At the Spring Fair last month, the outdoors were a blur of sunny, colorful fun. But despite the warm sun and fun rides and games, hundreds of children chose to play indoors instead. The attraction of choice wasn’t a fast ride but something much simpler: a giant sandbox.
Washington Rock’s Sandbox Palooza booth was a smash hit with kids. With four tons of sand to play in, children found many ways to get creative. Some filled toy dump trucks with sand while others dug construction sites or built forts.
The sandbox, trivia game, and rock samples formed a unique experience where kids used their imaginations to make their own fun.
Fun with Education Tucked In
“The great part of the Fair is that it’s educational,” photojournalist Doug Dillon said. He gave King 5 News hosts a tour of the sandbox on a Saturday morning. He talked about how the sandbox was an example of how the Washington State Fair can be fun and educational at the same time.
Washington Rock’s new mascot, The Rock, is the center of that educational fun. A banner at the sandbox explained The Rock’s origin story and his mission:
surrounded by stone,
The Rock blasted out
when his hillside was blown!
is to create screen-free fun.
The Rock is Washington Rock’s new children’s mascot. He even has his own origin story!The Rock is not only a cute character but also a symbol of creative play.
Uplifting Experiences
Over the Spring Fair’s four-day run, thousands of children and parents visited the sandbox. Parents and children alike enjoyed it.
Ciscoe Morris presented in front of the sandbox on the last day of the Fair. He took time after his presentation to pose with Eve in front of the giant sandbox. “Wow, this is something,” Ciscoe said about the sandbox. “I’m surprised I could hear the questions.”One set of parents shared a very special experience with Washington Rock. Their young boy has sensory processing challenges and had been upset by playing in sand in the past. The giant sandbox was the first place he had willingly put his hands and feet in sand. His parents watched him push his dump truck around the sandbox for nearly an hour.
Some parents joined their kids in the sandbox while others browsed the surrounding booths. Children met new playmates and learned lessons about sharing. Another set of parents discussed plans to add a sandbox to their backyard. It was incredible to see people from all different backgrounds brought together by something as simple as a sandbox.
Could it be that what the world needs is more sandboxes?
Upcoming Event
Our sandbox experience will be available on a smaller scale at Dozer Day. Dozer Day will take place on June 2–3 from 1 PM to 4 PM each day at the Washington State fairgrounds. The event is an awesome opportunity for kids to don hard hats, play in the dirt, and best of all, drive big machines with the help of a professional operator. The event supports local children’s charities.
For more information about Washington Rock’s sand or pea gravel for playgrounds, visit our Playground Products page.