Planning a Day at the Seaside? Discover the Best Beach Activities for Kids!

If you’re looking for a summer day trip idea or a weekend treat for the kids, a day at the beach is always a winner. From building sandcastles on the sand to splashing in the surf to volleyball, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy on a coastal adventure. It’s super easy to entertain kids at the beach, not to mention the fact that it’s a trip that doesn’t have to cost the Earth. A few basic supplies, a picnic, snacks, and essentials like sunblock and sunhats are all you need to have a fun day out.

To make things even more enjoyable, we’ve rounded up the best beach activities for kids below, to help ensure your mini-holiday goes off without a hitch! Best of all? Most of them are completely free!

Contents:

• Fun Beach Activities for Kids
• Beach Games for Kids
• Don’t Forget Our Top Beach Tips for a Safe Day on the Sand
• FAQs

Fun Beach Activities for Kids

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Check Out the Natural Habitats

A trip to the beach offers a wonderful way for children to take a look at new habitats, such as rockpools, dunes, and the ocean itself. This is an easy means of keeping kids occupied and a great way to instill care for the environment. Talk about these different habitats with your child and the animals that call them their home—and see how many you can spot! You could also look out for animal tracks in the sand, and ask your kid to make a note of how many different species of birds they see over the course of the day.

Create a Simple Sundial

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One of the best things to do at the beach with kids is to create a simple sundial. It’s also a good way to show children how the things we take for granted, like being able to tell the time, are intrinsically connected to the natural world. To create your sundial, make a circle in the sand out of pebbles or shells and place a stick in the sand in the middle, standing up straight. Now watch the shadows move throughout the day, noting how this corresponds with the hours that pass.

Set Up a Beach Bakery

Toddlers and young kids will love this sandy sensory food theme activity. Before heading off for the day, grab a few everyday items from your kitchen, such as a couple of old pots and pans, wooden spoons, containers, and a plastic jug or two. Little ones will have lots of fun at the beach making various “cakes” and other pretend delicacies using sand, pebbles, shells, and seaweed.

Enjoy a Beach Scavenger Hunt

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Looking for ideas for child-friendly beach activities? This one could be perfect! Before you leave home for your day out by the sea, put together a list of items for children to find. For toddlers and preschool children, it’s a good idea to include a picture alongside each item. These could be, for example, a piece of seaweed, a shell, a sunhat, and a feather. You may also want to include on your list things that kids can spot, such as a boat, a crab, or an ice cream.

Related: Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids: Ideas and Tips for a Fun Adventure.

Have a Go at Pebble Art

Pebbles aren’t just great for decorating sandcastles and making rivers (see below for this activity), kids can also use them to make beautiful artwork in the sand. Encourage young children to feel the different textures of pebbles, and notice their varying shapes and colors. Ask them to have a go at creating a simple image or symbol, writing their name in the sand, or making a tower using pebbles.

Make a River

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If your kids need to cool off after enjoying some of the great activities above, making a river is a good option. Show younger children how to create a channel in the sand, and use pebbles and rocks to divert its course or even make mini waterfalls. Suggest they run the river all the way down to the sea, and then try sailing “boats” of seaweed, feathers, or shells to see if they make it to the ocean.

Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

It’s usually windy at the beach, making it the perfect spot to fly a kite. Show kids how to launch their kite, pay out the string, and guide it through the air currents—they’ll be delighted as they watch their kite soar through the air high above.

If you’re looking for an activity for your kids to enjoy during the days leading up to your trip to the beach, how about kite-making? Check out the easy-to-follow video below that takes you step-by-step through the process.

Cool Off with a Water Balloon Fight

Why not bring along some reusable and refillable balloons to the beach so that kids can have fun and cool off with an impromptu water balloon fight? Either set some rules to create a game or simply allow children to enjoy a splashy free-for-all. You could even use the water balloons in some of the games we’ve listed below—until they hilariously burst!

Make a Seashell Necklace

By simply packing a few pieces of string or twine and some small containers in your beach bag, you’ll have everything your kids need to make a beautiful shell necklace. Once you’ve arrived and are settled, give each child a container and suggest they search for shells with holes that can be threaded onto the twine later. Once they have a good collection, ask them to think about putting the shells into the order they want, tie the twine off at the bottom, and have them thread each onto their necklace. Once done and both ends have been tied off, they’ll love wearing their gorgeous handmade seashell jewelry.

If they’re keen to make more shell items, how about a lovely bracelet, anklet, or even a simple wind chime?

Create a Disappearing Picture or Message

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Kids love to watch how the incoming tide gradually washes away messages or pictures they’ve drawn in the sand. You may want to keep a camera handy to snap a shot of any particularly memorable creations before they disappear! Suggest your child has a “race” with the sea, to see if they can complete their message or image before the tide dissolves it.

Build—and Melt!—a Sandcastle

And no list of great beach activities for kids would be complete without the classic: sandcastle building! Show your child how to use their bucket to create a fortress, and then use their hands or a spade to add towers, battlements, and a moat. They can decorate their sandcastle with pretty shells and pebbles, and use a feather as a flag for the top.

The fun doesn’t stop when the castle is built, though. As your day at the beach draws to a close, ask your kid if they’d like to “melt” their sandcastles by using a bottle, funnel, or bucket to dribble water over the building. Children will be fascinated to see the construction change and dissolve before their eyes!

Identifying Seashells

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Make learning fun by taking the opportunity to identify seashells while you’re at the beach. Before you head out, get hold of a kid-friendly book that details the kind of shells you’re likely to come across during your day. Once at the beach, have your children see how many of each kind they can find. Once they’re done, you could even help them use a stick to draw a bar graph in the sand to represent their findings.

Ensure your kids’ safety while they enjoy beach activities with the Findmykids app. Keep track of their location in real time and get peace of mind knowing they’re safe. Download Findmykids today and enjoy your beach day worry-free!

Beach Games for Kids

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Play an Exciting Game of Beach Volleyball

Want to enjoy some family beach games? Playing beach volleyball will get everyone active and having fun! If you have a net to bring along with you to boost the ball over, great—if not, no worries, you can make do by tying a few towels together, for example, and stringing them between a couple of deckchairs, or simply drawing a line in the sand.

Get into two teams and let battle commence! Use linked hands to hit the ball over the net (or whatever you’re using in place of a net)—if a team can’t return it the other side scores a point.

Have a Brilliant Beach Relay

This funny beach game is sure to have kids in fits of laughter—and the adults, too! All you need for this one are some beach buckets and plastic bottles or cups.

To get started, give each child a beach bucket and a plastic cup or bottle, and have them stand in line with their bucket on the sand in front of them. Once you shout “Go!” children need to take their bottle or cup, dash to fill it with water then run back to pour this water into their buckets. The first child to fill their bucket with water is the winner!

Let’s Get Limbo-ing

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Play a game of beach limbo to up the fun factor of your day at the seaside or on vacation! One of the best things about this game is that you don’t need a tonne of stuff or equipment to play—just a towel, rope, or similar to use as the “bar” for kids to try to limbo beneath.

If you can play some music on your phone to accompany the game without disturbing others on the beach—great! If not, simply enjoy the backing sound of the crashing waves, seagulls, and laughter.

Have a Blast with Beach Dodgeball

If the beach is relatively quiet a game of dodgeball is just the thing to get kids moving and having lots of fun. Start by splitting children into teams, stand everyone in a circle, and put a few beachballs in the middle. Once you say “Go!” set the timer off as kids rush to the balls and throw them at the opposite team. Anyone who gets hit is out, as is any child who throws a ball that’s caught by an opponent. The winning team is the one that has retained the most players once the time is up.

Digging Deep

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A classic beach game idea that’s always a hit: split kids into teams, set a timer, and see which team can dig the deepest hole! Unique to the beach, children can dig to their heart’s content and are limited only by the game’s time restrictions.

Once this game is complete, keep the amusement going by suggesting kids have a friendly race to see which team can bury one of its members in the sand (leaving their heads free, of course) the quickest.

Get Giggling with Musical Towels

Everyone knows the game of Musical Chairs—Musical Towels is the beach-themed version! Simply lay out one towel per player on the sand, and then remove one of the towels. Start the music (or simply say “Go!”) and when the music stops or the signal is given, kids must find a towel to sit on. The last child, who is left without a towel, is out, and another towel is removed. Keep going until there’s a winner!

Try Towel Tug-of-War

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Another great beach game that needs minimal stuff and setting up, towel tug-of-war can be played with just two players—although more players equals more fun! Simply tie a few beach towels together and create a line in the sand with sticks, and pebbles, or simply draw one with your finger. Divide kids into two equal teams, and get each team to stand on their side of the line holding onto the “rope.” Once you shout “Go!” both sides pull with all their might, and the team that’s tugged across the line is the loser. Best out of five rounds wins!

Ready, Steady: Seashell Race!

This simple, lovely game is also a great way to get young children thinking about tides and the importance of tides in the ocean ecosystem. Ask each child to find a seashell and line them up at the edge of the surf. When the next wave comes in, the child whose shell has been carried the furthest out is the winner. You could ask the kids to experiment with different types, shapes, and sizes of shells to see if this makes a difference in how far a wave typically carries them.

Have Fun Playing Beach Frisbee Golf

All you need for this game is a frisbee and several items you have in your beach bag, such as a beach towel and umbrella—or simply dig a few holes in the sand to aim for. The idea is to take a turn throwing the frisbee at each item, trying to get as close to it as possible. Allot points as you go around the “course” (for example, 1 point for the person who gets their frisbee the closest to the beach towel, 2 points for the person who gets second closest to the towel, and so on), to announce an overall winner at the end of the game.

Read also: Ultimate Guide to Summer Activities for Kids.

Don’t Forget Our Top Beach Tips for a Safe Day on the Sand

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Use our guide above to keep kids at the beach happy and entertained, but be sure to also remember these top safety tips to ensure everyone has the greatest—but safest—day possible.

Stay Sun Safe

It’s vital to ensure babies and kids (as well as adults) are kept safe from the sun. As well as sunburn, be mindful of the possibility of infants developing sunstroke. Apply high-factor sunblock to kids regularly (especially after they’ve been in the water), and keep sensitive areas like the head, neck, shoulders, and back, covered.

It’s also important to ensure kids stay adequately hydrated; younger children especially can get so distracted by the many attractions of the seaside that it’s not unusual for them to forget to drink enough. Make sure that children take regular breaks in the shade and, just like when enjoying a day at the park, it’s best to keep them out of the midday sun, which is generally strongest between 10 am and 3 pm.

Keeping Track of Kids

Findmykids app

Worried about your child going missing at the beach? It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, and, fairly uniquely to a busy beach, it’s relatively easy for a child to become lost among the sea of families, windbreakers, beach umbrellas, and the like.

Keep on top of where your precious little boy or girl is using the Findmykids app, which allows you to view, in real time, your child’s location and the historic routes they’ve taken. It’s a great tool to both keep your kid safe and give you peace of mind, whether at the beach, attending events, out shopping, or simply when your kid is outside the home playing with friends.

Stay worry-free at the beach by using the Findmykids app to monitor your child’s location in real time!

Staying Safe Near the Water

It’s vital to always supervise young kids near the water. Even if they can swim, tides and swells make the ocean a hazard that should be taken extremely seriously. If you plan to enjoy any of the games and activities above, be sure to incorporate distinct rules regarding how close kids can get to the edge of the water, how far away from you they’re permitted to wander, etc.

Be Wary of Wildlife

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Teaching your little one to respect nature is really important, both to protect environmental habitats and themselves. One thing it’s easy to forget during a day at the beach is the danger that beached jellyfish can pose. While children may be drawn to their fascinating shape and transparent, wobbly bodies, they can deliver a nasty sting—even when dead.

Ensure your little one stays away from jellyfish, whether on the beach or in the water. And if the worst happens and they suffer a sting, it’s vital to seek immediate medical attention.

Use Inflatables Safely

Inflatables can be lots of fun in the water, but they can pose significant safety risks: especially for young children and those who can’t swim. It’s crucial to always supervise kids closely if they’re using inflatables in the water, and never allow them to be used in rough or choppy seas.

Ideally, kids should only use inflatables in areas of sheltered water and rockpools; however, if you do let your child use an inflatable in the ocean, attach a long rope to it and keep hold of it tightly as you stand on the edge of the water or in the shallows.

Get Ready to Enjoy the Perfect Family Beach Day!

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Whether on vacation or for a day trip, a visit to the beach will always be a huge hit with kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. There are so many ways to have fun, without spending a cent, that it’s super easy to keep children entertained all day long.

Use our guide above for the ideas you need to create the perfect beach day, keep kids safe with the Findmykids app, and make magical sandy memories!

What activities and games do your family most enjoy at the beach? Do you have some ideas to add to our selection? We’d love to know! Tell us all about them in the comments box below.

FAQs

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What can children do at the beach?

There are loads of games and activities that children can enjoy at the beach, from classic activities like building sandcastles to beach-themed scavenger hunts and games of beach volleyball. Use our guide for ideas to keep the whole family entertained during a day at the seaside.

What fun activities do people do at the beach?

Fun activities to enjoy at the beach include exploring rockpools, flying a kite, creating rivers, digging in the sand, and playing games such as beach volleyball and water relays.

How to make the beach fun?

Making a beach day fun for kids is easy—and usually doesn’t cost a dime. Packing a few simple supplies like beach buckets, old containers, wooden spoons, and jugs means that little ones can make a pretend “bakery” using “ingredients” like sand, pebbles, and shells, while older kids are likely to appreciate some fun games like beach limbo and dodgeball.

What game to play at the beach?

There are so many games that can be played on the beach; in fact, many “traditional” games can be easily transformed into beach versions, such as Music Towels, and towel tug-of-war. Beach dodgeball, frisbee, and seashell racing are also all games that children will enjoy playing at the beach.

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