When Tokyo-based toy company Bornelund Inc. surveyed about 500 mothers in May, it found that while most Japanese parents want to let their young children play in sandboxes outdoors, many tend to avoid doing so due to concerns about cleanliness and radioactive contamination.
This summer, Bornelund is introducing a new product that could be an alternative for these parents — sand kits specifically designed for indoor use.
While some may argue that playing with sand at home defeats the purpose of letting children learn social skills by interacting with others at park sandboxes, others believe an indoor option would benefit kids who, for various reasons, cannot play outside.