When people envision a relaxing day at the beach, they often think of lying on their towel and feeling the ocean breeze brush over their skin. But the beach offers a plethora of fun activities that go beyond just lounging.
Pass around a beach ball to see how long your family can keep it in the air. Or draw circles in the sand to play a variation of skee ball.
Fly a Kite
There’s nothing quite like flying a kite, and the beach is an ideal place to do it. The winds are usually strong, and a lot of the beaches have lots of open space with few trees, making it an excellent spot to try your hand at flying a kite. Mom Junction has a great list of 6 easy steps to fly a kite with kids, so it’s an activity the whole family can participate in together.
You can also turn a walk along the beach into an art project by asking your kids to gather smooth rocks and decorate them with paint or markers. Then, hide the creations for other beachgoers to find and enjoy at a later date. This is a fun and creative way to get your kids to explore the natural environment around them while teaching them about the importance of protecting our planet.
Another classic beach activity, a game of volleyball is an ideal way to stay active while having a good time. You can play a traditional game or make things more interesting by trying glow in the dark volleyball. This fast-paced game is sure to thrill everyone, especially when the sun goes down!
Make a Sundial
One of the best beach activities for kids is making a sundial. A fun STEM activity, it teaches kids about the path of the sun and how people have used the position of the sun to tell time over the centuries. This project is simple, easy and fun! It’s also a great opportunity to read about the sun and time, such as these fun books:
Other beach-friendly STEM activities include building animal sculptures out of sand. You can use sticks, rocks and shells to make a wide variety of creatures, from sea turtles to penguins. The best part is that this is a great activity for kids of all ages to do together.
A game of tetherball or volleyball is another great way to burn energy on the beach and get some exercise. Then, after you’ve worked up an appetite, you can make some s’mores in a fire pit and enjoy a delicious treat.
If you want to try something a bit more creative, have everyone draw what they see on the beach with some paper and pencils or pens. This can be a great way to get the kids’ creativity flowing and will help them remember the day on the beach.
Kids can also create a treasure map to find their way back to the car with this fun idea from Mom Beach. A scavenger hunt is always a hit with kids and you can get some ideas from these free printables from Simple Play Ideas or this pack from Blimey Box.
For more active fun, try a game of tug of war or tag with a shark (the person designated as the shark starts at one end of the beach and runs away from everyone). Or, make a sandcastle together to make your own personal piece of paradise. If you have a waterproof disposable camera, give each family member a turn taking photos of the day’s events.
Build a Fort
There are some beach activities that kids of all ages will enjoy no matter where they are, including building a sand castle or boogie boarding in the waves. But sometimes it’s fun to mix things up and try a new activity that is not only challenging but also educational.
Creating a fort is one of the best beach activities that can be a collaborative project for the whole family or even just between two siblings. Use several blankets to create a large space and then add pillows, cushions, and toys to make it comfortable. You can also string lights inside the fort for an extra-special touch that will be sure to impress your kids and their friends.
You will find no shortage of materials at the beach to build a fort. Use driftwood, shells, and pebbles to construct a creative structure for your little ones. Then have them decorate it with their favorite colors or patterns to give it more personality. You could even let them pretend to be a sea dragon, princess, or hermit crab and draw their features in the sand on someone they love.
Playing a game of tug of war is another great way to have a little competition and teamwork on the beach. If you don’t have a rope, just use a pool noodle to create your own version of this classic beach game.
A treasure hunt is another perfect beach activity that is both educational and entertaining for the entire group. The beach is practically custom-made for this type of fun, so just hide things in the sand around you and give the participants clues on cards or pieces of paper.
Have a Bonfire
A beach bonfire is an essential part of Lag Ba’Omer celebrations in many Jewish communities, but it can be fun for the whole family all year round. If you’re planning a bonfire at the beach with your kids, make sure to use fire-safe materials and get permission from the local park service ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the weather and stay away from the wind as much as possible.
A fun beach activity for the entire family is to play a game of bucket ball. This is a classic outdoor game that combines accuracy, strategy, and friendly competition. The game requires two teams of players to toss balls into buckets placed in a triangle. The team that successfully scores the most points wins. If you don’t have a bucket ball set, consider making your own version of the game with items found at the beach, like seashells and pebbles.
Another fun beach activity to try is to play a game of Pictionary out on the sand. This is a great way to get kids of all ages involved and can be quite hilarious!
If you’re looking for a more relaxing way to spend the day, have everyone gather around a book and enjoy the scenery and sounds of the ocean. You can even choose a beach-themed story that will be extra fun for your little ones.
Using a magnifying glass at the beach is a wonderful way to help kids appreciate the smaller details of the natural world. They can discover interesting textures in a grain of sand or the features of a hermit crab through this fun activity.
Take a Swim
If you are lucky enough to find a beach that is equipped with an area for swimming, this can be one of the best beach activities for kids and adults alike. A good swim can be a great way to cool off after being out in the sun all day, and it is also an opportunity to teach your kids about how to stay safe in the water.
If your kids are tired of playing in the sand, you can get them moving and splashing around with a game of water volleyball. You can even take the game to a new level with glow in the dark volleyball, which is not only fun but helps you keep track of where your ball is going.
Playing soccer at the beach is another great option if you have a lot of energy to burn. You can mark out goals with anything from sand mounds to buckets or even your own towels, and then pit your kids against each other to see who can score the most points.
A walk along the shore, more specially in Costa Rica or St. Lucia, is a relaxing and educational beach activity for all ages. Teach your kids about marine life by pointing out aquatic plants and animals that you find, or simply let them explore the beach on their own. If the weather is chilly, you can always bring along a blanket and read a book together on the sand.
A treasure hunt is another fantastic idea that makes the beach feel like a custom-made playground. Hide things in the sand and give your kids clues on how to find them. The options are endless for this beach activity, and you can even make a game out of it by creating your own I-Spy sheet.
