Portable sand tray options
For therapists who share an office, work in schools or homes, or move between rooms: a tray that closes, sand that stays put, and miniatures that pack into one bin.
- 12picks
- 4sections
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What to look for
A traveling sand tray setup has three parts: the tray, the sand, and a small collection of miniatures. You can build a fuller shelf later. The aim here is a kit you can carry in one trip and set up in a few minutes.
Every pick below comes from the shelves on this site. Sizes, weights, and what comes in each kit are on the retailer’s listing.
Checklist
- A lid. It lets the tray travel with sand inside.
- A size that fits your car, cart, or shared shelf. Check the dimensions on each listing before you buy.
- Less sand than you think. A few inches in the tray is plenty; keep the rest of the bag at home.
- Miniatures in one container. Small tubes of figures and starter sets pack well.
- A cleanup plan. Check each listing’s care notes, and keep a small brush and bag in the kit.
Trays that travel
2 picksStart with the tray. A lid keeps sand in during transport. Check each listing for the size and for exactly what comes in a kit.
PlayTherapySupply
Sandtray Premium Portable Starter Kit
Portable sand tray starter kit.
A portable tray kit for clinicians who work in more than one room.
PlayTherapySupply
Small Portable Sand Tray with Lid
Small sand tray with a lid.
A lidded tray that keeps the sand in while you travel.
Sand
2 picksRegular play sand is the classic choice. Moldable sand holds its shape and is easier to sweep up, which helps in a shared room.
Classic Sand and Play
Play Sand, 20 lb bag
Natural play sand for sandboxes, tables, and therapy.
Refill or starter sand for a tray or sensory table.
Kinetic Sand
Kinetic Sand, 2 lb brown
Moldable play sand.
Indoor sand that holds its shape and is easier to clean up.
Miniatures that pack small
6 picksA starter set covers the basics. Add a few tubes of figures for people, animals, and heroes and monsters, plus fences and houses, which show up in almost every tray.
PlayTherapySupply
Sandtray Play Therapy Basic Starter Kit, 100+ pieces
Starter set of 100+ sand-tray miniatures.
A quick way to get a working miniature collection before you curate your own.
Safari Ltd
People Toob, Community Helpers
Seven community-helper figurines.
Helpers like doctors, firefighters, and police for sand scenes.
Safari Ltd.
Wild Toob, 12 mini animal figures
Twelve small wild-animal figures in a tube.
An easy way to fill out the animal section of a sand-tray shelf.
Safari Ltd
Heroes and Monsters Toob
Six fantasy hero and monster figurines.
Good-versus-bad figures kids often reach for.
TOYMANY
Plastic Fence Toys, 24-piece
Twenty-four fence and corral pieces.
Fences give kids a way to show boundaries, safe zones, and who is kept out.
HYSTYLE
Miniature Fairy Garden Stone Houses, 12-piece
Twelve small resin houses.
Houses come up in almost every tray; a few sizes and styles help.
For your bookshelf
2 picksA practical manual for therapists starting sand tray work, in its 2nd edition and the newer edition. Check each listing for the edition details.
Linda E. Homeyer, Daniel S. Sweeney
Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual (2nd edition)
Sandtray therapy manual.
A widely used how-to for starting sand-tray work.
Linda E. Homeyer, Daniel S. Sweeney
Sandtray Therapy (newer edition)
Sandtray therapy text.
The newer edition of the same practical manual.