzle sets together.
Prextex 19 Piece Beach & Sand Toys Set
The Prextex 19 piece Beach & Sand Toys Set is a well-rounded collection of the best sandbox toys for small children.
The set includes a bucket, sifter, rakes, shovels, watering can, and animal and castle molds. The set can be easily cleaned and stored in a durable mesh bag.
Pros
- Made from sturdy, kid-friendly, non-toxic latex.
- It is an excellent value for the number of quality sandbox toys.
- The reusable mesh bag is very durable, making storage and portability easy.
- The tools work great with the sand for very creative play.
Cons
- Sometimes the sand can get stuck in the smaller molds.
Zen Rake Mini Zen Garden Rakes, Meditation Sand Zen Garden Tools
The Zen Rake Mini Zen Garden Rakes are unique sandbox toys for your inner child.
Transform your sandbox into a zen garden with these Zen bamboo rakes. The Zen stylus allows for creative freeform designs and art. The Zen rakes enable relaxing artistic play.
Pros
- The Zen rake set comes with a bamboo box for storage.
- The unique rake tools create different designs and patterns in the sand.
- The set contains high-quality wood tools for a low price.
Cons
- The rakes can break if improperly used.
iefoah Ice Cream Beach Toys Set
The iefoah Ice Cream Beach Toys Set provides hours of delightful, imaginative play for your little chefs.
When the weather is warm, who doesn’t want ice cream? The ice cream and cake molds offer a whimsical take on sandbox play. Made for small children, the seventeen-piece set can easily be stored in its bucket for portability.
Pros
- Fun, colorful food molds for roleplaying.
- It is made from hard plastic for durability and rough play.
- It comes with a mesh bag to keep the set together.
- The set promotes dexterity and fine motor skills.
Cons
- The cupcake molds do not fit on top of the ice cream cones.
Construction Toys 4 Pack Set
The Construction Toys 4 Pack Set are cool action figure vehicles for creative sandbox play.
The set includes an excavator, bulldozer, road roller, and lift truck. Turn your sandbox into a construction site with these friction-powered, push-and-go construction vehicles.
Pros
- Perfect size for small hands to grip and maneuver.
- Each vehicle comes with a moveable arm.
- The cars are excellent quality for a low price.
- The drivers inside the cars swivel while the vehicles are in motion.
Cons
- The small arms don’t move or haul very much sand.
Things to Consider When Buying Sandbox Toys
When picking out sandbox toys for your children, you need to consider these criteria.
The Age of Your Children
Many sandbox toys are geared toward young children and toddlers. When considering different sandbox toys, if you have small children, you’ll want to make sure the toys are durable with smooth edges. You’ll also want to make sure there are no small parts that can potentially choke a child.
For older children, you’ll want toys that inspire creative and imaginative play. Durability and choking hazards will be less of an issue.
Number of Pieces
Some sandbox toy sets come with many pieces, and some are often really small. Keeping track of all the toys can prove difficult when they get buried in the sand. You should only buy these sets if you don’t mind an occasional treasure hunt to maintain the collection.
Portability
The best sandbox toys are easy to move and maneuver. Molds and pails should not become too heavy for your child when full of sand. You’ll also want to buy sandbox toys with a tote or storage bag if you’re going to take them to the beach or put them away after use.
Storage
Large sandbox toys, while super fun, can be challenging to store. If you are not leaving them in the sandbox, you may want to evaluate where you will keep large toys before buying them. And if you’re going to take them to the beach, you may want to see if you have enough car trunk space to transport them.
The Best Sandbox Toys Inspire Imaginative, Sensory Play
Sandbox toys are great imaginative sensory toys to inspire hours of play for your children. Hopefully, our list highlighted a toy that would make your kid’s wishlist. Whether it’s a fun castle building set, dinosaur dig, construction vehicle, or a hands-on semi-truck, these are some of the best sandbox toys that kids love.
