The Step2 Dino Dig Sand and Water Table is the perfect activity and play table for dinosaur-loving kids and toddlers! With so many features and stations, it has because a summer lifesaver for us, and we're excited to share our thoughts along with an idea on how to make a dinosaur sensory bin. Don't miss the details below on how to win one yourself!
Thanks to Step2 for sending us the Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table!
My kids are really into dinosaurs lately. It all started when the neighbor kid had a paleontologist birthday party, and ever since, my kids have been digging up the yard, looking for dinosaur bones. Combine my sons' digging habits and my daughter's fascination with pouring and dumping water, I knew that there could be no better summer activity for us than the Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table!
I received this play table at no cost to facilitate this review, and I was shocked with how lightweight the box was when it arrived. I attribute that to the sand bag not being included, but I knew bags of play sand were cheap and easy to find at any hardware store. I was also pleased to find only a small number of bags and pieces, and both my 4 and 5-year-old were so eager to help.
How to Make a Dino Sensory Bin
Assembly took us maybe 25 minutes, and that was mostly because there were small hands helping and because we started out using a screwdriver the old-fashioned way to secure the three legs onto the table. It's not difficult to screw these in by hand, but by the end of the assembly, when the longest screws needed to go in, we asked Dad to quickly finish the job with his electric screwdriver.
I like that a plastic stopper rests at the bottom of the water portion, so that draining dirty water is quick and easy and doesn't involve dumping the entire table over. Releasing the drain and taking a hose to the structure would only take a minute and minimal muscle power.
The water portion of the table can be filled with 5 or 6 pitchers of water, so when you don't have a hose near by, filling it from the kitchen sink doesn't take too much time at all.
We love these squish-able, colorful dinos! They are made of a soft plastic with a hole in the bottom so they can be squeezed and they float in the water. This table also includes two large cups which are great for scooping and pouring, and the slotted cup works well for showering the dinosaurs. Both have handles that fit on the side of the table for when play time is over.
The gray volcano piece is designed like a waterfall that drains back into the water basin, but it also acts as a cover for the sand table, to keep the sand dry when water is the activity of choice. It also neatly encloses all the extra tools and dinosaurs at the end of the day.
My daughter's favorite activity is repeatedly giving the dinosaurs baths and then letting them rest under the palm tree.
Once completely assembled, my husband and I sat back and watched in awe while all three of our kids went to town for a good part of the afternoon, all playing fairly peacefully together. With so many objects to hold and space around the bin, everyone always has something to do and it is easy to play together while role playing or just splashing around.
What makes this table so fantastic is that it is a water AND sand table! I bought this 50-lb. bag of play sand at the hardware store for less than $4, and we only needed around 5-7 pounds to fill up the digging space.
To take this already-exciting sand table to the next educational level, we added more elements like letter recognition and early reading skills by incorporating some plastic bones and river rocks so that my older kids could be more involved and interested for even longer.
I used a permanent white marker pen to write letters on smooth river rocks and buried them in the sand for the kids to find.
By the way, the tan two-sided shovel is great for raking and digging to the bottom of the bin, and then scooping your treasures up and out of the sand. At the very bottom of the table, you'll find dinosaur footprints molded into the plastic!
My kids have loved hunting for the right letters to make words! My preschooler can search, find, and identify the individual letters, while my kindergartner can combine them to make new words or at least sound them out and experiment with letter combinations! They both can at least arrange all the rocks in alphabetical order, and my youngest daughter is getting exposure to letters. I'm so happy and so impressed with how one play table to can be so entertaining for all of my kids, from age 2 to 6, and with a small addition of letter rocks, we have an educational and interesting sensory bin!
Buy it: You can purchase the Step2 Dino Dig Sand and Water Table on the Step2 website or on Amazon.com.
Disclosure: I (Camille) received the Step2 Dino Dig Sand and Water Table at no cost to facilitate this review and create a sensory bin. All opinions are my own. Amazon links are affiliate links. One winner will be randomly selected using the Giveaway Tools random selector and notified via email. Once notified, the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or Google. Void where prohibited.
Check out more fun ideas with Step2 water tables:
Finding Dory Party Ideas with the Step2 Finding Dory Water Table
Sensory Toys for Toddlers with the Step2 Cascading Cove Sand and Water Table
Indoor water play with Step2
Rebekah says
My little boy would love this.
Sara says
This toy cute
Oceana says
This is such a great idea.
Victoria Scott says
This would be so fun for all 3 of my kids! 7, 3, and 18 months 🙂 I'm always looking for stuff they can play with outside that will keep their attention!
Glynis Nelson says
My 4-year-old is all dinosaur, all the time. This would be amazing for him! I love thinking about all the different sensory options we could do with this.
anne t says
My kids would love Dino Dig!
Regina Elliott says
My granddaughter Luci would love to have this table
Deborah D says
My nephews and nieces would use this on hot summer days to stay cool and have fun playing.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
They would probably use it with just water this time of year as a way to cool off a little! They have been asking for play dinosaurs to take to the sprinklers and pool, so I know this would be a hit!
Nancy says
If you have children who are old enough not to put small items in their mouth, you can bury real coins. Kids find them and then practice money skills by counting the coins.
Marti Tabora says
I can see my grandson having a blast splashing in the water and even playing in the sand. I think he would love it.
sandra says
they would undoubtedly bury and dig up their dinos
Mia says
My 2 year old grandson is at the stage where he loves to scoop and pour and dig so this would keep him occupied for hours.
Rija says
My little one would play outside with this Dino Dig table !
Amanda Alvarado says
We play with it as a water table outside - would make the heat a little more bearable if dd was splashing in cold water - add in some ice cubes and it's perfect!
Elizabeth Turner says
We would put it in the front yard shade and invite the cousins over to play with it too.
Tracy Rische says
My boy's love anything dinosaurs, they would enjoy this Dino sand, and Water table. I love how you put extra items in your's.
Lisa says
A relative's children that I would give this to if I would win it would have fun splashing in the water part of the table. I think they'd also enjoy digging in the sand and playing with the dinosaurs, but I think the water aspect of it would be the most fun for them.
Tara Beckage says
My daughters & nephew would love this table. They love playing with sand & water so it's perfect for them. Definitely ideal for a hot summer day! All of their friends would enjoy it as well.
Sue E says
They would make volcanoes ? and caves for their dinosaurs to live in. They like making hand prints and bridges. I know their imaginations would go wild ? TY!
Carrie says
My kids would love to use this outdoors this summer with all of their dinos and indoors when it gets cold! Such a fun toy!
Thelma Zaras-Medrano says
I love this idea! The bones buried in the sand really spark the imagination! Also, learning with the letters and the river rocks! Awesome job! Thanks for the inspiration!
Lauren M says
My 3 year old son would LOVE this! Where did you buy the plastic dinosaur bones at? I saw some at the Dollar Tree last year but failed to buy them before they sold out. 🙁
Jamie Christensen says
My son would love digging up the "treasure" and making the Dino's stomp through the dirt and "roooooaaaar" -ing.
Jo-Ann Brightman says
My grandsons would use this table to stay cool and play during the summer, yet have fun learning too.,
Aimee Patalano says
My sons love water and dinosaurs so this would be perfect for them both! Thanks for the opportunity!
Amber Ludwig says
Oooh my son LOVES Dinosaurs!! I love turning the dino digging into a learning experience! Such a great idea!! We have dino skeletons Id bury too!!
Stacey says
My son LOVES dinosaurs (so his younger sister does as well by default). He would go nuts over this table!
Meenatangy says
Would use this in the bwckyard to occupy my two year old. So fun
martha rogers says
Perfect for outdoora play!
Pat F says
This is an amazing table which can be used with water, sand, rice, beans ect... such a great toy for kids. What a great sensory table ... It would be a lot of fun on a rainy day or to cool off in the back yard when filled with water! Thank you for the chance to win!
Esperanza Garcia says
Oh my nieces would love this! It looks awesome!
Esperanza Garcia says
My nieces would love using the Dino Dig for the water portion. They are at that stage where water means everything. Fun especially.
Jennifer says
Oh my how my little girl would love this she loves digging things up an burying things she always says it's a "secret treasure"! I could see her plying with this all the time what a fantastic giveaway!! Thank you!!
stephanie o says
My daughter loves sand and loves dinos. It's a perfect pair!
Leigh Kitchens says
My 8 month old grandson will be independently standing before too long & he LOVES to be outside. This would be perfect for him to explore different sensory items on cool mornings this summer.
Sarah Mayer says
My nephew is a little water bug and also love dinos.. this would be ideal for him!
DinineG says
Great ideas about how to make water/sand tables educational as well as fun