Early Learning Centre Sand and Water Table

I purchased the Early Learning Centre Sand and Water Table for my son's 2nd birthday and it cost £45. We chose this one over the others because it's plastic (easy to move around), came with a lid (making it waterproof) and is very sturdy. It looks quality, not cheap like some others I've seen. The table measures: height 45cm x length 65cm x width 65cm. We've found that it's a great height for toddlers (the recommended age is 18months+) but for older children, like my son who is now 4, it's a bit low down.

The sand and water table came boxed and with instructions. It was easy enough to put together. The legs slot in place and the 2 troughs click together. It also came with some plastic toys meaning you don't have to buy any extra and your child can get straight in and start playing. The toys included are: 1 boat, 2 star moulds, 2 funnels, 2 spinning wheels, 1 scoop, 1 roller and wheel set, 1 rake and 1 spade.

The table looks really impressive when all the pieces are in place. There are holes in the middle of the table, where the 2 troughs meet, and this is where you can fit the larger toys (funnels and spinning wheels). These holes in the centre is also where the lid clicks in to. We've found that the lid isn't 100% waterproof but it does a very good job at keeping the majority of the rain water out. My son mainly uses this table with sand, but he has played with water in it and has had lots of fun with it. He's plays a lot with it with the lid on because the lid has a road track on it. The road track is wide enough to fit the ELC magnetic vehicles so he likes to play with that and his ELC garage in the garden at the same time.

Sand for the table is available separately. You can get in from the ELC or from most larger supermarkets and garden centres. It only costs a few pounds and one bag is more than enough to fill both troughs.

We've had our sand and water table for over 2 years now and it's been played with every summer. It's still in fantastic condition and both my children, and their friends, love it. It seemed like an expensive purchase at the time, but actually it's been worth every penny and offers very good value for money.