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Beach season is upon us, which means it's time to get out all those sand toys from last year. If you're taking inventory of last year's beach accessories, there's a few must-haves you need to add to your list. Maybe you're in need of some new toys because some are worn and need to be replaced, or maybe your little baby from last summer isn't such a little baby anymore. (Where does the time go?) So here are some beach toys for toddlers that will keep them growing and learning all summer long.
There is no doubt about it — summer beach vacations are the best. I mean, really, kids just love the beach. It's one of the only places where kids go and legitimately keep themselves entertained for hours, easily. But did you know that sand play is also really great as a developmental tool for young children? Unstructured play at the beach can actually help in developing your child's fine motor skills, as well as their sensory development. According to an article on Pathways, a not-for-profit organization offering free child development information, "Allowing your child to play in the sand by themselves and with others helps them to develop fine motor skills like those necessary to use a small shovel, pull a truck, and build a castle or moat. By burying themselves in sand, and feeling their body position within the sand, children are engaging their proprioceptive sense, or the sense of their body relative to space." So, keeping hours of fun and education in mind, check out these 11 best toddler beach toys for your young child's developing brain.