Step2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center
by Step2
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Our Price: $199.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $149.25 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Step2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center
Customer Review: Unbelievably versatile! Just about the perfect outdoor toy!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, we have had this toy for 3 years and it still looks like the first day it came out of the box (in the BLAZING Texas sun). Also, it has been moved around too many times to count and is still as strong as ever. It's durable. Plus, it really does keep water out and the cover stays put tightly even through the most violent and windy thunderstorms. The umbrella is awesome, although I did have to replace it once due to weathering. I soooooooo don't care. Read on...
I'm on my third child now and if there is one thing I'm sick of, it's the toy that's a one-trick pony. I'm really looking for more versatility in a toy. That said, let me tell you why we will keep this toy until the kids outgrow it even though we also have an 8x10 ft. sandbox in the back yard. Sure, it's a sand and water table but we've done it all: (1) sand alone (2) water alone (3) potting soil/trowels/silk plants/plastic pots (4) landscaping stones and small tonka construction vehicles (aka "the quarry)--sometimes the small trucks even deliver to the Tonka Mighty and it goes on for hours (5) bubble solution to use with the large wands and even the small and different wands (so that the kids aren't fighting over the tiny opening of a tiny bottle of bubbles that inevitably gets spilled all over the patio) (6) a Mommy-made iceburg (colored blue) on the hottest summer day with dollar store penguins and polar bears--you can even shave the iceburg to make snow (I used a putty knife) and put crushed ice (if your refrigerator makes it) in the water to make it a happier habitat (7) dishwater and play dishes with sponges and scrubbers to play clean-up without making a mess at the sink like they do inside (8) aquarium gravel/toys/plants with pretend fish (9) sand over buried "fossils" (pretend dinosaur bones found at the local dollar store) (10) sand sifters and dirt with various sizes of rocks that I spray painted gold -- super fun day! (11) measuring spoons/cups/jugs that teach lessons about volume -- pair with bath color tablets to learn about color mixing! (12) Did you know that Little People LOVE to go to the beach? (Off subject, they're also not opposed to a tumble in the dishwasher!) (13) any number of arts and crafts activities that I would rather do outside than inside (making slime, papier mache, etc.) (14) tin pans/muffin cups paired with dirt/sticks/water mud for mud pies (15) sand castles, of course! (16) dinosaurs and various animals add a tremendous amount of play value to your basic sand environment.
Well, that's all that I can remember doing in three years time as I sit here writing this review, although I'm sure there's more. As if all that isn't enough, this table is a great size. No elbowing for more space here. There's room for 6 kids. Yep, one on each end and two on each side. True story.
Do you miss sipping iced tea and reading a magazine or chatting with friends? It can happen again while your toddler plays happily and safely. I LOVE this toy. Can you tell?
Customer Review: very successful summer toy
Summary: 5 Stars
After much internet research, I went with this sand and water play table over several others, and I have been very happy with my choice. However, I do not have anything to compare to as this is our first (and hopefully last) sand/ water purchase. My daughter is 21 months.
Pros -
1) it is off the ground, which keeps it (and the child) a bit cleaner. Also safer with little ones, as they can't fall into it and drown. The pattern of roads through the water side also ensure they can't get their heads underwater.
2) The lid fits on well, and is secure even in storms.
3) the water side has a plug and is easy to drain. We've had no leaks, and we didn't even screw the legs on, just popped them in.
4) the umbrella is great, the height can be adjusted and it keeps her mostly in the shade all day.
5) the little enclosed toys are a perfect size for the sand and the water.
6) a perfect size for smaller children such as mine, though I suspect older children would find it a bit too small. Several children can be around it, we have had 4 year old visitors who loved it, and we have managed up to 4 children easily.
Cons
1) the sand and water WILL mix, and you will spend a lot of time emptying the water side and refilling it with clean water.
2) need to store the umbrella - not a big deal but my daughter likes to wave the detachable pole around like a sword if I leave it under the table.
3) there is a tendency to tip the sand onto the floor, I guess if you are 2 and you have a shovelful of sand, you want to experiment with gravity, but it is messy!
4) pretty low table for an adult
Things that might help
1) matchbox cars fit the roads perfectly. Little kids soft tonka toys (those cute soft plastic ones with the faces) do not. This was a bit upsetting to my daughter as she wanted to make the cars go on the roads, and it took us a day or two to sort it out.
2) the sand side takes about half a 50lb bag of playsand. You could fill it higher, but then you will lose more over the edge. We just top it up as needed. You can buy a bag at Home Dept for 6 dollars.
3) normal beach toys are a little too big for the table, eg buckets. We use the digging toys (shovel, rake, castle mold) from the "Green Toys Sand Set" Green Toys Sand Play Set but the bucket is too big really. Other beach toys from Toys R Us, etc are way to big.
4) get a small stool for the adult play partner - it makes the whole experience much more fun for you!
5) we use a spare silicon food loop Fusionbrands The Food Loop 15" Silicone Trussing Tool, Set of 4, Pink to hold the umbrella and pole together when folded. This has made it harder for my daughter to wave it around and keeps the umbrella neatly.
Customer Review: Nothing better!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to start out by saying I'm one of those parents that researches everything before a major purchase, so that I get the best value on the best product. Well, let me tell you, I am SO GLAD I did the research and found this PERFECT activity center! I was all ready to purchase the Little Tykes center - based more on the concept than anything else, until I read the reviews! The opinion of "real people" that use the products matters to me much more than what the company selling the product claims. I was looking for exactly everything this table has to offer - separate sand & water sections, built off the ground and for a toddler's height (though it can also be used directly on the ground, without the legs, and work perfectly), little "extras" included (like the shovel, boats, pots, etc.), a sturdy cover that I wouldn't have to worry about every time it was windy or rained, a sturdy table that wouldn't cave to a toddler's abuse. Boy, this table had it all, PLUS, it has an umbrella! I didn't even know I was looking for that until I saw it was an option - then I thought, "Why didn't anyone else think of this?". My 21 mo. old daughter has more fun with this toy than anything else she's ever had - no question! We've had it for 2 weeks now and, weather permitting, we've played in it every chance we could. (I just can't resist the sand either!) We recently had a pretty severe storm with very heavy rains - for several hours straight - and high winds. I kept checking outside to see if the table was still there - it didn't even budge. As soon as the rain ended, I just had to see inside - I opened the lid expecting at least a little puddle somewhere, but not a drop! What else can I say? It doesn't leak - at all, the lid stays on great, very easy to set up, cute roadways around the water area & down to the sand, not "rainbow" colored . . . I can't even think of any faults, except the toddler nature to mix the sand & water, but that's not the table's fault! In fact, that is a good "educational" part of this table. The only thing they might be able to improve is to have a place for the umbrella when the lid is put on - right on/under the table itself. Kudos to the engineers that developed this table. A VERY valuable purchase!Customer Review: Up, up and away
Summary: 5 Stars
(original review: June 5) We purchased this table for our 3 year old daughter and she loves it. It was a smash with all the kids at her birthday party, not so much with the parents of the sand coated kids. My main reason for wanting a table was to prevent killing the grass underneath as a traditional sandbox would. I chose this one because it has an umbrella (which is very stable and adjustable) and because it has a hard cover. The cover attaches very securely thus keeping additional water, bugs, worms, leaves and various other things out...including my daughter, which comes in handy. My daughter is very pleased with the sand/water combo, rather I should say, the sand "in" the water combo. :o) Having a sandbox at her waist level seems to be very convenient for her. She scoots back and forth most of the time but can sit on a little chair and play too. I intend to bring it into the basement in the winter and fill it with rice (uncooked of course) so she can enjoy it year round. The drawback is the legs. They are attached with screws that can easily tear out and are not enough to keep the legs stable. Ours have not torn because I am very watchful of the position of the legs and prop them back up whenever I see them go askew. Other than that, I would highly recommend this table.
(Update: Sept 13) We've had this table for months now and I wanted to make some additional comments. The table is diffucult to move by yourself but I have my 3 yr old help me, she can easily carry the water side as long as there is no water in it. We have also taken this to a couple of family functions to keep my daughter from digging in the dirt or the flower beds, etc. It's quite portable without the water and as long as you make sure the legs are straight and it isn't free floating before you drive off. Another thing that I didn't think of was that because the kids stand to play with the sand, they don't get any sand up the legs of their shorts or in their underpants. Also, the umbrella shades more if you put it very low, just a few inches above your child's head.
Customer Review: A Great Outdoor Activity Center - Just Beware the Sand!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center is a great outdoor toy for any baby big enough to toddle around up to age six or so. It has two separate compartments: one for sand and one for water. The water half has a rubber plug for easy draining. The sand side will hold up to 40 pounds of play sand. We found this to be just the right amount so that there's plenty to play with while the Center still remains somewhat portable.
It's important to note that after about five minutes of play, you'll likely have one big compartment of wet sand/silty water. This won't be an issue if you've given some thought to where you placed the table. We made the mistake of originally putting ours on our composite deck and the spilled wet sand packed in between the planks like grout. I eventually had to dig the stuff out by hand in order to keep water from pooling on the deck each time it rained. Since then, we've actually just ditched the sand and use it as just a water table - the kids love it just the same. If you want to use both sand and water, I'd recommend putting the Center either on a concrete patio/driveway or else in the grass.
The entire set is very well-made. The legs are sturdy and wide-set for stability. The top cover is held snugly in place by two bungee cords (as others have said, don't cut these cords when unpacking it!). The umbrella has even held up well despite its extremely light weight. We've been using the table for several years now and it hasn't shown any fading or other weathering (we do store it indoors for the winter, but when it's emptied out, it's very light to carry).
Ideally, the top cover would be flat and smooth so that you could also use the Center as a picnic table for the kids. But the cover actually has a hump in it - rather like a flat treasure chest. Still, it's a very well-made toy that kids will enjoy for years.