Nothing beats heading out to the beach on a warm summer day! With the kids in tow, it’s always a good idea to plan some fun beach activities. Everyone loves to make sandcastles, play in the surf and search for seashells. But, for your next beach outing, how about a few out of the ordinary ideas to kick up your fun-in-the-sun? Try something a little different to add to your beach ‘bucket list‘.
Teaching Moments
Make a Temporary Sundial
Turn the sunny beach into a science classroom! Use sticks, seashells, or even flip-flops to teach kids how to tell time with shadows. Source: BioEd Online.
… Or bring a paper plate and pencil to make your own portable Sundial.
Build a Sand Volcano
Bring along some baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring for a foamy beachside eruption. Messy? Definitely. Fun? Absolutely. And at the beach, there’s really no clean-up involved. Source: Growing a Jeweled Rose.
Catch Sand Crabs Along the Shore
Turn your kids into mini marine biologists. Look for crab tracks near the shoreline and teach them how to gently dig and observe these tiny creatures. Source: WikiHow.
Bring Home Beach Memories
Make Sand Handprints & Footprints
Make replicas of your hands, feet or both. Create a mold in the sand then fill with plaster of Paris. Source: Beauty and Bedlam.
… Or a Treasure Tile
Gather shells, pebbles, and other beachy treasures to design a keepsake sculpture. Directions for creating a Seashell Mosaic. Image: The Boy and Me.
DIY Sand Candle
Scoop a small design in the sand and pour in melted wax. Just make sure you leave enough time for it to harden before heading home! Directions for Making a Sand Candle. Image: Child Central Station.
Take a Holiday Photo
Yes, we’re thinking ahead. Bring a Santa hat or some fun props and snap that perfect holiday card shot while everyone’s smiling and tanned. This is the perfect spot to take a fun family photo that can be used for your holiday greetings. See more on Best Beach Photos from AboutOrlando.com.
Fun and Games
Bring an Inflatable Pool
For toddlers or young kids, a blow-up kiddie pool filled with beach water offers a safer space to splash around while parents relax (for a few moments at least). Image: YoungHouseLove.
Host a Family Beach Olympics
Obstacle courses, relay races, and a shell toss! Don’t forget the homemade medals—bragging rights are on the line. Source: A Small Snipet
Sand Skee-Ball
Use your hands to mold different “score zones” in the sand, then toss shells or pebbles into them. Low effort, high fun. Source: Life with Leo
Become a Beach Mermaid (or Merman)
Bury a family member in the sand and sculpt a mermaid tail. Add seashell bling and snap a hilarious pic.
Sand Drizzle Sculptures
Who didn’t do this as a child? Forget precision castles. Mix sand and water and let it drizzle from your fingers to make cool drip towers. Tallest tower wins! Source: Still Playing School
Go Fly a Kite
It’s the ultimate beach activity. Plenty of open space, consistent wind, and no trees to tangle your string.
A Few More Beach Activities for Kids and Families
Shell Matching Game
Gather pairs of similar shells and challenge kids to find their matches. Sneaky educational bonus: it’s great for memory skills.
Games in the Sand
Who needs paper and pencils when you’ve got a giant, sandy canvas right at your feet? With just a stick and a little imagination, classic games get a beachy twist:
- Hopscotch: Draw your grid right in the sand and use a shell as your marker.
- Tic-Tac-Toe: A few quick lines in the sand and some beach treasures (like rocks vs. shells) make this old-school game feel brand new.
- Hangman: Educational and fun—just don’t forget to draw a friendly sun or a beach umbrella instead of the usual gallows.
Beach Relay Challenge
Each child fills a small cup or shell with ocean water, runs it over to a larger bucket placed several feet away, and dumps it in. First one to fill their bucket wins.
To make it more exciting: Add obstacles like towels to leap over, beach chairs to zigzag around, or even a hula hoop tunnel to crawl through. The kids will definitely be napping on the ride home.
Painted Rocks
Bring along markers or waterproof paints and let kids decorate smooth beach rocks with cheerful faces, inspiring messages, or colorful designs. Once the masterpieces are complete, have your kids hide them around the beach as surprise treasures for other beachgoers to discover.
So next time you’re headed to the beach, don’t just wing it—bring your beach A-game with this list of activities that’ll have your kids smiling and sandy from head to toe. Because at the end of the day, the best beach memories are made with a little sunshine and a lot of creativity!
