Do you know what one of the best playthings for children can be? Brace yourself...  Dirt! And that includes dirt's close cousins sand and clay. Want to guess why?

Top of the list is that these materials engage several key senses:  touch, smell, and sight.  And maybe sound.  Hopefully NOT taste! They're open-ended and require imagination. Children plan and then need to problem solve. For large-scale projects, they require cooperation and group involvement. They invite exploration and experimentation.  And if it doesn't work out quite right, flatten it and go again.

In today's world, you may not be able to send your kids out to play in dirt the way past generations did.  But this type of play is still hugely important to child development.  Good thing there are substitutes that are a little easier on the laundry!

Here are a few of our favorite tactile/sensory play substances we (try) to keep in stock at the Happy Up stores:

Kinetic Sand breathes motion. With a texture like brown sugar, you won't be able to resist sliding your hands through a pile of the stuff. I'ts easy to shape and form into creatures, castles, or simple mountains. Then watch as it slips and slides in on itself to return to an unformed state. Playing with Kinetic Sand can be relaxing, inspiring, and engaging for any age.

While a few crumbles may get away from you, it's easy to clean up and will not stain or leave a sticky residue behind.

It's 98% clean sand, completely gluten, toxin, and dust-free so people with sensitivities can enjoy the stuff with no worries. It will never dry out, although the manufacturer recommends storing it in a sealed container to keep it clean and dust free. It comes in 2.5KG or 5KG boxes. Play trays and sculpting tools are also available.

See it in use it this video: Kinetic Sand from Waba Fun

Consisting of sand and other natural ingredients, Sands Alive is irresistible.  With a flour-like texture, you'd think it wouldn't hold a shape.  But it does!  Mold it and form it into structures that stand tall.  With a gentle touch you can make the whole thing gracefully collapse. 

Includes 1.5 lbs of Sands Alive, 3 shaping tools, and a roller

Includes 3.5 lbs of Sands Alive, 8 molds, brick and pebble rollers, 2 detail tools and storage case.

Includes 2 lbs of Sands Alive, 11 castle molds, 2 extruders, brick and pebble rollers, and backdrop with stickers to create your own underwater scene! 

Bubber is designed to be molded, sculpted, and formed into fanciful creations. It's light and airy with no sticky residue. Non-staining, it's gluten-free and allergen-free. It will never dry out. It's non-goopy texture lets you create clean slices and crisp lines. You can press textures into it easily.

We've talked about Thinking Putty before--  but it's worth mentioning again!  Made in the USA, it's one of our favorite products. 

Stretchy, squeezy, fantastically fiddly, Thinking Putty comes in a huge array of colors and special effects.  Some are crystal clear like glass, others are amazingly iridescent. Some glow in the dark, others react to the heat of your hands. Non-sticky, non-staining, any variety is perfect for adults and older kids.

We are thrilled beyond belief--  a relio-trulio celebrity is coming to visit Giant Chicky!  

Tony Hale is an actor (Veep, Arrested Development) who is now an author, too.  His new book, Archibald's Next Big Thing, tells the story of a little chicken trying to find his place in the world. Filled with delightfully off-beat illustrations, Archibald's tale delivers an important message for kids and grown-ups.

And you can meet Tony at our Edwardsville location on Sept. 27th!  

Find out more about Tony Hale, Archibald, and other Big Things on his website, Adventuresofarchibald.com