Moon Sand

We have several sets of moon sand and 2 of them did come with trays. They are small trays but they do help to contain the mess. I was in Home Depot the other day and saw a table top mixing pan for cement (the kind you'd use if you were making stepping stones or doing a small repair job) and thought that that would be a great thing for the moon sand, so I am planning to go back and get one. The good news is the stuff doesn't dry out if you leave it out. It is alot of fun to play with though, good way to be reminded of the beach during the dead of winter.

Dear D.,

I work at a daycare center and we get our supplies through a company called Lakeshore they have all your needs including a sensory table that would be great to hold your moon sand in the house or outside of the house. The nice thing about the sensory table is you can fill it with many different things and have in or out of the house. You can put snow, leaves, water, dirt, shredded paper whatever you like. Here's the direct link http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/search/results.jsp Have fun. : )

We have a set that came with a blow up tub that can be folded in two with velcro, great for storage. We also use an old table cloth for the kids to set on when they play with it on the floor , we love the moon sand, but even then my 5 yr old finds a way to make a mess.

You might try a kitty litter box or dishpan. Look in the plastics department of stores. If space allows, you might want to pick up a small molded plastic wading pool...
D.

You might not want to hear what I did with ours...I threw it in the trash. What a mess! I keep the molding toys that came with it and let my son use them with his play doh.

~K.

We bought the moon sand that has a tray that it stores in but it still gets on the floor. I just sweep or vacum up what little gets on the floor. If there is a lot then you can brush it up and it will clump together and you can just put it with the other. We also love the moon sand but I think there is a bit more mess to it than playdoh but she will play with it longer so for me I would rather a little more mess but get more time to get something done!

I've tried an over-sized cookie sheet, mine is actually a jelly roll pan I think. It still gets messy but at least it has sides and creates some type of work area.

Good Luck!! I threw all of ours out! I hate the stuff. Great idea but what a mess! It was all over our house! We had a case for it that was inflatable and folded up but what a mess!! Never stayed in it. And it is so hard to clean up.

I bought rubbermaid shoe boxes for the kids to play with it in. Not to say it doesn't still get on the floor but it helps a little bit.

Hi D.,
I bought the Moon Sand Adventure Island from Target for my 4 yr old daughter, it comes with molds, 3 bags of colored sand and it is all contained in a round plastic carrying case that snaps shut. Target has them.
It definitely cuts down on the mess and my daughter loves playing with it.
Hope that helps!

D. M

Oh, moon sand. Made by the devil himself. Hahaha...anyways we have a kit, thats what you need...comes with a blowup sand box and little molds, like beach sandcastle makers...its actually kind of fun when u have those. Until then, keep it in a bucket or bowl I guess and let them play. I just wanna know what its made of....cuz its not sand...

My friend uses cookie sheets. She says it keeps the house from turning into a beach.

I too have had experience with the nasty Moon Sand. The stuff drives me insane, and my 7 year old absolutely loves to play with it. My 12 year old too. UGH. I found that the best bet is to get a boot tray to put the container in. It really helps. Also, keeping the vacuum out and ready to use is key as well.
Good luck to you!

HI D., we also have moon sand my 4 year old loves it. I HATE IT. it makes a mess and it is worse than playdough anyway yes there is a set that comes with a mat. I have sen them in target and on television to order. good luck1

actually I use a peice of plastic from wrapping the windows and just move the plastic so that the Moonsand clumps back together. easier than playdough to me.It doesn't get caught in her clothes. We keep it in a rubbermais type container. We gopt the $10 set from Wal-mart.(blitz day) If you use it on the carpet it will vacuum right up. or if you make a little into a ball you can press it together and put it away. Piece of "cake". I tested it out for myself. we usually let he rplay with at the kitchen table with the plastic under her on the floor so we can save it.

Hi D.,
This one is right up my alley, I have a preschool! First,you can order the large playbox from Moonsand on line from ____@____.com comes with 5lbs of sand, molding tools and sculpting tools for around $29.00. Alternatively, I have used large tupperware underbed storage boxes for indoor sand, rice and pasta tables that are portable to bring in and out without having to a have a standing structure in the room at all times. Also, If you go to Discount School Supplies, they have a set of 4 sand and water tubs for the table for $39.49. You can buy a free standing sand and water table at varied costs. Some have a cover, are multipurpose and can be used this summer outside. You can also buy a splash mat for indoors for $9.24. I hope this helps. It sounds like your son is going to have lots of fun. Take care. B.

My daughter loves Moon Sand as well. I had an extra decorative wooden tray lying around so when I realized how messy the moon sand could be, I made a rule: We play with it only on the dining room floor, keeping all the moonsand IN the tray, with newspaper laid out underneath (since a few bits outside the tray are unavoidable for a 2.5 yr old). It is painted wood about 2-3 inches deep and about 12"x18" with a shellac finish. Since it never dries out and the tray is fairly deep, I tossed the containers and keep the moonsand directly in the tray (with different plastic cups/toys for creative use with the sand) right on a shelf in her room and we bring it down only when her baby brother is napping or in his high chair so he doesn't interfere. You can get various similar trays at any home decor department in most stores like Marshalls / TJ Maxx, or even Christmas Tree Shops. I think mine was under $10.00. Good luck!

Hi D.. I worked at a preschool and we used a sand and water table to contain the Moon Sand we had. You still will want to put the table on your kitchen floor because spills do happen. We found that the sand and water table worked pretty well though. Good luck! I hope your son has fun!

D.

I beleive that there is a set that includes a blow up tray with sides. I want to say it is made by cryola.

Dear D.,
Am brand new here so not sure what advice you have already recieved, so I apologize if this is nothing new.
I have a 4 yo son also who got Moon sand for Christmas.
The easiest way I have found of containing the mess is a cheap table cloth from Ocean state or Christmas tree shop ($1.99) under work area, when done pick it up and shake it outside, 2nd thing is swivel sweeper etc...is good with light weight stuff. Good Luck. It's pretty fun stuff huh?
T.

hi,
i have never used this before but how about putting it in plastic a tray? you can buy them at xmas tree shops. or rectangular plastic storage with a cover? good luck.

C.

I use the bottom of a big box. I just cut the top off so it's shallow. It's big enough to cover most of my table, so she still has a lot of space to play.

Hi
we got moon sand for our kids aged 4,7,10 & 12 and use shallow tote boxes (like for sweater storage). they stack up and can go under the bed.

In a coupleof months (maybe now at huge stores??) those hard plastic or blow up swimming pools will be available. I used to get the smallest blow up size, one or two rings only and set my Daughters high chair in it. Sounds like it would work for moon sand.

Hi Deb! I have 2 sons ages 9 and 6. They recieved moonsand sets from their grandpa last year. It was a set that came with an inflatable "sandbox" type mat. It resembles a very small swimming pool with blow up sides. Sand does still get all over with my two, but I imagine it would be alot worse without it.

I believe Target has these mats.

C. M.